John Goodman

John Stephen Goodman, born on June 20, 1952, is a highly acclaimed American actor known for his versatile performances in both television and film. He has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2013, he was honored with a Disney Legend Award.
Goodman is particularly renowned for his collaborations with the Coen brothers, featuring in several of their films such as "Raising Arizona" (1987), "Barton Fink" (1991), "The Big Lebowski" (1998), "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (2000), and "Inside Llewyn Davis" (2013). He has taken on leading roles in a variety of films including "Always" (1989), "King Ralph" (1991), "The Babe" (1992), "Matinee" (1993), "The Flintstones" (1994), "Blues Brothers 2000" (1998), and "10 Cloverfield Lane" (2016). Additionally, he has delivered notable supporting performances in movies like "True Stories" (1986), "Argo" (2012), and "Trumbo" (2015), among others.


Goodman has also lent his distinctive voice to numerous animated films and series, including "The Emperor's New Groove" franchise (2000–2008), the "Monsters, Inc." franchise (2001–2021), "The Jungle Book 2" (2003), "Clifford's Really Big Movie" (2004), and "Bee Movie" (2007).
On television, Goodman gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Dan Conner, the family patriarch, in the ABC comedy series "Roseanne" (1988–1997; 2018), and its spin-off "The Conners" (2018–present). He has also had regular roles in several other television series, including "Treme" (2010–2011), "Damages" (2011), "Alpha House" (2013–2014), and "The Righteous Gemstones" (2019–present). Goodman has been a frequent host on "Saturday Night Live" (1989–2013) and has made guest appearances on shows like "The West Wing" (2003–2004), "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (2006), and "Community" (2011–2012).
Goodman's career began at The Public Theater, where he appeared in numerous productions, including "Henry IV, Part 1" (1981), "The Skin of Our Teeth" (1998), and "The Seagull" (2001). He made his Broadway debut in "Big River" (1985), earning a Drama Desk Award nomination. Subsequently, he returned to Broadway in revivals of "Waiting for Godot" (2009) and "The Front Page" (2016). Additionally, Goodman made his West End debut in a revival of David Mamet's "American Buffalo" (2015).


John Goodman was born in Affton, Missouri, to Leslie Francis Goodman and Virginia Roos (née Loosmore). His father, a postal worker, passed away from a heart attack when John was only two years old. His mother worked as a waitress, retail store worker, and took in laundry to support the family. John has an older brother named Leslie, who is 14 years older, and a younger sister named Elisabeth, born six months after their father's death. He grew up in a Southern Baptist household and is of English, German, and Welsh descent.
John's childhood was marked by loneliness and withdrawal following his father's early death, compounded by bullying at school due to his weight. He found solace in the Boy Scouts until ninth grade and credited Boy Scout leaders and later acting coaches as father figures. His brother returned home to help raise him and his sister. John spent much of his childhood listening to the radio, reading comic books, and was introduced to comedy and bebop by his brother.
He attended Affton High School, where he played football and also discovered his passion for theater. After graduating in 1970, he took a gap year and then attended Missouri State University on a football scholarship. However, a torn ACL prevented him from playing, so he shifted his focus to the university's theater program. Goodman pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1975. He studied alongside future stars Kathleen Turner and Tess Harper. In 2013, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters. Throughout his career, Goodman has maintained close friendships with his schoolmates.


After his football career was cut short due to injury, Goodman pursued his dream of becoming a professional actor and moved to New York City in 1975. Armed with a small sum of money from his brother, he settled in Hell's Kitchen near the Theater District. Initially struggling to make ends meet, Goodman took on odd jobs as a bartender and waiter but found limited success in voice-over work, commercials, and off-Broadway plays. One of his early memorable roles was in a television ad for Skin Bracer by Mennen, where he famously slapped himself and delivered the tagline, "Thanks... I needed that!"
Goodman made his film debut in 1982 with a small role in "Eddie Macon's Run." He continued to hone his craft on stage, earning acclaim for his portrayal of Pap Finn in "Big River" from 1985 to 1987, which garnered him a Drama Desk nomination. His breakthrough in film came in 1986 with a significant comedic role in "True Stories," following earlier appearances in movies such as "Revenge of the Nerds" and a brief cameo in "Sweet Dreams." It was during this time that Goodman's imposing stature became a defining characteristic of many of his characters on screen and stage.


However, Goodman's most iconic role came with his portrayal of Dan Conner on the ABC sitcom "Roseanne" from 1988 to 1997. His performance in the show earned him widespread recognition and acclaim, solidifying his status as a household name. Goodman reprised his role in the 2018 revival of "Roseanne" and continued with its spin-off, "The Conners."
Goodman has had a long association with late-night comedy shows, having been the first guest on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and hosting "Saturday Night Live" a record 13 times. Despite initially being rejected as a cast member for SNL's 1980–1981 season, Goodman went on to become a frequent guest and memorable performer on the show.

References

1.  Heilpern, John (December 10, 2013). "Out to Lunch with John Goodman". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
2. ^ "In HBO's new series 'Treme,' John Goodman looks back in anger". Los Angeles Times. April 7, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
3. a b "John Goodman Biography (1952–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
4. a b "Loosemore/Loosmore Family:Information about John Stephen Goodman". Familytreemaker.genealogy.com. August 15, 1996. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
5. ^ "John Goodman Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
6. a b c d e f g "Episode 1068 - John Goodman". WTF with Marc Maron Podcast. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
7. ^ McDermott, John (December 20, 2013). "John Goodman". Financial Times. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2019.