John Goodman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Goodman
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Goodman in 2016
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| Born |
John Stephen Goodman
June 20, 1952 Affton, Missouri, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Southwest Missouri State University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Anna Beth Hartzog
(m. 1989) |
| Children | 1 |
John Stephen Goodman (born June 20, 1952) is a famous American actor. He first became well-known on television before starring in many popular movies. Goodman has won several major awards for his acting, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. The magazine Vanity Fair has called him "among our very finest actors."
Goodman is known for working with the famous directors, the Coen brothers. He appeared in their movies like Raising Arizona (1987), Barton Fink (1991), The Big Lebowski (1998), and Inside Llewyn Davis (2013). He also played the main character in films such as King Ralph (1991), The Babe (1992), and The Flintstones (1994).
He is also a talented voice actor. You might recognize his voice in movies like The Emperor's New Groove franchise, the Monsters, Inc. franchise, and Bee Movie (2007).
On TV, Goodman became a star playing the dad, Dan Conner, in the comedy series Roseanne (1988–1997; 2018) and its spin-off, The Conners (2018–2025). He has also appeared in many other shows, including The Righteous Gemstones (2019–2025). He has hosted the comedy show Saturday Night Live 13 times.
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Early Life and School Days
John Stephen Goodman was born on June 20, 1952, in Affton, Missouri. His father, Leslie Francis Goodman, was a postal worker who passed away when John was only two years old. His mother, Virginia Roos, worked hard to support the family. She was a waitress, worked in a store, and did laundry for others. Goodman has an older brother, Leslie, and a younger sister, Elisabeth.
Goodman said his childhood felt a bit lonely after his father died and his older brother went to college. He was sometimes picked on at school because of his size. He joined the Boy Scouts, which he said gave him a sense of community. As a kid, he loved listening to the radio and reading comic books from both DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
Goodman went to Affton High School, where he played football and also tried acting. After graduating in 1970, he won a football scholarship to Missouri State University. However, he injured his leg before he could play. So, he decided to focus on the school's theater program instead. He studied drama with other future stars like Kathleen Turner and Tess Harper. He graduated with a degree in fine arts in 1975.
Acting Career
Getting Started in New York
After college, Goodman moved to New York City to become an actor. His brother gave him some money to help him get started. He found an apartment near the Theater District and worked as a bartender and waiter. He soon found success doing voice-overs for commercials and acting in plays.
Goodman performed in many plays before getting small parts in movies in the early 1980s. In 1982, he appeared in his first film, Eddie Macon's Run. He also starred on Broadway in the musical Big River from 1985 to 1987. His role as Pap Finn earned him a nomination for a Drama Desk Award.
Becoming a Star with Roseanne
Goodman's big break came in 1988 when he was cast as Dan Conner on the TV show Roseanne. The show was a huge hit and made him a household name. He played the role until 1997 and returned for a new season in 2018. After that, he continued playing Dan Conner in the spin-off show, The Conners.
During his time on Roseanne, Goodman also became a movie star. He worked with the Coen brothers for the first time in Raising Arizona (1987). He would go on to appear in many of their other films, including The Big Lebowski (1998) and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000). He also starred as Fred Flintstone in the live-action movie The Flintstones (1994).
Voice Acting and More Roles
Goodman is famous for his deep, friendly voice. In 2000, he voiced the character Pacha in Disney's The Emperor's New Groove. A year later, he voiced the big, blue, and furry James P. "Sulley" Sullivan in Pixar's Monsters, Inc. He played Sulley again in the prequel Monsters University (2013) and the series Monsters at Work.
He has also had guest roles in popular TV shows like The West Wing. For his role in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, he won an Emmy award. In theater, he has acted in famous plays like Waiting for Godot on Broadway.
Recent Work and Achievements
In the 2010s, Goodman appeared in several award-winning movies. He had important roles in The Artist (2011) and Argo (2012). Both of these films won the Academy Award for Best Picture. This was a rare achievement for an actor to be in back-to-back Best Picture winners.
Other major films from this time include Flight (2012), 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), and Kong: Skull Island (2017). He also voiced the character Hound in the Transformers movies.
On August 10, 2013, Goodman was honored as a Disney Legend for his voice work in Disney films. In 2017, he received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. From 2019 to 2025, he starred as the head of a family of preachers in the HBO comedy The Righteous Gemstones.
Personal Life
Goodman married Annabeth Hartzog in 1989. They met at a party in New Orleans while he was filming a movie. The couple has a daughter, Molly Evangeline Goodman (born in 1990), who works in the film industry. The family lives in New Orleans.
Goodman is a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He has also helped with charity work. After Hurricane Katrina, he appeared in commercials to help support the recovery of Louisiana. He also appeared in a commercial to raise awareness about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.
In recent years, Goodman has focused on his health. He was once known for his large size but has since lost a significant amount of weight through exercise and healthy eating.
See also
In Spanish: John Goodman para niños
