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Johnny Galecki
Johnny Galecki by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Galecki in 2017
Born
John Mark Galecki

(1975-04-30) April 30, 1975 (age 49)
Bree, Limburg, Belgium
Nationality American
Occupation Actor
Years active 1987–present
Children 1

John Mark Galecki (born April 30, 1975) is an American actor. He played Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019) for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, and David Healy in the ABC sitcoms Roseanne (1992–1997; 2018) and The Conners (2018–2019). Galecki also appeared in the films Prancer (1989), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Bookies (2003), In Time (2011), and Rings (2017).

Galecki was one of the highest paid television actors in the world, with his role in The Big Bang Theory earning him approximately US$900,000 per episode between 2017 and 2019. In 2018, he was estimated to be the world's second highest-paid male TV actor by Forbes (behind only his The Big Bang Theory co-star Jim Parsons), earning $25 million.

Early life

Galecki was born in Bree, Limburg, Belgium to American parents of Polish, Irish, and Italian descent. His mother, Mary Louise (Mary Lou) Noon, was a mortgage consultant, and his father, Richard Galecki, was a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed in Belgium and worked as a rehabilitation teacher. Galecki is the eldest of three children with a sister, Allison, and a brother, Nick, whom he describes as a "mechanical genius" in the automotive industry. Galecki grew up in Oak Park, Illinois. He dropped out of school after 8th grade, attending high school for only one day.

During an interview with New Zealand radio station ZM, Galecki recalled his childhood relationship with his mother. As a child, he was well known for making up long stories and tales. In such situations, his mother used to make him play the "quiet game", where he had to see how long he could go without talking. He also recalled that despite being a loving mother, she was also very tough. One phrase she would lovingly use was, "I love you, now get out."

Career

Johnny Galecki 2008
Galecki in July 2008

After working in the Chicago theatre scene as a young child, Galecki made his onscreen acting debut in the 1987 CBS miniseries Murder Ordained with JoBeth Williams and future Roseanne co-star John Goodman. In 1989, Galecki portrayed Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. In 1990, he was cast as Danny Nash, the son of Robert Urich's lead character, on the NBC comedy American Dreamer; the following season, he was a regular cast member on the ABC sitcom Billy, a spin-off from Head of the Class. He appeared in one episode of Blossom in 1991, opposite his future The Big Bang Theory co-star Mayim Bialik. He played a young delinquent in A Family Torn Apart (1993).

During his run on Billy, Galecki began making guest appearances on the hit ABC sitcom Roseanne as the younger brother of Mark Healy (Glenn Quinn), who began a relationship with Darlene Conner (Sara Gilbert). Introduced in his first appearance as Kevin Healy, his name was soon changed to David. After a few more guest shots, Galecki was named a permanent Roseanne cast member from the fall of 1992 onward, after the cancellation of Billy. He would remain in the role of David Healy until the end of Roseanne's run in 1997, with the character eventually marrying Darlene and fathering two children with her. Galecki's character on The Big Bang Theory would also have a short-lived relationship with Gilbert's character on the same show.

Galecki also appeared in the 1995 music video for the Dave Matthews Band song "Satellite".

After Roseanne ended, Galecki had small roles in a string of films, including the 1997 summer slasher film I Know What You Did Last Summer, Bean (1997), Bounce (2000) and Vanilla Sky (2001). He had a larger role in the 2003 film Bookies, a comedy thriller film about four college students. Galecki appeared as a golfer in a 2005 episode of My Name Is Earl.

In 2005, Galecki played Mark Corrigan in a pilot for a US adaptation of the British sitcom Peep Show. He played a character named Trouty on TBS's sitcom My Boys, and the half-brother of the main characters, sisters Hope Shanowski and Faith Fairfield, in the sitcom Hope & Faith. Galecki originated the role of Alex in the play The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane, in 2006 at Second Stage Theater. He stayed in the role for the play's Broadway run at the Cort Theatre in late 2006 and early 2007. Galecki said at the time, "At its core, the play is about what we all sacrifice to be successful, whatever our careers or goals." The play was a commercial and critical success, and Galecki won a 2007 Theater World Award for his performance.

Johnny Galecki at PaleyFest 2013
Galecki at PaleyFest 2013

Galecki played Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, which ran from 2007 to 2019 and was, for most of its run, among the top three most popular television comedies in the US. Galecki was originally asked to play the role of Sheldon Cooper, but he felt he was better suited for the role of Leonard, and Sheldon's role was eventually given to Jim Parsons. During the show's run, two of Galecki's former Roseanne co-stars appeared on the show: Sara Gilbert (as Leslie Winkle, Leonard's colleague) and Laurie Metcalf (as Mary Cooper, Sheldon's mother). Galecki is a cellist, a talent that was used on the show. Until 2013, Galecki and his Big Bang co-stars Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons each earned US$325,000 per episode. By 2014, the three were earning US$1 million per episode.

Galecki appeared briefly in the 2008 superhero comedy Hancock, alongside Will Smith and Jason Bateman. In July 2011, he played a parody version of himself in three episodes of Entourage. He also appeared in the film In Time (2011) with Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried.

Galecki appeared in one episode of the 2018 revival of Roseanne on ABC. The show, despite its high ratings, was canceled. Roseanne was replaced by a new program, The Conners, which premiered in October 2018. Galecki has occasionally appeared as David on The Conners.

Personal life

As a teenager, Galecki dated his Roseanne (and later The Big Bang Theory) co-star Sara Gilbert (their characters also dated). During their relationship, Gilbert realized she was gay. They remain close friends.

While working on The Big Bang Theory, Galecki dated co-star Kaley Cuoco for about two years until December 2009 while the two also played a couple on the show. Cuoco told CBS Watch that they have remained on good terms since ending their relationship.

Galecki owns 360 acres of land in Santa Margarita, California. His property included vineyards and a log cabin. In late June 2017, Galecki's ranch was destroyed in a major wildfire known as the Hill Fire. Galecki, in a media statement, said wildfire was "the threat ... we live with constantly, which may seem crazy to some but we do so because living in our beautiful, rural area makes it worthwhile."

In August 2018, Galecki started dating Alaina Meyer. Their son, Avery, was born in November 2019. In November 2020, it was reported that Galecki and Meyer had separated.

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1987 Time Out for Dad Matt Rowles
1987 Murder Ordained Doug Rule
1988 A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon Toby Reardon
1989 Prancer Billy Quinn
1989 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Russell "Rusty" Griswold
1989 In Defense of a Married Man Eric
1991 Backfield in Motion Tim Seavers
1993 A Family Torn Apart Daniel Hannigan
1994 Without Consent Marty
1996 Murder at My Door Teddy McNair
1997 Bean Stingo Wheelie
1997 ... Kings Ira Reder
1997 I Know What You Did Last Summer Max Neurick
1998 The Opposite of ... Jason Bock
2000 Playing Mona Lisa Arthur
2000 Bounce Seth
2001 Morgan's Ferry Darcy
2001 Vanilla Sky Peter Brown
2003 Bookies Jude
2004 Chrystal Barry
2004 White Like Me Marcus Short film
2005 Happy Endings Miles Uncredited cameo
2007 Who You Know David Short film
2008 Hancock Jeremy
2009 Table for Three Ted
2011 In Time Borel
2013 CBGB Terry Ork
2016 The Cleanse Paul Also producer
2017 Rings Gabriel Brown
2019 A Dog's Journey Henry Montgomery

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990–1991 American Dreamer Danny Nash Main role; one Young Artist Award nomination
1990 Blind Faith John Marshall Main role, miniseries
1991 Blossom Jason 1 episode
1992 Billy David MacGregor Main role
1992–1997;
2018
Roseanne David Healy / Kevin Healy (1st episode) One Young Artist Award win from three nominations
1993 Civil Wars Greg Stolbach Episode: "Split Ends"
2000 Batman Beyond Knux (voice) Episode: "April Moon"
2000 The Norm Show Dale Stockhouse Episodes: "Norm vs. Youth: Part 1" and "Norm vs. Youth: Part 2"
2004 LAX Leland Pressman Episode: "Finnegan Again, Begin Again"
2005 My Name Is Earl Scott Episode: "Stole Beer from a Golfer"
2005 Hope & Faith Jay 3 episodes
2005 Peep Show Mark Unaired Pilot
2006 American Dad! Arnie Episode: "Irregarding Steve"
2006–2007 My Boys Trouty 3 episodes
2007–2019 The Big Bang Theory Dr. Leonard Hofstadter Main role
Satellite Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy (2012)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (2011)
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy (2011)
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2012–2017)
Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series (2015)
2009 Family Guy Leonard Hofstadter (voice) Episode: "Business Guy"
2011 Entourage Himself 3 episodes
2016 Lip Sync Battle Himself Episode: "Josh Gad vs. Kaley Cuoco
2018–2019 The Conners David Healy 4 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1992 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series American Dreamer Nominated
1993 Best Young Actor Recurring in a Television Series Roseanne Nominated
1994 Best Youth Comedian Won
1995 Best Performance: Young Actor in a TV Comedy Series Nominated
2008 TV Land Award Innovator Shared with Sarah Chalke, Sara Gilbert and Alicia Goranson. Won
2010 Teen Choice Award Choice TV: Male Scene Stealer The Big Bang Theory Nominated
2011 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2012 Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical Nominated
Golden Nymph Award Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Shared with Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons, and Melissa Rauch Nominated
2013 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Shared with Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons, and Melissa Rauch Nominated
2014 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Shared with Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons, and Melissa Rauch Nominated
People's Choice Award Favorite TV Bromance Shared with Jim Parsons, Kunal Nayyar, and Simon Helberg Nominated
2015 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Shared with Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons, and Melissa Rauch Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2016 People's Choice Awards Favorite Comedic TV Actor Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Shared with Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons, and Melissa Rauch Nominated
2017 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Shared with Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons, and Melissa Rauch Nominated

See also

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