Johnny Galecki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnny Galecki
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Galecki in 2017
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| Born |
John Mark Galecki
April 30, 1975 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Morgan Galecki
(m. 2024) |
| Partner(s) | Alaina Meyer (2018–2020) |
| Children | 2 |
John Mark Galecki (born April 30, 1975) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the smart and kind scientist Leonard Hofstadter on the hit TV show The Big Bang Theory from 2007 to 2019. Many people also know him as David Healy from the sitcom Roseanne, a role he played in the 1990s and returned to in 2018.
Galecki has also acted in many movies. Some of his famous films include National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and In Time. For his role in The Big Bang Theory, he became one of the highest-paid TV actors in the world. By 2018, he was earning about $25 million a year.
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Early Life
Johnny Galecki was born in Bree, Belgium, to American parents. His father, Richard, was in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed there. His mother, Mary Lou, was a mortgage consultant. He is the oldest of three children and has a sister, Allison, and a brother, Nick. Soon after he was born, his family moved to Oak Park, Illinois, where he grew up.
Galecki was a creative child who loved to make up long stories. His mother would sometimes play the "quiet game" with him to see how long he could go without talking. He has said his mother was very loving but also tough.
He started acting at a young age and loved it so much that he left regular school after the 8th grade. He only attended high school for one day before deciding to focus on his acting career.
Acting Career
First Roles
Galecki began acting in the theater in Chicago when he was a child. His first role on screen was in a TV miniseries called Murder Ordained in 1987. Two years later, he played the part of Rusty Griswold in the popular holiday movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
In the early 1990s, he starred in two short-lived TV shows, American Dreamer and Billy. He also appeared in an episode of Blossom, where he acted alongside Mayim Bialik, who would later become his co-star on The Big Bang Theory.
Roseanne
In 1992, Galecki got his big break when he joined the cast of the hit sitcom Roseanne. He played David Healy, the gentle and artistic boyfriend of Darlene Conner (played by Sara Gilbert). He was a main character on the show until it ended in 1997. His character David eventually married Darlene, and they had two children.
After Roseanne ended, Galecki acted in several movies. He had roles in the horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), the comedy Bean (1997), and the drama Bounce (2000).
The Big Bang Theory
In 2007, Galecki was cast in what would become his most famous role: Dr. Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The show is about a group of brilliant but socially awkward scientists. Interestingly, he was first asked to play the part of Sheldon Cooper. However, Galecki felt he was a better fit for Leonard, who has a crush on his neighbor Penny. The role of Sheldon then went to Jim Parsons.
The Big Bang Theory became one of the most popular comedies on television and ran for 12 seasons. For their work on the show, Galecki and his co-stars Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons eventually earned about $1 million for each episode. During the show, his former Roseanne co-star Sara Gilbert also appeared as Leslie Winkle, a fellow scientist and Leonard's one-time girlfriend.
Later Work
While still on The Big Bang Theory, Galecki appeared in films like the superhero comedy Hancock (2008) and the science-fiction movie In Time (2011).
In 2018, he returned to his role as David Healy in the revival of Roseanne. After that show was replaced by The Conners, he continued to make occasional guest appearances as David.
Personal Life
When they were teenagers, Galecki dated his Roseanne co-star Sara Gilbert. Their characters also dated on the show. They have remained good friends ever since.
Later, while working on The Big Bang Theory, he dated co-star Kaley Cuoco for about two years. Their characters, Leonard and Penny, were also a couple on the show. They also stayed on good terms after their relationship ended.
In 2018, Galecki began dating Alaina Meyer, and they had a son together in 2019. The couple separated in 2020. In 2024, he married Morgan Galecki, and they welcomed a daughter.
See also
In Spanish: Johnny Galecki para niños
