John Goodman recently discussed the challenges he faced with fame during a conversation with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. The 74-year-old actor talked about feeling ‘frightened’ by the level of fame he achieved after starring in ‘Roseanne’ and other projects.
When questioned about the pitfalls he wished he had anticipated, Goodman noted that he should have understood fame better. He admitted, ‘I wish I would have taken to it better. I didn’t. I was frightened … I’m my own worst enemy, by far.’
Goodman’s experience of handling fame was challenging.
In the conversation with interviewer Joe Neumaier, Goodman shared how his career transformation in the late ‘80s and early ’90s altered his life from being an independent actor to a celebrity. ‘It changed,’ he remarked. He was advised to get a publicist once his fame soared, which led to difficult adjustments. Goodman stated, ‘I had a bad time dealing with how famous I got all of a sudden and said, ‘Well, that ain’t me.’
Adjusting to fame took Goodman a considerable time. He elaborated on the negotiations necessary to promote films that come with fame. While not ideal, these efforts are crucial as they involve significant financial investments.
Goodman reflected on choosing to do ‘Roseanne’ to stop living out of a suitcase. He connected instantly with Roseanne Barr during auditions, believing confidently when leaving them that he had secured the role. ‘Roseanne’ ran on ABC for nine seasons from 1988 to 1997, producing 222 episodes and winning four Emmy Awards.
During the time, television was dominated by shows depicting wealth, such as ‘Dynasty’ and ‘Dallas.’ Contrarily, ‘Roseanne’ was about sober reality. Goodman shared how Barr emphasized, ‘Just because we’re poor doesn’t make us stupid.’ The love and laughter within the family portrayed authenticity on screen.
Goodman proceeded to achieve success in movies like ‘The Flintstones,’ ‘The Big Lebowski,’ and ‘Monsters Inc.’ before reprising the role of Dan Conner in the 2018 ‘Roseanne’ reboot. Despite its potential, the reboot was canceled after a racist comment made by Barr on social media. Following, ABC developed a spin-off named ‘The Conners,’ airing 112 episodes from 2018 to 2025 alongside Goodman’s work on ‘The Righteous Gemstones.’
According to Goodman, he initially thought the ‘Roseanne’ reboot would be limited to a few episodes. After Barr’s dismissal, he transitioned to other projects like ‘Righteous Gemstones’ with the continuation offered as ‘The Conners.’ His time there was enjoyable, though he did not anticipate its duration.
As noted in 2025 by Goodman to The Hollywood Reporter, he and Barr had not communicated for seven or eight years. Barr expressed feeling ‘betrayed’ by Goodman due to his reduced participation in later seasons of ‘Roseanne,’ highlighting his decision based on hearsay from producers.
Despite past collaborations and success, the relationship between Goodman and Barr remains distant. Goodman concluded with an outlook of uncertainty regarding communication with Barr.