Why John Goodman Almost Left 'Roseanne'
Roseanne is currently enjoying a new wave of success, as the revival of the classic sitcom is one of the biggest hits on television in years. But in a new interview with the Today show, John Goodman revealed he nearly left the show during the height of its original popularity.
The actor explained that the stress of sudden fame led him to turn to abusing alcohol. “At first it was exciting,” he said. “Then it got frightening when I lost my anonymity.”
Years into filming the show, Goodman said he got fed up and wanted to leave Roseanne. “What it boils down to is I got complacent and ungrateful. And after nine years - eight years, I wanted to leave the show,” he said. “I handled it like I did everything else, by sitting on a bar stool. And that made it worse.”
Goodman’s alcoholism affected his work as an actor, admitting he’d drink on set and his speech would be slurred. Later on, he said, he realized he needed help once he missed a rehearsal because he was drunk. "I was shaking, I was still drinking, but I was still shaking," he said. "I had the clarity of thought that I needed to be hospitalized."
The actor has been sober for 10 years, and now lives in New Orleans instead of Hollywood. But he said the new Roseanne seasons are a way to do things right this time. “[I'm] making amends to myself," he said. "That’s exactly what I did, putting the things I did to myself right again.”
You can watch the full interview below:
You Might Also Like
