John Goodman says Roseanne fame left him frightened and calling himself his own worst enemy

John Goodman, 74, told the SAG‑AFTRA Foundation on 17 October 2026 that the sudden fame he experienced after starring in Roseanne frightened him and made him "my own worst enemy."

Goodman said he wishes he had understood fame better and taken it more seriously, adding that he was told early in his career to hire a publicist and "get a hold of this stuff." He described the pressure of sudden celebrity as a "bad time" that forced him to say, "Well, that ain’t me."

The actor recalled agreeing to join Roseanne to quit "living out of a suitcase" and noted he immediately clicked with Roseanne Barr, feeling confident in his decision to take the role. The sitcom aired on ABC for nine seasons from 1988 to 1997, delivering 222 episodes and winning four Emmy Awards, while presenting a sober‑reality portrayal of a working‑class family.

After the original run, Goodman built a successful film career with credits including The Flintstones, The Big Lebowski and Monsters Inc. He later returned to the character Dan Conner for the 2018 Roseanne reboot, which was quickly cancelled after Barr’s racist social‑media post. The cast then relaunched as The Conners, a spin‑off that ran for 112 episodes through 2025 alongside Goodman’s work on The Righteous Gemstones.

Goodman admitted he never expected the reboot to extend beyond a handful of episodes, saying he thought it would be a "one‑off thing." He also confirmed that he and Barr have not spoken for about seven or eight years, expressing doubt that she wants any contact.

Despite the challenges of fame, Goodman continues to work on new projects, balancing television commitments with other roles, and remains candid about the personal growth required to navigate a high‑profile career.