John goodman

John Goodman was born in 1952 very close to Saint Louis, in Missouri. There he grew up with his two brothers, although his father soon died: he died of a heart attack when John was only 4 years old. He attended Southwestern Missouri State University, where he combined his studies with football. In 1975 he graduated in dramatic art. His education completed, his brother lends him $1,000, with which he leaves for New York.

Goodman’s training as an actor was classical: he acted in theater doing Shakespeare plays. In a performance of Antony and Cleopatra for Tony Richardson , someone saw him and thought that he might be the ideal actor for the role of Dan, Roseanne’s nice husband in the television series.Roseanne . The show was a huge success, so Goodman played this character for 9 years. And it has given him many satisfactions: among others the Golden Globe for the best actor in a television comedy. Fame on the small screen allowed him to jump into the movies with fortune, something not easy. John made his film debut in 1983 withLong- suffering citizens of veteran Michael Ritchie . From that moment on, he accumulated secondary characters in films by prestigious directors. His works with Andrei Konchalovsky (Maria’s Lovers , 1984), Karel Reisz (Sweet dreams , 1985, with Jessica Lange and Ed Harris ), Jim McBride (Dear Detective , 1987, with Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin), Taylor Hackford ( When I Fall in Love , 1988, with Quaid and Lange) and Harold Becker (Seduction Melody , 1989, with Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin ). Without forgetting, of course, his collaboration with the Coen brothers, with whom he has madeArizona Baby (1987),Barton Fink (1991) orThe Big Lebowski (1998). Goodman only has words of praise for the Coens: “they are like one head. And they surround themselves with very good people, who are very happy to be with them. The atmosphere on the set is great.”

With Steven Spielberg he filmedAlways (Forever) (1989), a romantic comedy; The director was so happy that he gave him a car, a Miata convertible. He also worked in 2 of his productions:Arachnophobia (1990) andThe Flintstones (1994). In this he achieved incredible mimicry with the famous Fred Flintstone from cartoons. Other titles of interest in his filmography areRafi, a King of Weight ( David S. Ward , 1991), where he gives life, in a delusional way, to the only heir to the British royal family; Babe ( Arthur Hiller , 1992), where he is the legendary baseball player;Matinee ( Joe Dante , 1992), longing for matinees; YBorn Yesterday ( Luis Mandoki , 1993), a remake of the George Cukor comedy .

Goodman appreciated working onBlues Brothers 2000 (The Rhythm Goes On) (“I grew up in St. Louis and I’m a blues fan”) and The Big Lebowski (“The Coens wrote the part of Walter for me, a real piece of cake. He’s a guy who explodes easily, especially when you believe your rights have been violated”).

In his private life, which he reserves for himself, he is happy. Married to Annabeth Hartzog since 1989, he has a daughter named Molly, whom he affectionately calls his little Borrower, alluding to the endearing characters inThe Borrowers .