Everyone loves John Goodman. Few people can watch a beloved John Goodman movie and not feel some sort of comfort. Largely, that is because John Goodman played one of America’s favorite fictional fathers in his reprising role, which won him a Golden Globe, as Dan Conner on the nine year running ‘Roseanne’. Sadly, Dan’s character died at the end of the last season the show was on air. Hollywood being the magical place of made up story lines that it is, however, brought Dan back to life for the reboot of the show which recently aired, making 10 seasons of the hit show. The number, and the theme, are not coincidental when it comes to Goodman’s personal life. John Goodman has been sober for 10 years now after nearly losing his life to alcoholism in the later seasons of the show.
‘Roseanne’ was such a wild hit that Goodman, and other actors on the show, rocketed to stardom. For Goodman, the loss of anonymity was overwhelming. Talking to The Today Show, Goodman explained how he became “complacent and ungrateful”, wanting to leave the show. “I handled it like I did everything else, by sittin’ on a bar stool. And that made it worse.” Like many other alcoholics, Goodman attempted to cope with the stresses of his life by turning to alcohol. What was perhaps at one time a solution quickly became a primary problem. After missing a rehearsal due to being intoxicated, Goodman hit his ‘bottom’, realizing it was time for treatment. “I was shaking, I was still drinking, but I was still shaking,” Goodman described. “I had the clarity of thought that I needed to be hospitalized.”
Coming to a profound moment of realization is a common occurrence among suffering from alcohol use disorders on the brink of entering recovery. Goodman joyfully explains that everyone on the set of ‘Roseanne’ is happy and grateful to be back, having a great time filming their new season. The numbers from their premiere episode stacked up to Goodman’s sentiments: 18.2 million same-day viewers tuned in for the return of the Conner family.
John Goodman’s story is an important one for professionals who are struggling with the demands of their career. Even as an accomplished actor, Goodman was challenged in feeling connected to his passion and profession. To cope, he turned to alcohol and developed alcoholism. Professionals from across numerous fields suffer the same problem every single day. Like Goodman, finding sobriety is possible for all of them.
Let the O’Connor Professional Group take the guesswork out of putting a treatment plan together. Our combined personal and professional experience empowers us to empower you with a private consultation and customized plan of action for getting the help you need. Call us today for information: 617 910-3940
