John Goodman is an absolute treasure and one of the greats in the world of acting. Across genres, from comedy and horror to drama, animation, and anything else the entertainment industry can dream up, Goodman is a staple.
Over more than 40 years on screen, Goodman has appeared in a staggering number of projects. He’s a vital element of more than 100 releases — and that’s counting film alone. Once you add in his work across television, in releases like Roseanne and The Righteous Gemstones, Goodman’s presence as a titan of the screen is clear.
That’s not even considering his cross-generational appeal. The actor got his start back at the outset of the ’80s, and maintained an unbroken, solid workflow ever since, but he’s by no means exclusive to our parent’s generation. Younger audiences are just as familiar — if not more so — with Goodman’s work, thanks to his presence in a slew of animated hits like The Emperor’s New Groove, Monsters, Inc., and The Princess and the Frog. He’s also made his mark in horror films like 10 Cloverfield Lane, dramas like Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, and even action thrillers like Patriots Day.
In case you need more convincing, Goodman also seems to be a lovely person in real life, between his philanthropic efforts and reports of his general kindness. Despite consistent struggles with alcoholism during the apex of his career, the 71-year-old star has since left the bottle behind. He persistently attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and, following the start of his sobriety in 2007, he started to shed weight in droves. Formerly an imposing size, Goodman has shed more than 100 pounds over the last few decades, as he puts far more focus on his health. The change is impressive, and heartening, since we want Goodman to stick around for as long as possible.
John Goodman’s impressive weight loss
This is a rather odd topic for an article, I know, but shouldn’t we celebrate those big wins when they come around? Goodman’s weight loss is inarguably a win — not for any silly vain reasons, but because a healthy Goodman is a long-lived Goodman. We treasure this wonderful actor, and the shift in weight — from a consistent 400 pounds or so back in the early 2000s to a far healthier 300 pounds or less these days — can only mean good news for his contingent of fans.
Goodman, at 71, doesn’t have many social media channels of his own, but his massive fanbase has that territory well-covered. Several dedicated Instagram accounts dedicate themselves to tracking Goodman over the years, from his time on Roseanne to his more recent appearances.
The change is obvious, and wonderful to see. Goodman initially shed a bulk of weight more than a decade back, and he’s only gotten healthier in the years since.
Goodman continues to appear in projects like The Righteous Gemstones, and the next few years will see releases like Monsters at Work hit screens. If we’re lucky, we’ll get plenty more of Goodman’s signature style over the next decade, thanks at least in part to the actor’s dedication to maintaining his health and sharing his talent with the world.