A chance encounter in a supermarket has put John Goodman back in the spotlight, after fellow actor David DeLuise shared a selfie with the Emmy-winning star on Instagram.
Goodman, 74, became a household name through Roseanne, and the weekend post quickly caught attention as fans reacted to the rare new image of the Hollywood veteran. DeLuise captioned the photo: “He was my childhood !! Legend ! I love that I get to say that to someone 😉 if you know you know,”
Commenters flooded in almost immediately, with several celebrating the sight of one of television’s most familiar father figures from the ’80s and ’90s. One fan was especially taken aback, writing, “Is that John Goodman???? @daviddeluise he’s unrecognisable,”
Others pointed to Goodman’s long-discussed physical change, which has seen him reportedly keep off 90kg. As one person put it: “I love John Goodman! Yes he looks very different but I bet he feels great!”
The post also delighted viewers who were amused to see two comedy “legends” meeting in the cereal aisle. DeLuise is known for playing Selena Gomez’s dad in the Disney sitcom and reboot of Wizards of Waverly Place.
That combination proved irresistible for some fans. “Two of my favourite TV dads,” one wrote, while another added: “Now this is a sitcom I’d watch!”
Goodman’s transformation has been linked to major lifestyle changes he made after giving up alcohol in 2007. The actor reportedly once weighed 181kg, later hired a personal trainer, and changed the way he ate in order to pursue healthier, more sustainable habits.
He has previously explained that the motivation was simple: to “live life better”.
When he spoke to ABC in 2016, Goodman described wanting a steadier approach after years of fluctuating weight. “This time I wanted to do it slowly, move, exercise,” he said. “I’m getting to the age where I can’t afford to sit still any more.”
Known not only for Roseanne but also for Monsters, Inc. and The Flintstones, Goodman remains active on screen. He is set to appear this year with Tom Cruise in the dark comedy Digger.
His Disney connection was formally recognised in 2013, when he was inducted into the Disney Hall of Fame for his wider body of work and voice performances, including Sulley in the Monsters, Inc. films and Pacha in The Emperor’s New Groove.
