For years, John Goodman lived two life.
For the world, it was nice, greater than life known for its iconic roles in movies such as Big Lebowski and raising Arizona. Yet behind the scenes he fought inner demons who would eventually endanger his career and his life.
Both fame and adoration grew, as well as the weight of his personal struggles – alcoholism and depression gripped firmly on it, and sometimes it seemed that nothing could pull him out of the verge. This is an unspeakable story of John Goodman’s journey through the darkness and in the light.
For most of his life, John Goodman faced alcoholism and depression challenges. He admitted that when he wanted a drink, nothing could stop him and often felt like a “walking heart attack”. Despite these ongoing struggles, he managed to overcome his personal demons and since then shared his way of recovery.
John Goodman, a renowned actor known for his roles in The Flintstones, Blues Brothers, Raising Arizona and Big Lebowski, recently turned 70 ..
Goodman was honest with his decade of long struggle with alcoholism, which seriously influenced his personal and professional career. In an interview from 2012, he openly admitted that his drinking had a deep impact on his acting, deteriorating his mood, memory and mental health.
Goodman, who considered the seriousness of his addiction, told the experiences of close death caused by his excessive drinking and remembered the moments when he could “drown” in alcohol.
He mentioned, “I suppose it was not an overdose but incorrect.” After drinking in 2007, Goodman acknowledged the daily challenge to remain sober, sometimes plagued nightmares of drinking again. He shared how he would wake up from these dreams and thought, “I shouldn’t do it,” just realize it was a nightmare.
To maintain sobriety, Goodman avoids an environment that could trigger his desires and surround himself with positive influences. He revealed that if he really wanted to drink, “nothing on God’s green land” could stop him. Its use of alcohol was partially driven by the constant anxiety of the uncertainty of work in the acting industry. He explained, “I’m an alcoholic. I would have peppered no matter … The company I chose is constantly nails and added to stress by drinking and using drugs. ”
Goodman was also thinking about his physical condition during his drink and described as “walking heart attack”. Despite these struggles, his love for playing, especially theater, motivated him. He compared the energy of getting on stage to the “gun from the cannon” and described the exhaustion that followed every show. Film work, on the other hand, felt slower and more exhausting, with long sections of downtime between scenes.
The award -winning actor also revealed how his addiction affected his ability to remember lines. After he drank heavily, he tried to remember his scripts, which in turn disrupted his trust. Over time, however, he learned to be patient with himself and believed that he eventually remembers the lines.
Along with fighting with alcoholism Goodman, he also faced an ongoing depression, which he described as a “chemical thing, a brain thing”. He often felt the ubiquitous feeling of misfortune with everything around him and lacked motivation to engage in activities, even though he knew he needed it.
Fortunately, Goodman found support in his wife Anna Beth Hartzog, who married in 1989. With her steadfast support he achieved soberness in 2007 and described a significant break in his life, which allowed him to confront his personal challenges and move forward.
John Goodman’s journey through alcoholism and depression is proof of its resistance and determination. Although he fought with these personal demons for many years, he was able to overcome them by supporting his loved ones and his own unwavering commitment to soberness.
His openness regarding his struggles not only allowed him to find healing, but also helped others understand the importance of confrontation with their own challenges. Today, when he celebrates 70 years of life, Goodman stands for many as inspiration, which proves that no matter how difficult a road can be, recovery is possible with the right support and determination.