For decades, John Goodman was recognized as the lovable, larger-framed Dan Conner on Roseanne, but photographs from recent years reveal a remarkable change in the actor’s appearance. At his heaviest, Goodman estimated that he weighed close to 400 pounds, and repeated attempts to slim down often ended with the weight returning. He eventually adopted a more gradual approach, focusing on eating less, walking, and exercising rather than relying on short-term efforts. His journey also followed a major personal turning point: in 2007, at age 55, he stopped drinking after years of struggling with alcoholism. Yet sobriety alone did not resolve his relationship with food. Goodman later admitted that he continued “eating alcoholically,” describing a pattern of constant eating that reminded him of his former drinking habits. After years of frustrating setbacks, he has now revealed another significant step he took to change his health.

In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Goodman disclosed that he underwent an operation on his stomach after reaching nearly 400 pounds, although he did not specify the procedure. The revelation adds an important detail to the story behind his reported weight loss of approximately 200 pounds. Alongside the operation, he has credited smaller portions and regular movement with helping him maintain a healthier lifestyle. Walking his dogs became one way to stay active, and before the COVID-19 pandemic, he also enjoyed boxing workouts that involved hitting mitts and bags. However, the transformation came with challenges: Goodman said he later developed anemia and began feeling cold much of the time. Despite those difficulties, the actor has continued working, appearing at public events and maintaining a dramatically different look from his early Roseanne years. His experience reveals that the change involved far more than a simple diet or workout routine—it required confronting long-standing habits and making lasting adjustments.