John Goodman said giving up alcohol was a “life-saving” choice, in a rare comment about his weight loss and sobriety over the years.
The Emmy-winning actor, 74, said he was caught in a “vicious cycle” of eating and drinking, weighed nearly 181 kilograms at his heaviest.
John Goodman, pictured in September 2026, has reportedly maintained a 90kg weight transformation over the years. Getty
Speaking to The New Yorker on Sunday, Goodman opened up about his sobriety journey.
“I was in a position, when I quit, where I had to be hospitalised one way or the other,” he said. “I just was tired of it, and I wanted to stop.”
The Flintstones actor quit drinking in 2007 at age 55. Before then, he struggled to find a weight loss program that stuck.
He explained to the publication he’d lose 27 kilograms in one summer then gain it all back again. Then 36 kilograms the next.
“And that got tiring,” the Roseanne star admitted. “I took steps so I wouldn’t have to do that any more. I was almost 400 pounds (181 kilograms).”
Throughout the interview, Goodman confessed that his drinking “sustained” his “immaturity” which contributed to his ‘happy guy’ persona fans have come to love on screens.
When he at last, decided to get sober at 55, giving up that persona was not even a question.
Goodman, known for his roles in Roseanne, Monsters, Inc. and The Flintstones has reportedly maintained a 90kg transformation. FilmMagic
“Because I was saving my life at the point,” he said. “Whatever it took to stay sober, which came very easily.”
The actor opened up about a “vicious cycle” of “instant gratification” he experienced when it came to his relationship with food and alcohol.
“Which always led to bigger hangovers or me getting the shakes, and having to drink to get rid of the shakes,” he explained.
Goodman shared the screen with Rick Moranis in 1994 classic The Flintstones. He admitted his drinking contributed to his ‘happy guy’ persona onscreen. Universal Pictures
When he quit, Goodman realised just “how selfish” drinking made him, and admitted he had a lot of catching up to do in life.
“I was overlooking real life. And it was great to see there was a life where I didn’t have to use anything to enjoy it.”
Taking on a low-impact approach, Goodman hired a personal trainer, changed his eating habits and went from his heaviest at 181 kilos, to maintaining his 90 kilos weight transformation over the years.
Goodman and his wife, Anna Beth, walk the red carpet of the Diggers Septmber 2026 premiere. Getty
Speaking about his lifestyle changes in 2016, Goodman told US outlet ABC, “This time I wanted to do it slowly, move, exercise.”
“I’m getting to the age where I can’t afford to sit still any more.”
In August, the ’90s star stunned fans after being spotted online in a grocery store selfie.
David DeLuise spotted with Hollywood legend John Goodman in the cereal aisle. Instagram/@daviddeluise
Goodman ran into fellow Disney actor David DeLuise who shared the candid photo on Instagram.
Fans jumped to the comments section, delighted to see a recent photo of The Big Lebowski star, amid his 90 kilo transformation.
“Is that John Goodman???? He’s unrecognisable,” commented one fan.
The veteran actor returned to the big screen this year alongside Tom Cruise in dark comedy Digger.
In 2013, Goodman was inducted into the Disney Hall of Fame for his legacy work and voice-acting talents, most notably starring as ‘Sulley’ in the Monsters, Inc. franchise and Pacha in The Emperor’s New Groove.