John Goodman is showing off his dramatic 200-lb weight loss transformation in a new feature in The New Yorker, while also revealing how he turned to food for comfort after quitting drinking.
In the accompanying portrait, photographed by Brian Gove, Goodman looks noticeably slimmer following his dramatic transformation. And while the interview touched upon everything from his Hollywood career and personal insecurities to his latest movie, Digger, it was his candid comments about his past eating habits and struggles with alcohol that really caught our attention.
The 74-year-old actor, who has become almost unrecognizable to some fans following his weight loss transformation, told the publication in an interview published on Sunday, October 18th, that he had struggled with his weight for years before getting sober in 2007 at the age of 55. However, giving up alcohol didn’t immediately solve his problems, as he admitted that he was “eating alcoholically” after quitting drinking, describing how he turned to food for comfort. After years of yo-yo dieting, he eventually made lasting changes to his eating habits and lifestyle, losing an incredible 200 lbs. from his peak weight of almost 400 lbs. Keep reading for more info…
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John Goodman Opens Up About His Eating Habits And Past Alcoholism In Candid New Interview
In the candid interview, the Roseanne alum spoke about his past yo-yo dieting before losing 200 lbs., saying: "I'd lose 60 lbs. in a summer, gain it all back – 70 lbs., 80 lbs. – and that got tiring."
He added: "I took steps so I wouldn't have to do that anymore. I was almost 400 lbs. I was eating alcoholically after I stopped drinking." Goodman also reflected on how he used to turn to food for comfort, admitting: "I would overeat, because that was comfort."
The Righteous Gemstones actor also opened up about his decision to get sober, admitting that he was "really immature" at the time and that drinking only "sustained that immaturity." He added: "I wanted to live in 'Animal House' the whole time."
"I got sick and tired of being sick and tired," he continued. "The thing about instant gratification is you don't really care [about] what's going to happen right after it – which always led to bigger hangovers or me getting the shakes, and having to drink to get rid of the shakes, and that vicious cycle."
The Monsters, Inc. star revealed just how serious things had become before he finally decided to stop drinking. "I was in a position when I quit where I had to be hospitalized one way or the other. I just was tired of it, and I wanted to stop," he explained. "I was delaying my maturation by drinking, and I had a lot of catching up to do, just realizing how selfish it made me."
Goodman said he had been "overlooking real life" during his years of drinking, adding that it was "great to see there was a life where [he] didn't have to use anything to enjoy it."
The Big Lebowski star also revealed that he underwent stomach surgery to address his weight struggles after giving up alcohol, although the procedure brought some additional health challenges. "I also turned anemic and lost a layer of fat under my skin, and I'm cold all the time," he confessed.
John Goodman Previously Opened Up About His 200-Lb Weight Loss
This isn't the first time Goodman has spoken openly about his struggles with alcohol and weight. In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, he reflected on how his decades of drinking had affected both himself and those around him.
"It was getting to be too much. It was 30 years of a disease that was taking its toll on everyone around me, and it had gotten to the point where, every time I did it, it was becoming more and more debilitating. It was life or death. It was time to stop," he admitted.
And in a 2010 interview with People, Goodman revealed that his breaking point with his weight came when he was nearing 400 lbs. and could no longer stand looking at himself in the mirror.
"I just got tired, sick and tired of looking at myself," he said, adding: "You're shaving in the mirror, and you don't want to look at yourself. It gets dangerous."
Earlier this year, Goodman sat down for a rare new interview for London restaurant Simpson's in the Strand, where he once again touched upon his dramatic transformation.
He explained how quitting alcohol had changed his entire lifestyle, saying: "I don't grill anymore because I don't drink anymore. And that was a good excuse to get drunk and stand in front of something hot."
As well as giving up alcohol, Goodman has reportedly followed the Mediterranean diet and changed his eating habits as part of his weight loss journey. He previously credited "portion control" for his transformation, telling AARP magazine back in 2018 that it was a major change from his former habit of "just shoving everything into my mouth." We wish all celebs were this candid!
