Can you even picture "Roseanne" without John Goodman? Believe it or not, that almost happened back in the mid-1990s. In a recent heart-to-heart with Today, the beloved actor revealed that his personal struggles with alcoholism and stress nearly drove him to walk away from the show right when it was at the top of its game.

John Goodman's Battle with Fame and Alcoholism

"At first, it was thrilling," John shared with co-host Willie Geist, reflecting on the show's incredible success. "But then it got scary once I lost my anonymity." Fame can be a double-edged sword, and for John, it quickly became overwhelming. The pressure of being in the spotlight, combined with the loss of privacy, pushed him toward alcohol as a coping mechanism. "I got complacent and ungrateful," he admitted. "And after eight years, I just wanted out. My way of dealing with it was to sit on a bar stool, and trust me, that only made things worse."

Turning Things Around

Thankfully, John didn't leave the show. He stayed on until the original series finale in 1997 and has since returned for the reboot, which has been a huge hit. Shortly after the original show wrapped up 20 years ago, John sought treatment for his alcoholism. Today, he's been sober for a decade, and it's clear that he's a changed man.

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Fast forward to today, and John is thrilled to be part of the show's revival. "This time around, everyone in the cast is genuinely grateful to be there," John said during an interview with Today. It's a testament to how far he's come and how much he's learned from his past experiences.

Life as Dan Conner Today

Despite his gratitude, John admitted during another chat with AARP The Magazine that playing Dan Conner today isn't as easy as it used to be. "Daddy gets tired; Daddy gets headaches and forgets his lines sometimes," he joked. "When I was younger, I thought I was some kind of humor expert. Now, I don't have to work so hard to be funny." But beneath the humor, there's a deeper appreciation for the role. "I started looking back fondly and realized just how lucky I've been," John confessed. "And I really feel that now."