John Goodman, 71, reveals he ‘virtually had a nervous breakdown’
John Goodman candidly admitted he ‘practically had a nervous breakdown’ while discussing fears and recent career struggles.
The Big Lebowski star, 71 – who recently showed off his slimmed-down figure during an outing in NYC – opened up on the topic during an appearance on the SmartLess podcast earlier this month on June 3.
While joining hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes, the actor explained that he is focusing on slowing down when it comes to his career – instead of overworking to push aside his anxieties and fears.
‘I overcompensated by working way too hard,’ Goodman stated. ‘I’ve just kind of come out of that in the last year or so. And there’s so much to learn.
‘It’s much different now. I feel like I’m still learning. The last couple of years have been goofy for me because I’ve been trying to be good, and it doesn’t work that way.’
John Goodman, 71, candidly admitted he ‘practically had a nervous breakdown’ while discussing fears and recent career struggles; seen in June 2023 in Monaco
‘You know, like planning things way too much, and at the root of that was the fear of losing trust in myself,’ he further expressed during the episode.
In regards to how he ‘managed’ to overcome the difficulties in his life, the star said that he ‘practically had a nervous breakdown.’
‘It was bad with everything. It just purged out of me when I went to the therapist one day. And then for the rest of the day it was horrible. Nothing worked. You’ve got to be relaxed when you do stuff. And open and listen.’
John added, ‘You have to be ready to listen to yourself. You have to be relaxed. For me, that was the key. I already know this stuff, and that’s one thing I didn’t trust myself about.’
The Emmy winner is currently starring in the ABC sitcom, The Conners, as well as HB Max’s The Righteous Gemstones.
‘I don’t know. I’ve been doing the same two roles for the last four or five years, and I haven’t really had much of a chance to do everything else.’
Host Sean Hayes applauded Goodman for being open as well as giving ‘helpful’ advice, stating that it is ‘silly we all need a reminder that everyone is human.’
In 2007, John became sober and explained that his journey has helped him in being more open about personal struggles.
‘I overcompensated by working way too hard,’ Goodman stated. ‘I’ve just kind of come out of that in the last year or so. And there’s so much to learn’; seen in 2018 in NYC
The Emmy winner is currently starring in the ABC sitcom, The Conners, (seen above) as well as HB Max’s The Righteous Gemstones
‘It’s kind of to help myself and maybe to help somebody else. I’ve been clean about 16 years. The last 16 years I’ve had to grow a lot into my normal age, and it’s been a lot, but I’m glad I did it.’
Goodman – who has previously opened up about his 200lb weight loss – commented on his path to sobriety during a past interview with The Guardian. ‘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 got 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,’ John explained.
And while talking to ABC News in 2016, the 10 Cloverfield Lane actor discussed his weight loss journey after weighing 400lbs at one point.
‘I just stopped eating all the time. I’d have a handful of food and it’d go to my mouth. I was just eating all the time. I was just eating alcoholically,’ the star expressed.
‘In the old days, I would take three months out, lose 60 or 70 pounds, and then reward myself with a 6-pack of bud or whatever and just go back to my old habits.’
John continued, ‘Then this time I wanted to do it slowly, move, exercise. I’m getting to the age where I can’t afford to sit still anymore. And it gives me the energy to work, ’cause work is very draining.’
He later reflected, ‘I think you’re trying to fill a hole that can’t be filled unless it’s filled with goodness, some kind of spirituality, not saying religion.’
‘But just a belief in something higher than yourself, a purpose,’ the Roseanne actor added.
‘I just stopped eating all the time. I’d have a handful of food and it’d go to my mouth. I was just eating all the time. I was just eating alcoholically,’ the star expressed; seen in 2009 in Berlin
He later reflected, ‘I think you’re trying to fill a hole that can’t be filled unless it’s filled with goodness, some kind of spirituality, not saying religion’; seen in 2021 in L.A.
‘But instead of filling it with booze or cocaine or food, you just acknowledge that it’s there. You can’t fill it. And you go on and live with it.’
Back in 2015, John’s health coach opened up to the New York Post to reveal how the actor dropped 100 pounds at the time.
‘This didn’t happen overnight – it’s been an ongoing process,’ Mackie Shilstone said, adding that Goodman went on a ‘Mediterranean-style’ diet that focused on foods such as fish, olive oil, nuts, fruits and vegetables.
The Golden Globe winner additionally exercised six days a week and made sure to rake in around 10,000-12,000 steps daily. ‘There needs to be strategic planning. This time, he really wanted to do it.’
