John Goodman's larger than life presence has long made him a beloved Hollywood star. From his days as the working-class dad, Dan Conner on Roseanne to his unforgettable work with the Coen Brothers.
But over the years, the 73-year-old has been making headlines for a different reason. Having lost a staggering 200 pounds — which is roughly half his peak body weight — John is proving that it is never too late to rewrite your health story.
Now, as fans continue to marvel at his body transformation, John's high school picture has resurfaced. Today, he looks more like he did as a teen than he did decades ago.
John appeared on the Today Show talking about his recent visit to Missouri State University where he was once a student.
He reminisced about his time there and how when he's in Springfield he likes to return to the campus and remember his roots.
During his chat, John was also surprised by a former teacher who shared a video message with the NBC show detailing how she knew he was destined for success.
In the footage, they also shared a photo of John from high school in which he wore thick-rimmed glasses, his hair swept to the side and his signature smile.
Fans remarked on the clip Today shared on Instagram and commented: "Isn’t that wonderful and John Goodman looks so healthy!" while another added: "Big John no more! Looking svelte Mr Goodman, hope you're healthy too."
The turning point
John's transformation didn't happen overnight and has been a "slow and steady" journey that began nearly 20 years ago.
After reaching a peak weight of approximately 400 lbs, the turning point came in 2007.
"I just got tired, sick and tired of looking at myself," he told ABC News in 2016. "You’re shaving in the mirror and you don’t want to look at yourself. It gets dangerous."
His first major step was sobriety. After decades of struggling with alcoholism,
John checked into rehab and credits the move with saving his life and giving him the clarity to address his physical health.
John Goodman's diet
John's transformation hasn't relied on fad diets or quick fixes. He credits his success story to focusing on sustainable, long-term lifestyle change.
In the past he would adopt the all or nothing mentality. "I would take three months off, lose 60 or 70 pounds, and then reward myself with a six-pack of Bud and a candy bar and go back to my old habits," he told ABC News. "Now, it’s about making a choice every single day."
His exercise regime
Being active is a big part of his wellness routine, and he previously told Rolling Stone that boxing sessions were his go-to.
"It's usually just an hour, hour and a half of hitting the mitts, hitting the bags, learning footwork. It's great," he said.
He also loves walking his dogs and generally moving.
Navigating setbacks
John hit a hurdle in his workouts when in 2025, while filming a movie, he suffered a fractured hip in an on-set accident.
Fans were concerned the injury might derail his progress, but John's newfound fitness proved to be his greatest asset during recovery. He returned to the red carpet in March 2026 at SXSW looking svelte and energetic, proving his commitment to longevity was as strong as ever.
