TV Icon's Missouri Return Sparks Buzz as Weight-Loss Journey Continues
Beloved sitcom starJohn Goodman made a highly-anticipated return to Missouri.
The award-winning actor and TV icon is a Missouri State alum. A few days ago, he returned to Springfield for the Route 66 Centennial Celebration Kickoff alongside the Today show.
Per Springfield Daily Citizen, Goodman expressed gratitude for his time in Springfield for giving him direction, noting, "It's not like I feel like I owe them, but I do. My life came together here. I was drifting. I went to college just as a time-filler, I didn't really have much of a purpose."
He also took a moment to take in the sights, as revealed in a photo showing him posing in front of a mural in Springfield, Missouri. The picture was posted by Meg Wagler, the artist who painted the beautiful mural.
"Casual Friday with John Goodman 😎 Thanks to John and Biff for stopping by to check out my work before the @route66festivalsgf parade! 🚗 🐻 @missouristate @msu_foundation @downtownsgf @abvagency @cocacola," read the caption on the social media share.
In the image, The Conners star sported jeans, a tie-dye t-shirt, and a spring jacket. Goodman's slimmed-down physique was hard to miss, garnering plenty of buzz in the comment section.
Over the past year, Goodman has undergone a major weight loss transformation, especially after he was nearly unrecognizable during an appearance in New York City last summer.
While many emphasized he lost "so much weight" and was "a third of the man he used to be," others praised him for the transformation.
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"I love that John lost weight. He's healthy, and he's happy. Be proud of him. Regardless of how he did it, it wasn't easy. Especially at his age," insisted a fan. Another fan pointed out that Goodman has "been losing weight for 20 years," which is true.
Since the early 2000s, the Roseanne star has taken a slow-and-steady approach to his weight-loss journey. Over the two decades, he made lifestyle changes, such as quitting drinking, eating healthier, and working out six days a week with a personal trainer.
During an interview with Rolling Stone magazine in 2023, Goodman revealed that he had lost over 200 pounds. The funnyman continues his commitment to health at age 72, after weighing nearly 400 pounds at the height of Roseanne back in the early '90s.
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 10:23 AM.