For most of his life, John Goodman struggled with alcoholism and depression.

He admitted that if he wanted a drink, “nothing” could stop him, and he even felt like a “walking heart attack.” Despite these battles, he managed to overcome his demons and live to tell his story.

Goodman, a celebrated actor known for roles in The Flintstones, Blues Brothers, Raising Arizona, and The Big Lebowski, recently turned 70. However, throughout his successful career, he dealt with deep personal challenges that contributed to his depression and alcoholism

He has been open about his battle with alcoholism, which lasted for over 30 years and had a major impact on his personal and professional life. In a 2012 interview, he confirmed that his drinking had “absolutely” affected his acting career, admitting that it worsened his temperament, memory, and depression.

The veteran actor also revealed that his condition affected his ability to remember lines. After periods of heavy drinking, he struggled to recall his scripts, which only reinforced his lack of confidence. However, he eventually learned to be patient with himself and trust that he could learn the lines with time.

In addition to battling alcoholism, Goodman dealt with ongoing depression. He described it as a “chemical thing, a brain thing,” expressing a sense of overall unhappiness with everything around him. He often felt like nothing was right and had no interest in doing anything, despite knowing he needed to be active.