Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Who Was in the Original Cast of 'Roseanne'?

Who Was in the Original Cast of 'Roseanne'?
Actors John Goodman and Roseanne Barr speak during SiriusXM's Town Hall with the cast of Roseanne on March 27, 2018 in New York City.

Roseanne, the famous American television sitcom, initially aired in 1988. Now, the show is back with a brand new batch of episodes but with the same, fan-favorite cast.

The series revolves around the Conners, a blue-collar, Illinois family, and was a hit in its heyday. In 2002, Roseanne was ranked #35 on TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time."


On May 16, ABC began airing a revival of the series that picks up where season 10 ended. Which cast members have changed, and which have stayed the same? Read on to learn about the original cast.

Roseanne Barr: Roseanne Barr is back as Roseanne. This time around, Barr is working as one of the writers of the show, along with Whitney Cummings, Wanda Sykes and Norm McDonald.

Barr began her career doing stand-up comedy at clubs before nabbing the role. She earned both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her work on the show.

Actress Roseanne Barr speaks during SiriusXM's Town Hall with the cast of Roseanne on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

John Goodman: John Goodman is back as the beloved Dan Conner... but how exactly is that possible? Fans may remember that when the series closed in 1997, Dan had died from a heart attack. In this season's premiere episode, Dan is awoken by Roseanne as he removes a sleep apnea mask from his face. He's asked, "What happened?" and his wife says, "I thought you were dead!" In true Roseanne fashion, the show poked fun at Dan's 1997 death in order to make the show possible.

Actor John Goodman of the television show Roseanne reacts onstage during the ABC Television/Disney portion of the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 8, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Laurie Metcalf:  Along with the rest of the cast, Laurie Metcalf is also back to reprise her role as Jackie Harris, Roseanne's younger sister by three years, and Dan's sister-in-law.

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Metcalf described returning to the show as "putting on a nice old pair of shoes again." Barr said of her co-star, "There’s nobody like her in TV... She can make [Jackie] really small, and really broad. We are all just in awe of her.”

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 04: Laurie Metcalf attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Micheal Fishman: Michael Fishman played DJ Conner, the first son of the Conner household, for 220 episodes of Roseanne. Fishman was just a young boy when he first acted on the series. Speaking to Hidden Remote about what it was like growing up on a television show, Fishman says, "I was lucky enough to grow up with great people in front and behind the camera. I was fascinated by everyone. Still am. I loved the crew, never became aloof or jaded. Occasionally you get aggressive or antagonistic haters. It is an occupational hazard, but one I always felt was worth it."

Actor Michael Fishman poses for photos during SiriusXM's Town Hall with the cast of Roseanne on March 27, 2018 in New York City.

Sara Gilbert: Sarah played Darlene Conner on Roseanne, Dan and Roseanne's second child. Sara received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work as Darlene. She is currently the co-host and creator of the CBS daytime talk show The Talk. She plays the recurring role of Leslie Winkle on CBS's The Big Bang Theory.

Sara Gilbert attends the premiere of ABC's "Roseanne" at Walt Disney Studio Lot on March 23, 2018 in Burbank, California.

Alicia Goranson:  Alicia Goranson played Becky Conner on Roseanne. Becky was Dan and Roseanne's oldest daughter, and the sister of Darlene, DJ, and Jerry.

Goranson, now 43, has held supporting roles in How to Make an American Quilt, Boys Don't Cry, and The Extra Man.

Lecy Goranson attends An Evening With The Cast Of "Roseanne"at The Paley Center for Media on March 26, 2018 in New York City.

More from News

Michael Glantz is seen eating during the WHCD chaos in a moment that quickly went viral.
@ChrisStephensMD/X; @whcinsider/Instagram

Guy Who Was Caught On Camera Still Eating During Correspondents' Dinner Chaos Explains His Actions

While most attendees hit the floor during a chaotic moment at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Michael Glantz stayed exactly where he was—fork in hand. After the clip made the rounds online, the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) agent is now explaining why he didn’t move.

Glantz was caught on C-SPAN cameras remaining in his seat and even taking a few bites of his spring pea and burrata salad as chaos unfolded around him.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Norah O'Donnell
60 Minutes/CBS

Trump Just Responded To The Correspondents' Dinner Shooter's Manifesto—And Norah O'Donnell's Reaction Is Priceless

On Sunday, MAGA Republican President Donald Trump sat down with CBS News 60 Minutes correspondent Norah O'Donnell to discuss the events of the previous night at the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD).

The Trump administration had already done a press conference the night before when Trump used the opportunity to push for construction to resume on his $400 million vanity project, his golden ballroom.

Keep ReadingShow less
Todd Blanche, Donald Trump, and Kash Patel
The White House/YouTube

Trump Just Shared Why He's Actually 'Honored' By The Multiple Attempts On His Life—And Yikes

On Saturday night, after an armed individual gained access to the Washington Hilton hotel where the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD) was taking place, MAGA Republican President Donald Trump gave an impromptu press conference at the White House.

According to police, an alleged assassin armed with multiple weapons exchanged gunfire with law enforcement in the Washington Hilton's lobby before being tackled. The incident raised questions about security protocols in the publicly accessible areas surrounding the event, with multiple reports stating security seemed more lax than prior WHCDs attended by sitting Presidents.

Keep ReadingShow less
Melania Trump; Jimmy Kimmel
Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images; ABC

Melania Gets Brutal Reminder After Accusing Jimmy Kimmel Of 'Hateful And Violent Rhetoric'

If there's one thing we all know about MAGA it's that they can dish it, but they absolutely cannot take it. And First Lady Melania Trump is the latest to prove it.

The President's wife is hoppin' mad at Jimmy Kimmel for his joke about her in a sketch on his show about the White House Correspondents' Association dinner just days before the shooting that occurred there.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kash Patel, Donald Trump, and Markwayne Mullin press briefing
C-SPAN

Trump Slammed After Using Correspondents' Dinner Shooting As Reason For Why He 'Needs' To Build His New Ballroom

A false flag is defined by Webster's dictionary as a hostile act intentionally designed to "manipulate public perception, create false culpability, or justify retaliatory actions." The phrase is getting a workout online by more than conspiracy theorists after a press conference by MAGA Republican President Donald Trump on Saturday night.

That night, Trump was slated to attend and speak at his first White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD) as President. Each year of his first term and in 2025, he denigrated the WHCD and refused to attend.

Keep ReadingShow less