John Goodman turned heads at the Smurfs premiere in Los Angeles, revealing a 200-pound weight loss. As he returned to the spotlight as Papa Smurf, his transformation drew attention to the years-long journey behind it.
Here’s how Goodman made the change, what he’s said about it, and why it matters now.
John Goodman shows off his new look
John Goodman debuted his significant weight loss at the Smurfs premiere held on July 13, 2025, at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles. The 73-year-old actor, who voices Papa Smurf in the film, appeared on the red carpet wearing a navy blue suit, patterned tie, and brown loafers.
Goodman began his fitness journey in 2007 after reaching 392 pounds. He credited his transformation to portion control, quitting alcohol, hiring a personal trainer, and adopting a Mediterranean diet. He also included regular exercise in his routine, taking 10,000 to 12,000 steps daily and using equipment such as an elliptical bicycle and treadmill.
At the Monte-Carlo TV Festival in June 2023, Goodman publicly revealed his 200-pound weight loss. In earlier interviews, he said, “I just got tired, sick and tired of looking at myself. You’re shaving in the mirror and you don’t want to look at yourself. It gets dangerous.” In 2010, he told People, “It takes a lot of creative energy to sit on your ass and figure out what you’re going to eat next.”
In 2016, Goodman told ABC, “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.” He also admitted that earlier attempts to lose weight often failed due to reverting to old habits: “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.”
Goodman most recently appeared as Dan Conner on The Conners, which concluded in April 2025 after seven seasons. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he confirmed he has not spoken to former Roseanne co-star Roseanne Barr in “about seven or eight years.”
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on ComingSoon.net.
