TV favourite Johnny Galecki has loved the type of profession that almost all actors can solely dream of. For 12 years, he was commonly beamed into the nation’s properties as physicist Leonard Hoftstadter in unashamedly nerdy sitcom “The Huge Bang Concept.” And Galecki was handsomely paid for his work on “The Huge Bang Concept,” incomes roughly $1 million per episode for its remaining season. Galecki has additionally been acknowledged on the Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys, and Display screen Actors Guild Awards, appeared in festive classics “Nationwide Lampoon’s Christmas Trip” and “Prancer,” and, in fact, rose to fame as Darlene’s boyfriend David within the long-running sitcom, “Roseanne.”
However like lots of his “The Huge Bang Concept” castmates, the Belgian-born actor has skilled his justifiable share of ups and downs, too. From failed relationships and abandonment points to accommodate fires and well being issues, here is a have a look at the tragic aspect of his eventful life.
Johnny Galecki was left residence alone aged 14
Though he famously appeared in “Nationwide Lampoon’s Christmas Trip,” Johnny Galecki would even have been excellent for one more of the identical period’s festive hits, “Residence Alone.” For shortly after starring within the Chevy Chase automobile on the age of simply 14, the kid star was basically deserted by the remainder of his household.
Throughout an interview with AV Membership, Galecki revealed that after filming wrapped on the yuletide favourite, his dad and mom and siblings determined to maneuver from Los Angeles again to their hometown in Chicago. However with the teenager eager to proceed pursuing his appearing profession, it was determined that he may keep in a studio condominium completely by himself in LA.
Though a whole lack of grownup supervision might sound like a dream for many youngsters, the truth was very completely different for Galecki: “It wasn’t enjoyable in any respect, no. It was truly fairly intimidating and lonely, to be sincere. However I’ve at all times been happiest after I’m working, so … My household and buddies, for good or unwell, are very aware of that. For good after I’m working, for unwell after I’m not.”
Johnny Galecki felt misplaced after Roseanne ended
In 1997, after 9 seasons and greater than 200 episodes, the groundbreaking “Roseanne” got here to an finish. Having performed Darlene’s boyfriend David Healy for a lot of this spectacular run, the then-22-year-old Johnny Galecki all of the sudden felt somewhat adrift.
“Once we completed on Roseanne, I used to be very rudderless afterwards,” Galecki later instructed Us Weekly. “Granted, I used to be a lot youthful then too. I do not know, dread is a powerful phrase, however there’s positively a variety of reluctance. We spent 1000’s of days, actually, in the identical room collectively as a unit, as a household. So to not get up and never have that to go to goes to be very jarring, I am positive.”
After all, the Emmy nominee did get the prospect to reunite together with his previous “Roseanne” colleagues when the comedy returned for a belated tenth season in 2017. Though the present was swiftly canceled thanks to repeatedly shady lead Roseanne Barr’s provocative views, it simply as shortly spawned a spin-off, “The Conners,” through which Galecki additionally reprised his position of David.
He as soon as acquired in an accident with then-girlfriend Kaley Cuoco the place she ‘virtually killed Galecki’
It appears like Johnny Galecki was fortunate to flee his relationship with Kaley Cuoco together with his life intact. For the latter freely admitted that she almost acquired him killed in what seems to be simply certainly one of many examples of her horrible driving abilities.
In an interview with Maxim, the actor greatest generally known as Penny Hofstadter defined that the near-tragedy occurred whereas she was navigating the Dominican Republic on a Vespa. And sadly for her then-beau Galecki, she additionally had firm. “I ran us proper into the wall, and he went flying,” she stated (by way of Digital Spy), referring to her fellow “The Huge Bang Concept” star who was driving on the again “like somewhat b***h.”
Fortunately, each events prevented any critical accidents from the crash. Unluckily, this did not appear to discourage the occasion accountable from taking to the street. “I’ve had so many [accidents], I am unable to even depend,” Cuoco stated in a fashion which was virtually boastful earlier than revealing that regardless of being completely horrible at driving, she loves nothing greater than getting behind the wheel.
Johnny Galecki as soon as feared he’d suffered a stroke
Johnny Galecki suffered a significant well being scare in between the fourth and fifth seasons of “The Huge Bang Concept.” In reality, at one level the sitcom common satisfied himself that he was so unwell he must give up his position as Leonard Hofstadter.
Whereas chatting with Jessica Radloff for her e book “The Huge Bang Concept: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Collection,” Galecki defined that in one specific go to to his sister’s residence, his proper eye all of the sudden began getting teary. Regardless of taking allergy drugs, the actor’s situation acquired worse the next morning when he wakened drooling and with one half of his face drooping. Scared he’d suffered a stroke, he swiftly referred to as the present’s head honcho Chuck Lorre en path to the hospital to get his future profession plans up and operating.
“I stated, ‘I am going that will help you recast my position, and I’d love when you would additionally think about me for a employees writing place on the present,’” Galecki recalled (by way of TV Line). Lorre quickly got here to the rescue, nevertheless, and after consulting numerous medical doctors, he knowledgeable his present’s main man that Bell’s palsy was extra more likely to be the trigger. Fortunately, the Belgian-born star made a full restoration and regular “The Huge Bang Concept” service was resumed.
Johnny Galecki felt pressured to maintain his girlfriend a secret
Johnny Galecki spent two years courting his fellow “The Huge Bang Concept” actor Kaley Cuoco. Sadly, this mixture of the non-public with the skilled prevented the previous youngster star from having fun with their time collectively.
In a post-split interview with Self-importance Truthful, Cuoco – who’s no stranger to airing her soiled laundry in public – revealed that Galecki felt pressured to maintain their romance a secret from viewers in case it spoiled their on-screen relationship. “He was very protecting of what the followers would assume, as a result of we needed them to need Leonard and Penny collectively so badly, that in the event that they noticed us collectively in actual life, it may spoil the fantasy,” she stated.
Though she did not imagine it needs to be a problem on the time, Cuoco now understands why Galecki was so involved. However the latter additionally admitted to the identical journal that he did make issues troublesome for themselves on the time: “At a sure level it felt like we have been residing this lie as a result of we have been going to award reveals and capabilities and pretending like we’re not a pair, when the truth is we have been a really loving couple.”
Chuck Lorre intentionally made Johnny’s life harder
It is truthful to say that Chuck Lorre did not precisely make issues simple for Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki’s relationship following their break-up in 2009. As an alternative of giving the couple of two years, and their “The Huge Bang Concept” characters Leonard and Penny, some much-needed area, the present’s creator as an alternative determined to decide on chaos.
Certainly, throughout a 2020 interview on the “Armchair Skilled” podcast, Cuoco theorized that Lorre intentionally ramped up her shared display time with Galecki, and that included loads of bodily encounters, too. “Once we broke up, clearly it was somewhat delicate for a minute,” she stated. “However I bear in mind these weeks that Chuck had written these episodes the place impulsively our characters have been like sleeping collectively each different second.”
“And Johnny and I’d discuss, I am like, ‘No however I believe he did that on goal,’” she continued. “I nonetheless imagine he may’ve … simply to f*** with us.” Fortunately, regardless of such on-set awkwardness, the one-time lovebirds managed to stay buddies all through the remainder of the sitcom’s run and past.
Johnny Galecki misplaced his home in a fireplace
Johnny Galecki can undoubtedly empathize with the 1000’s of people that misplaced their properties within the devastating Los Angeles wildfires of 2025. As eight years earlier, the “Suicide Kings” star additionally suffered the identical destiny.
Certainly, in June 2017, Galecki’s San Luis Obispo ranch was fully obliterated by a 1,200-acre bush fireplace that additionally destroyed a number of different properties in the identical neighborhood. Fortunately, the actor had been out of city in the course of the catastrophe and, remarkably, nobody else within the neighborhood was injured, both. In a press release given to the press, the star expressed his condolences to everybody who’d been affected, however vowed that the tragedy would solely make them stronger.
“It is by no means the constructions that create a neighborhood — it is the individuals,” Galecki stated (by way of BBC Information). “And if the individuals of Santa Margarita have taught me something it is that, as soon as the smoke has cleared, actually and figuratively, it is a time to succeed in out and rebuild.” The Primetime Emmy nominee additionally thanked the sheriff’s workplace and the fireplace division for his or her efforts, including, “I do know you guys are preventing the nice combat to maintain us protected.”
Johnny Galecki struggled with The Huge Bang Concept’s finish
Having lasted 12 seasons and a whopping 279 episodes, “The Huge Bang Concept” stays one of many longest-running sitcoms in American TV historical past. Having spent most of his 30s, and the primary half of his 40s on its set, Johnny Galecki inevitably discovered it troublesome to say goodbye.
In reality, whereas chatting with Leisure Weekly (by way of Metro) forward of its remaining season, the previous youngster actor could not cease the tears from flowing. He acknowledged that this was solely an indication of issues to come back. “I simply hope, selfishly and personally there’s a variety of emotional scenes as a result of none of us are going to have the ability to maintain from crying throughout that final taping. They have to justify it within the writing someway, as a result of that is inevitable.”
A number of months later, Galecki uploaded an Instagram photograph of the ultimate desk learn of the nerdy sitcom. As you’d count on, loads of tissues have been wanted. “This morning was not a simple one,” the clearly emotional star wrote within the caption earlier than including that he was each unhappy and grateful for the expertise.
Johnny Galecki by no means felt like he belonged in Hollywood
Following the lack of his San Luis Obispo residence in a devastating wildfire, Johnny Galecki determined to maneuver away from the intense lights of the massive metropolis. As an alternative, he determined to reside in Tennessee in a gothic palace that appears prefer it escaped from a Tim Burton fantasy besides.
Chatting with Architectural Digest about his remarkably distinctive home, Galecki defined that he at all times meant to relocate to someplace outdoors the Hollywood bubble. In reality, regardless of residing there for his whole grownup life, and for a number of years alone as an adolescent, too, the “I Know What You Did Final Summer time” star at all times believed he was one thing of an outsider.
“I by no means felt like a lot of an Angeleno,” Galecki stated earlier than insisting that he tried his easiest to slot in. “And I did strive. I say that with disappointment, not with snobbery. Thirty years is only a very very long time to dwell in a metropolis that you just’re not all that comfy in.”
Johnny Galecki broke up with the mom of his youngster
Following failed relationships with Sara Gilbert and Kaley Cuoco, each of whom he additionally performed the love pursuits of on the small display, Johnny Galecki appeared to have discovered the one within the type of Alaina Meyer.
The pair first went public in September 2018 after they posted a loved-up photograph on Instagram and shortly after graced the crimson carpet of the Individuals’s Selection Awards hand in hand. Though they later denied rumors they’d gotten engaged, Galecki and Meyer did turn out to be dad and mom in December 2019 with the start of son Avery. “We’re completely over the moon to announce that we are going to quickly be welcoming somewhat one into this loopy and great world,” the proud father posted on social media (by way of USA In the present day) on studying concerning the information of the being pregnant.
However sadly, inside a yr, issues between the couple turned bitter. Meyer hinted at disharmony with a cryptic Instagram publish which learn, “This has been the gnarliest yr of my life, with the very best highs and the bottom lows.” Only a week later, it was reported that the twosome had determined to go their separate methods.
