John Mark "Johnny" Galecki is a Belgian-born American actor.
He is best known for his role as Leonard Hofstadter in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory since 2007
and as David Healy in the sitcom Roseanne from 1992 to 1997.
He also appeared in the films National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Suicide Kings, I Know
What You Did Last Summer, Bookies, Hancock, and In Time.
Early life Galecki was born in Bree, Belgium, to American
parents of Polish, Irish, and Italian descent.
His mother, Mary Lou Noon, was a mortgage consultant, and his father, Richard Galecki,
was a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed in Belgium and also worked as a rehabilitation
teacher.
Galecki is the eldest of three children with a brother Nick, whom he describes as a "mechanical
genius" in the automotive industry, and a sister Allison.
Galecki grew up in Oak Park, Illinois.
During an interview with New Zealand radio station ZM, Galecki recalled his childhood
relationship with his mother.
As a child, he was well known for making up long stories and tales.
In such situations, his mother used to make him play the "quiet game", where he had to
see how long he could go without talking.
He also recalled that despite being a loving mother, she was also very tough.
One phrase she would lovingly use was, "I love you, now get out."
Career Galecki made his acting debut in the 1987
CBS miniseries Murder Ordained with JoBeth Williams and future Roseanne co-star John
Goodman.
In 1989, Galecki portrayed Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
One of his best known roles was as David Healy in the U.S. sitcom Roseanne.
He also appeared in the 1995 music video for the Dave Matthews Band song "Satellite".
Galecki was cast in the 1997 summer slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer and the 1998
dark comedy The Opposite of Sex.
In the year 2000, Galecki reunited with Opposite of Sex director Don Roos, who cast him in
Bounce.
Galecki continued his film streak with roles in Suicide Kings and brief bit parts in high-profile
films such as Bean, and a minor supporting part in Vanilla Sky.
Galecki played a young delinquent in A Family Torn Apart, a 1993 TV movie based on a true
story about a serial killer.
He was also in the 2003 film Bookies, a comedy thriller film written by Michael Bacall and
directed by Mark Illsley.
The story revolves around the lives of four college students.
Galecki appeared as a golfer in a 2005 episode of My Name Is Earl entitled "Stole Beer from
a Golfer".
He played a character named Trouty on TBS's sitcom My Boys.
He also played the half-brother of the main characters, sisters Hope Shanowski and Faith
Fairfield, in the sitcom Hope & Faith.
In late 2006 and early 2007, Galecki starred in the Broadway play The Little Dog Laughed
as a prostitute called Alex.
In this role, he was required to do a full-frontal nude scene, the first of his acting career.
"At its core, the play is about what we all sacrifice to be successful, whatever our careers
or goals," he explains.
Galecki originated the role earlier in 2006 at Second Stage Theatre.
The widely popular comedy by Douglas Carter Beane had a successful run at Second Stage
and moved to the Cort Theatre.
The play closed on February 18, 2007, with Galecki taking home a 2007 Theater World Award
for his performance.
Galecki currently plays the role of Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang
Theory, which debuted September 24, 2007.
He was originally asked to play the role of Sheldon Cooper, but he said he was better
suited for the role of Leonard Hofstadter.
Two of his former Roseanne cast members have appeared on the show.
During his role as David Healy, Sara Gilbert played the role of his longtime girlfriend
and later wife, Darlene Conner.
She has appeared as Leslie Winkle, a colleague.
Laurie Metcalf, formerly cast in the role of Roseanne's sister Jackie Harris has appeared
as Mary Cooper, mother of Leonard's roommate, Sheldon.
Galecki is a cellist, a talent which has been used on the show.
As of August 2013, Galecki and his Big Bang costars Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons each earn
$325,000 per episode.
Galecki appeared briefly in the 2008 superhero comedy Hancock, alongside Will Smith and Jason
Bateman.
In July 2011, Galecki played a parody version of himself in three episodes of Entourage.
He also appeared in the film In Time with Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried.
Personal life Galecki owns 360 acres of land in Santa Margarita,
California.
His property includes vineyards and a log cabin.
While working on The Big Bang Theory, Galecki privately dated co-star Kaley Cuoco for roughly
two years until December 2009 while the two also played boyfriend-and-girlfriend on the
show.
Cuoco told CBS Watch that they have remained on good terms since ending their relationship.
As of January 2014, he is dating actress Kelli Garner.
Filmography
Film Television
Music videos References
External links Johnny Galecki at the Internet Movie Database
USA Today article from 1998 Playbill article about the end of The Little
Dog Laughed's run at The Cort Theatre Movieline interview with Johnny Galecki