API
Johnny Galecki, July 2008
Born | John Mark Galecki (1975-04-30) April 30, 1975 (age 38) Bree, Belgium
Occupation | Actor
Years active | 1987?present
Partner(s) | Kelli Garner (2011-present)

John Mark "Johnny" Galecki (born April 30, 1975) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as David Healy in the ABC sitcom Roseanne, as Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and currently as Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

## Early life[edit]

Galecki was born in Bree, Belgium, to American parents of Polish, Irish, and Italian descent.[1] His mother, Mary Lou (n?e 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.[2] He has a younger brother, Nick, whom he describes as a mechanical genius in the automotive industry,[3] and a younger sister, Allison.[4] Galecki grew up in Oak Park, Illinois.[5]

During an interview with New Zealand radio station ZM, Galecki jokingly recalled his childhood relationship with his mother. As a child, he was well known for making up long, epic 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."[6]

## Career[edit]

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 (first introduced as Kevin Healy) in the U.S. sitcom Roseanne. 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 TV movie based on a true story about a serial killer.

Galecki appeared in the first-season episode, "Stole Beer from a Golfer", of My Name Is Earl as a golfer.[7]

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 TV sitcom Hope Faith. In late 2006/early 2007, Galecki starred in the Broadway play The Little Dog Laughed as Alex, a male prostitute. 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.[8] 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 part of Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, which debuted September 24, 2007. He works alongside two of his former Roseanne cast members, Sara Gilbert, who during his role as David Healy played the role of his longtime girlfriend and later his wife, Darlene Conner, as well as Laurie Metcalf, formerly cast as the role of Roseanne Barr's fictionalized character's sister Jackie. Both have since appeared as recurring characters. Galecki is a cellist and has played cello on the show.

Galecki appeared briefly in the 2008 superhero comedy Hancock, alongside Will Smith and Jason Bateman. He also appears in the music video for the Dave Matthews Band song "Satellite".

In July 2011 Galecki played himself on three episodes of Entourage.[episode needed]

He was also in the movie Bookies. Bookies is a 2003 comedy thriller film written by Michael Bacall and directed by Mark Illsley. The story revolves around the lives of four college students.

## Personal life[edit]

Galecki owns 360 acres of land in Santa Margarita, California. There are vineyards on his property, and also a log cabin. He is also a vegetarian.[9]

While working on The Big Bang Theory, Galecki dated co-star Kaley Cuoco for two years. They kept their relationship private until they broke up.[10][11]

In February 2012, it was revealed that Galecki had been dating actress Kelli Garner since 2011.[12][13][14]

## Filmography[edit]

### Film[edit]

Year | Film | Role | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
1987 | Murder Ordained | Doug Rule | TV movie
1988 | A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon | Toby Reardon |
1989 | Prancer | Billy Quinn |
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | Russell 'Rusty' Griswold |
1990 | Blind Faith | John Marshall | TV movie
In Defense of a Married Man | Eric | TV movie
1991 | Backfield in Motion | Tim Seavers | TV movie
1993 | A Family Torn Apart(a.k.a. Sudden Fury) | Daniel Hannigan | TV movie
1994 | Without Consent | Marty | TV movie
1996 | Murder at My Door | Teddy McNair | TV movie
1997 | Bean | Stingo Wheelie |
Suicide Kings | Ira Reder |
I Know What You Did Last Summer | Max Neurick |
1998 | The Opposite of Sex | Jason Bock |
2000 | Playing Mona Lisa | Arthur |
Bounce | Seth |
2001 | Morgan's Ferry | Darcy |
Vanilla Sky | Peter Brown |
2003 | Bookies | Jude |
2004 | Chrystal | Barry |
White Like Me | Marcus | Short film
2005 | Happy Endings | Miles | Uncredited role
2007 | Who You Know | David | Short film
2008 | Hancock | Jeremy | Cameo Role
2009 | Table for Three | Ted | Direct-to-video release
2011 | In Time | Borel |
2013 | CBGB | Terry Ork |

### Television[edit]

Year | Title | Role | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
1990 | Hardball | Male Escort #1 | Episode: "The Hunt for Honus Wagner"
1991 | Blossom | Jason | Episode: "Sex, Lies and Teenagers"
1990?1991 | American Dreamer | Danny Nash | 17 episodes.
1992 | Billy | David MacGregor | 13 episodes.
1993 | Civil Wars | Student accused of cheating | Episode: "Split Ends"
1992?1997 | Roseanne | Kevin/David Healy | 92 episodes. Nominated for four and winner of one Young Artist Award.
2000 | Batman Beyond | Knux (voice) | Episode: "April Moon"
The Norm Show | Dale Stockhouse | Episode: "Norm vs. Youth: Part 1" Episode: "Norm vs. Youth: Part 2"
2004 | LAX | Leland Pressman | Episode: "Finnegan Again, Begin Again"
2005 | My Name Is Earl | Scott | Episode: "Stole Beer from a Golfer"
Hope Faith | Jay | Episode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Daughter" Episode: "The Restaurant" Episode: "Jay Date"
2006 | American Dad! | Arnie | Episode: "Irregarding Steve"
2006?2007 | My Boys | Trouty | Episode: "Clubhouse Cancer" Episode: "Take One for the Team" Episode: "Ethics"
2007?present | The Big Bang Theory | Leonard Hofstadter | Nominated ? Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (2011) Nominated ? Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy (2011) Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy (2012)
2009 | Family Guy | Leonard Hofstadter | Episode: "Business Guy"
2011 | Entourage | Himself | Recurring guest star

## References[edit]

1. ^ Galecki, Johnny (May 3, 1992). "Johnny Galecki". The Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
2. ^ "Johnny Galecki Biography (1975?)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
3. ^ "Conan Show Schedule January 2?6, 2012". Team Coco. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
4. ^ "Johnny Galecki Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
5. ^ "The Gnocchi from Skokie that Sang Karaoke". Conan. Season 2. Episode 103. June 13, 2012. TBS.
6. ^ "ZM's interview with Johnny". ZM Online. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
7. ^ Gates, Anita (8 November 2005). "WHAT'S ON TONIGHT". nytimes.com. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
8. ^ Johnny Galecki Biography. TV.com. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
9. ^ "Johnny Galecki On Family His Life Upstate 01/05/12 ? Video @". Teamcoco.com. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
10. ^ Thomson, Katherine. "Kaley Cuoco Johnny Galecki Dated: 'Big Bang' Costars Together Two YEARS". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
11. ^ "Kaley Cuoco Secretly Dated Big Bang Theory Costar for 2 Years". US Weekly. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
12. ^ Simpson, Leah (February 2012). "'Big Bang Theory' star Johnny Galecki dating 'Pan Am's Kelli Garner?". Digital Spy.
13. ^ "Kelli Garner Goes Public with Johnny Galecki!". US Weekly. March 23, 2012.
14. ^ "What would Penny say? The Big Bang Theory's John Galecki is dating Pan Am's Kelli Garnerp". Daily Mail. February 214, 2012.

## External links[edit]

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to API.

- 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

Persondata
Name | Galecki, Johnny
Alternative names |
Short description |
Date of birth | April 30, 1975
Place of birth | Bree, Belgium
Date of death |
Place of death |