What To Know
- Johnny Galecki is returning to acting after a seven-year break, starring in the Chicago stage play Kowalski this fall.
- During his hiatus, Galecki focused on family life with his wife Morgan and his children.
- Galecki, best known for his roles in The Big Bang Theory and Roseanne, expressed excitement about returning to the stage.
Johnny Galecki is back after a seven-year hiatus and taking on his first acting role since The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019.
The 51-year-old actor revealed the news on Instagram last Tuesday (July 7), announcing that he’ll be starring in the Chicago stage play Kowalski. “For the last seven years, I’ve been fortunate enough to spend more time living than performing,” Galecki wrote, referring to his hiatus from stardom to spend more time with his family. “It turns out those aren’t separate pursuits for me.
Galecki and his wife, Morgan, share a 2-year-old daughter, Oona Evelena; he also has a son, Avery Orbison (6), with his ex-girlfriend, Alaina Meyer.
“Honored to return to the stage and in my city by the lake (where the embers never fade and) where I first began working, as one of my literary heroes, Tennessee Williams in KOWALSKI this Fall,” Galecki continued. “Grateful to @colinhanlon @greggostrin and @lookingglasstheatre for the invitation.”
The Emmy-nominated actor shared more about how the gig came together in an interview with Variety. “The planets aligned,” he told the outlet. “Gregg’s writing, Colin’s vision, and the feeling that after seven years of quietly observing life, I finally had something new to bring back to the work. Add to that the privilege of portraying one of my artistic heroes, and it became impossible to say no.”
Kowalski will run from September 19 to October 25 at the Joan and Paul Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
Galecki played Leonard Hofstadter across all 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory, which ran from September 24, 2007, to May 16, 2019. Before that, he played the recurring role of David Healy in Roseanne from 1992 to 1997; he reprised the role on the spinoff The Conners in 2018. His other credits include Hope & Faith, My Boys, and Entourage.
Last October, Galecki gave fans a glimpse of his life away from the screen, sharing a carousel of Instagram photos from a family trip to Disney World. “More unforgettable memories made,” he wrote alongside the snaps. “Such a perfect age for the Shorties. (And by ‘Shorties,’ I mean the Wife and I.) Thank you to all who made it so wonderful.”
This story originally appeared on TV Insider
