Johnny Galecki Movies
Born on a Belgian army base, curly brown-haired Johnny Galecki grew up in Chicago and started acting professionally at the age of 12. He made his feature film debut in 1988 as River Phoenix's little brother in A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon. He then assumed the role of Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and gained his first regular role on a TV series as Robert Ulrich's son in American Dreamer. In 1991, he starred in the made-for-TV movie Backfield in Motion, co-starring the production team of Roseanne and Tom Arnold. The next year, Galecki joined the cast of Roseanne as Darlene's sensitive and put-upon boyfriend David Healy. He stayed on the show until its final season in 1997, although he wasn't on very much during its last few years. His other television credits include several guest appearances, leading roles in made-for-TV movies, and a part on the short-lived Head of the Class spin-off Billy. After Roseanne ended, he got back into features with small parts in I Know What You Did Last Summer, Bean, and Suicide Kings. He continued playing slightly effeminate sensitive males in The Opposite of Sex and Morgan's Ferry. After bit parts in Bounce, Playing Mona Lisa, and Vanilla Sky, Galecki played a leading role in the comedy thriller Bookies, which premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide- 1987
Murder Ordained is the true story of a crime of passion in Emporia, Kansas. Terry Kinney plays the reverend Tom Bird, whose wife Sandy (Annabella Price) was found dead in 1983. At first, it seems as though Sandy was killed in a car accident. But highway patrolman John Rule (Keith Carradine) has a different theory: Rule believes that Bird murdered his wife out of love for his mistress (JoBeth Williams). A second killing in another Kansas county serves to confirm Rule's hypothesis. Filmed on location, the two-part Murder Ordained was originally telecast May 3 and 5, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keith Carradine, JoBeth Williams, (more)
- 1988
- R
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The teen drama A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon is directed by William Richert, who adapted the screenplay from his own semi-autobiographical novel Aren't You Even Going to Kiss Me Goodbye? Set in a wealthy Chicago suburb during the 1960s, middle-class Jimmy Reardon (River Phoenix) hangs out with his upper-class best friend, Fred Roberts (Matthew Perry), and sleeps with Fred's snobby girlfriend, Denise Hunter (Ione Skye). He spends his time writing poetry and drinking coffee while he decides what to do after high school. His parents won't help him pay for tuition unless he attends the same business college as his father did, but Jimmy doesn't want to follow that path. Instead, he focuses on coming up with enough money for a plane ticket to go to Hawaii with his wealthy yet chaste girlfriend, Lisa Bentwright (Meredith Salenger). On the night of a big party, Jimmy is given the task of driving home his mother's divorced friend, Joyce Fickett (Ann Magnuson), who conveniently seduces him. Since he is late picking up Lisa, she goes to the dance with the rich Matthew Hollander (Jason Court) instead. Jimmy then crashes the family car and shares an intimate rapprochement with his father (Paul Koslo). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- River Phoenix, Ann Magnuson, (more)
If you know the Clement Clark Moore poem, you'll know that Prancer is one of Santa Claus' "eight tiny reindeer." When 9-year-old Rebecca Harrell, who still believes in Santa despite the remonstrations of her parents and the taunts of her peers, stumbles across the selfsame Prancer in a remote part of the forest, no one will believe the girl. Later on, Harrell's no-nonsense father Sam Elliot comes across a wounded reindeer, he feels it his duty to put the suffering animal out of his misery. The deer, of course, is Prancer, and it magically vanishes before Elliot's startled eyes. Harrell nurses the deer back to health in secret, with the help of kindly doctor Abe Vigoda and her troublesome older brother John Joseph Duda. Harrell is determined to contact Santa and let him know where Prancer is, but her efforts only result in public humiliation for her father. But this is a Christmas film, and the spirit of goodwill is contagious by fadeout time, even transforming town-recluse Cloris Leachman into a warm-hearted social animal. Filmed in Indiana, Prancer isn't quite a classic, but it's perfect midwinter videocassette entertainment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Elliott, Rebecca Harrell, (more)
- 1989
- PG13
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Chevy Chase, star of National Lampoon's Vacation and its sequel, is back as the paterfamilias of the Griswold family (including Beverly D'Angelo as his missus) to skewer the Yuletide season. Chevy mugs, trips, falls, mashes his fingers and stubs his toes as he prepares to invite numerous dysfunctional relatives to his household to celebrate Christmas. Amidst the more outrageous sight gags (including the electrocution of a cat as the Christmas tree is lit) the film betrays a sentimental streak, with old wounds healing and long-estranged relatives reuniting in the Griswold living room. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was still capable of attracting an audience five years after its release: It was one of the top-rated seasonal TV specials of 1994, outrating even the first network telecast of It's a Wonderful Life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, (more)
- 1990
This TV movie is not necessarily in defense of married man Michael Ontkean. That responsibility is taken by Judith Light, Ontkean's wife. When Ontkean is accused of murdering his mistress (Cynthia Sikes), his wife Light, a defense attorney, handles the case. Beyond the unavoidable emotional involvement, Light must wrestle with whether or not she really wants to ask her husband if he did it. In Defense of a Married Man is an exercise in the mundane, brightened by Stan Getz' jazz score. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Originally telecast in two parts, Blind Faith was adapted from a fact-based book by investigative author Joe McGinniss. The scene is Toms River, New Jersey; the year is 1984. Insurance salesman Rob Marshall (Robert Urich) informs the authorities that his wife Maria (Joanna Kerns) has been murdered by a band of marauding thieves. Marshall claims that he and his wife were ambushed at a remote picnic area, and for a while everyone believes the man. But further investigation leads to the conclusion that Maria was the victim of a murder conspiracy, fomented by Marshall himself in order collect his wife's insurance. The climactic trial forces Marshall's three teenaged sons to bear witness against their own father. With grim irony, Blind Faith was first broadcast just before Valentine's Day, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Roseanne Arnold, her then-husband Tom Arnold and Shelley Duvall teamed up to produce the made-for-TV Backfield in Motion. Roseanne plays a widowed real-estate agent who lives with her teenaged son Johnny Galecki. Mother and son have moved to an upstate California town where high school football-and male chauvinism--reigns supreme. When Galecki joins the junior-varsity team, Roseanne, appalled by the subservient behavior of the town wives, organizes a "mothers vs. sons" football game. Tom Arnold costars as the school's vice-principal, who puts his standing in town on the line when he falls in love with Roseanne. Backfield in Motion was originally telecast November 13, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Dan and Arnie's (Tom Arnold) bowling team is in last place. Meanwhile, Jackie and Nancy (Sandra Bernhard) develop a friendship that excludes Roseanne. First appearance of Mark's (Glenn Quinn) brother, played by Johnny Galecki. Originally named Kevin Healy, his character name was permanently changed to David for the rest of the series. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Roseanne and Jackie tell stories from their childhood about sneaking out to frat parties when they make a final visit to the house they grew up in. Meanwhile, Darlene and David (Johnny Galecki) skip school to go to a comic book convention in Chicago, leaving Roseanne with the task of thinking up a punishment. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Roseanne considers trying to cheat a lie-detector test at Rodbell's because she's been stealing food. Meanwhile, Darlene asks Dan and Becky for advice about her relationship with David (Johnny Galecki). Roseanne gets upset because Darlene didn't go to her. At the end of the episode, Darlene and David have their first kiss on the basketball court. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1992
With the help of Dan, Crystal (Natalie West) goes into labor while Roseanne and Bonnie (Bonnie Sheridan) are fighting over who will be the new manager to replace Leon (Martin Mull). Meanwhile, it appears that Rodbell's diner is going out of business. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the 100th episode of Roseanne, the power company shuts off the Conner family's electricity. David (Johnny Galecki) spends the night in Darlene's room, which complicates his relationship with Dan and Roseanne. In the closing segment of this episode, Laurie Metcalf is seen polishing the Emmy she won for Best Supporting Actress. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In this conclusion of a two-part episode, Roseanne tries to make Dan feel better about losing the bike shop. The newly wed Becky and Mark (Glenn Quinn) stop by to say goodbye to Roseanne and Dan before they leave for Minneapolis. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the first episode of season five, Dan tries to make it through the going-out-of-business sale on the last day of Lanford Custom Cycle, while Roseanne goes to a job interview. This leaves Mark (Glenn Quinn) without a job, so he considers going to work in Minneapolis, but Becky wants him to stay in Lanford with her. Eventually, she calls home to reveal that she and Mark have gotten married. Part one of a two-part episode. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Roseanne hosts a surprise party for Darlene's 16th birthday. Darlene is disgusted and dyes her hair jet black, then Roseanne lets her leave while the adults enjoy the party. Meanwhile, the Tildens move in next door to the Conners and Roseanne contemplates joining in on a business opportunity with Jackie. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1992
On Christmas Eve, a snowstorm separates the Conner family at different places. Roseanne and Jackie are stranded at the Lunch Box with Bev (Estelle Parsons) and Nana Mary (Shelley Winters). Meanwhile, Darlene learns about David's (Johnny Galecki) terrible home life. Sally Kirkland guest stars as David's mom, Barbara Healy. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Country legend Loretta Lynn buys a loose meat sandwich at the Lanford Lunch Box during the Lanford Days Celebration. Dan tries to sell hot tubs, D.J. stars in a school play, and the vegetarian Darlene pays for her destructive animal rights protest by serving meat at the Lanford Lunch Box. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Darlene wants David (Johnny Galecki) to move into the Conners' home. Roseanne disagrees at first, but then she meets David's mom, Barbara Healy (Sally Kirkland), and convinces Dan to let him stay. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1993
It's Roseanne and Dan's 20th wedding anniversary. Roseanne gives him a sexy photo of herself, while Dan gets an extra job at a menswear store to pay for his gift to her. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Joan Collins guest stars as Ronnie, Roseanne's wealthy long-lost cousin. Though she hasn't seen Roseanne for over 20 years, Ronnie tries to renew their friendship and encourages Darlene to get out of Lanford, which only sparks the old feud between them. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Roseanne and Dan get stuck in another financial mess when their business partner Roger (Tim Curry) takes off and they are left with a fixed-up house that they can't sell. Fortunately, Jackie steps up to buy the house. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Dan accidentally knocks out one of Roseanne's teeth. Unfortunately, it's on the day she has to meet with the health inspector, who ends up being her old boss from Rodbell's diner, Leon (Martin Mull). Meanwhile, Darlene and David (Johnny Galecki) eagerly await their response letters from the art school in Chicago, only to find out that Darlene gets accepted and David doesn't. Bob Odenkirk guest stars. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Red Buttons guest stars as Jake, Bev's (Estelle Parsons) new friend from the retirement home. Roseanne and Jackie interfere and try to get a romance started between them. Meanwhile, Darlene gives David (Johnny Galecki) hell after Molly (Danielle Harris) kisses him. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1993
It's prom night for Darlene and David (Johnny Galecki). She surprises him by renting a motel room. Meanwhile, Dan tells Roseanne about his new business idea with Roger (Tim Curry). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1993
In the first episode of season six, Roseanne starts to feel the pain of the empty nest with both Darlene and Becky gone. Roseanne helps Darlene move to Chicago for art school. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
