John Goodman and his wife, Anna Beth Goodman (née Hartzog), have a deep connection with New Orleans. Although the actor is originally from Missouri, he has always felt a special bond with the city.
“I used to come down here every time I’d get a couple of dimes to rub together, and it just felt like I was missing something every time I was here,” he told Today in 2023.
During one of his trips to New Orleans in the late 1980s, while filming “Everybody’s All-American,” John met Anna Beth, who hails from Bogalusa, Louisiana. They encountered each other at a bar, and Anna Beth was the one who initiated the conversation. “I thought, ‘What could this lovely young woman possibly want with me?’ ” John recalled in a 1992 interview with Entertainment Weekly.
The couple married in New Orleans in 1989 and raised their daughter, Molly Evangeline Goodman, there after she was born in 1990. They have lived in New Orleans for three decades, splitting their time between the South and Los Angeles.
Despite keeping their relationship private, John often speaks about his wife in the media, sharing their history and her significant role in his recovery from alcoholism.
Their Love Story Began at a Party
John Goodman and Anna Beth meet at a Halloween party at Tipitina’s, a famous music venue in New Orleans, in the late 1980s. John was taking a break from filming “Everybody’s All-American,” and Anna Beth was a fine-arts student at the University of New Orleans, just 19 years old, while John was in his mid-30s.
“I went to this Halloween party, and she walked up to me and said, ‘Hi,’ ” John told Elle in 2012. Initially, Anna Beth thought John was shy. “She kind of thought I was a zombie,” he joked on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in 2021. They started dating a year later after a mutual friend helped keep them in touch.
A Romantic Proposal
John proposed to Anna Beth in April 1988 on the banks of the Mississippi River in New Orleans’ French Quarter. He shared the engagement story on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” in 2018, noting that the proposal wasn’t a surprise as they had already chosen the ring together before heading to the river.
Wedding in New Orleans
John and Anna Beth married at the Saint Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church in November 1989. Their wedding, attended by 650 guests, was followed by a three-hour cruise on the Mississippi riverboat, the Creole Queen. The star-studded event included guests like Roseanne Barr and then-couple Bruce Willis and Demi Moore.
Raising Their Daughter
The couple welcomed their daughter, Molly Evangeline, in 1990. Wanting to provide a stable environment away from the Hollywood spotlight, John and Anna Beth decided to raise Molly in New Orleans. “I just didn’t want [Molly] growing up in a show business environment,” John said on “Off Camera with Sam Jones” in 2021.
Molly, influenced by her parents, pursued a career in show business and has worked as a set dresser and production assistant on shows like “The Conners” and “New Girl.”
Support Through Tough Times
John has been open about his struggles with alcohol addiction. In 2018, he shared with Willie Geist on “Sunday Today” that his recovery began with Anna Beth’s encouragement a decade earlier. Recognizing he had hit rock bottom, he reached out to Anna Beth for help, leading to his detox and treatment.
John credits Anna Beth for being a strong support system, especially during times when he wasn’t fully present as a father due to his addiction.
Anna Beth Goodman: A Successful Entrepreneur
Anna Beth Goodman is a successful American entrepreneur. She owns Pippen Lane, a children’s clothing and toy store on New Orleans’ famed Magazine Street. Among the store’s offerings is the internationally acclaimed Lylian Heirloom.
Born in 1969, Anna Beth will be 54 years old in 2024. She completed her high school education in Louisiana in 1986 and went on to study fine arts at the University of New Orleans. After college, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in garment manufacturing before returning to New Orleans.
Together, John and Anna Beth Goodman have built a life rooted in love, resilience, and mutual support, with a deep connection to New Orleans.
Facts:
- Full Name: Anna Beth Goodman (née Hartzog).
- Birth Year: 1969.
- Hometown: Bogalusa, Louisiana.
- Education: Graduated from high school in Louisiana in 1986 and studied fine arts at the University of New Orleans.
- Career: Entrepreneur and owner of Pippen Lane, a children’s clothing and toy store on Magazine Street in New Orleans.
- Marriage: Married John Goodman in November 1989 at the Saint Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church in New Orleans.
- Children: Mother to Molly Evangeline Goodman, born in 1990.
- Residency: Splits time between New Orleans and Los Angeles.
- Connection to New Orleans: Deeply connected to New Orleans, where she met John Goodman and chose to raise their daughter.
- Role in John Goodman’s Recovery: Played a significant role in her husband’s recovery from alcoholism.
Summary:
Anna Beth Goodman, born in 1969 in Bogalusa, Louisiana, is a successful entrepreneur and the wife of acclaimed actor John Goodman. They met in the late 1980s at a Halloween party in New Orleans while John was filming “Everybody’s All-American.” The couple married in 1989 and have a daughter, Molly Evangeline, born in 1990. They have lived in New Orleans for over three decades, with Anna Beth running her children’s clothing and toy store, Pippen Lane, on the city’s Magazine Street. Despite keeping a low profile, Anna Beth has been instrumental in John’s battle with alcoholism, providing unwavering support during his recovery. Their love story, rooted in New Orleans, is marked by resilience, mutual support, and a deep connection to the city.
FAQs:
Who is Anna Beth Goodman?
Anna Beth Goodman, née Hartzog, is the wife of actor John Goodman and a successful entrepreneur who owns the children’s clothing and toy store Pippen Lane in New Orleans.
How did Anna Beth and John Goodman meet?
They met at a Halloween party at Tipitina’s, a renowned music venue in New Orleans, in the late 1980s.
When did Anna Beth and John Goodman get married?
They got married in November 1989 at the Saint Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church in New Orleans.
How many children do Anna Beth and John Goodman have?
They have one daughter, Molly Evangeline Goodman, born in 1990.
What is Anna Beth Goodman’s profession?
Anna Beth Goodman is an entrepreneur who owns Pippen Lane, a children’s clothing and toy store on Magazine Street in New Orleans.
What role did Anna Beth play in John Goodman’s recovery from alcoholism?
Anna Beth was a significant support system for John Goodman during his recovery from alcoholism, encouraging him to seek help and supporting him throughout the process.
Where do Anna Beth and John Goodman live?
They have lived in New Orleans for over three decades and split their time between New Orleans and Los Angeles.
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