List of Roseanne and The Conners characters
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A list of major characters in Roseanne, the television series.
Main characters
Roseanne Harris-Conner
Played by Roseanne Barr. Born on November 3, 1952, Roseanne, in a take off of her stand-up comedic persona and presumed real-life persona, is a bossy, loud, caustic, overweight, and dominant woman. She frequently meddles and tries to control the lives of her husband, daughters, sons, sister, and friends. Despite her dominating nature, Roseanne is a loving mother who works hard and makes as much time for her kids as possible. She and her sister, Jackie Harris, are children to Beverly and Al Harris. She is married to Dan Conner and has four children - Becky Conner, Darlene Conner, David Jacob Conner, and Jerry Garcia Conner (who was born later in the show). She, like her family, deals with the many hardships of poverty, weight, and domestic troubles with humor. She has always had troubles with weight, inspiring an episode in which she and Dan try to lose weight. She works at the Wellman Plastics factory at the beginning of the show's run and quits that job after a conflict with the new egotistical domineering boss, Mr. Faber; she leads a walkout that includes most of her friends. She has several periods of unemployment and holds jobs as a fast-food employee, a telemarketer, a bartender, and a shampoo woman/hair sweeper at a beauty salon. Subsequently, she works for several years as a waitress in the luncheonette at Rodbell's department store (much to the chagrin of daughters Becky and Darlene, who regularly hang out there). She eventually co-owns a successful restaurant called the Lanford Lunch Box with Jackie, her mother Bev, Nancy, and her former boss from the luncheonette, Leon, after Bev sells her share in the company to him. Roseanne and Jackie, in the last years of the show, win a lottery in excess of $108,000,000. This allows them to live the high life. Eventually, at the end of the series it is revealed that she didn't win the lottery at all and most of what had happened on the show in the latter seasons were scenes from a book of her own writing.
Dan Conner
Marjorie/Mary Jane "Jackie" Harris
Played by Laurie Metcalf. Born in 1955, Jackie is Roseanne's younger sister by three years. She was presumably named "Marjorie" or "Mary Jane" at birth, but when Roseanne tried to pronounce it as a child it always came out sounding like "My Jackie", so the whole family just started calling her Jackie. This fact, however, was totally unknown to Jackie before her son's birth - additionally, her mother subsequently becomes unsure of whether it was "Marjorie" or "Mary Jane". Jackie is an intelligent, warm, highly sensitive underachiever with chronic low self-esteem. Roseanne seems to be in charge of Jackie's life, which is a frequent cause of conflict between the two; however, Jackie sometimes enjoys having Roseanne mother her, especially when Jackie feels vulnerable. Jackie's character seems to become more animated and colorful as the series progresses. Jackie holds numerous jobs; working in the Wellman Plastics factory for several years until the walkout, then becoming a police officer until she is injured on the job, and later a truck driver, then opening the Lanford Lunch Box with Roseanne and Nancy. Jackie often comes up with seemingly off-the-wall "crazy" ideas, but it turns out that many of her unconventional ideas actually work. Her romantic relationships are frequently unstable, including one where she dates a man named Fisher and becomes the victim of domestic violence. However, she eventually marries Dan's co-worker Fred, who impregnated her after a one-night stand. Jackie gives birth to their son, Andy, two months before she marries Fred. At one point Jackie, unhappy with the self-absorbed couch potato Fred, starts going out with another couple, which then becomes one man. Dan sees her, warns her about Fred's possible reaction, but later accidentally blurts it out to Fred. Fred returns home upset, accuses Jackie of "adultery" and refuses to speak to her. Roseanne, with Bev's help, has Fred realize that his accusations against Jackie are unjustified, and he goes back. However, at this point Jackie is realizing that she's happier being single. The marriage proves to be short-lived because Jackie finds Fred boring, petty, and self-centered and they fall out of love. Jackie is crushed by the divorce at first, but moves on to become a successful single mom to Andy. Despite Jackie's apparent flightiness in the early episodes, Jackie is actually the backbone of the Conner/Harris family in many ways, as Roseanne admits in the last episode. In the final episode, it is also revealed that the character of Jackie had been a lesbian the entire time, and that Roseanne knew, but had simply always pictured Jackie with a man.
The nature of the character was changed to be more similar to Don Knotts' Barney Fife character, a character with a significant amount of self esteem but unable to back it up often. Metcalf met with Knotts on multiple occasions.[citation needed]
Rebecca "Becky" Healy
Played alternately by Lecy Goranson (Seasons 1-5 and 8), and Sarah Chalke (Seasons 6, 7 and 9). Born March 15, 1975, Becky, the oldest of Roseanne and Dan's kids, is quite bright and is an overachiever, but she is also somewhat quick-tempered and sometimes angry with her parents and younger sister Darlene. She dates her rebellious biker boyfriend Mark Healy against her parents' wishes and then, at age 17, leaves home to marry him and move to Minneapolis. Later, Becky and Mark return home to live with Roseanne and Dan and then move out again into a trailer. In the final episode, it is revealed that she is pregnant and that Mark is the father.
During the show's fifth season actress Lecy Goranson left to attend Vassar College. At first, her character Becky is merely absent from the show, explained in the story when she marries and moves away to live with her husband Mark. During the sixth season, however, the show's producers recast Becky with actress Sarah Chalke.
Because cast and crew believed that the eighth season of Roseanne would be its last, Goranson had signed back on only for that season. These changes are addressed within the show and become a running gag throughout season 8 as both Goranson and Chalke continue to alternate in the role of Becky, depending on Goranson's availability. During season eight, Goranson is credited in the opening sequence as a full-time cast member, and appears in 11 out of 25 episodes. Sarah Chalke makes five appearances and is credited as a guest star. In the show's ninth season, Chalke replaces Goranson full-time, and no further "in-jokes" about Becky's casting are made.
Darlene Conner-Healy
Played by Sara Gilbert. Born in 1977, Darlene in the early seasons is a "tomboy" who loves sports, but during puberty she becomes moody, artistic, an animal rights activist, and a vegetarian to more closely match the real-life views and personality of Sara Gilbert. During her freshman year of high school, she begins dating David, coincidentally the younger brother of Becky's husband, Mark. Darlene possesses the same sarcasm and domineering attitude as her mother, often causing the two to clash. Her bossy nature is best seen with David, who usually gives in to her will. Darlene is a very talented writer. Along with David's artistic talents, they begin working seriously on a graphic novel, and Darlene eventually applies for and is awarded early admission and a scholarship to an exclusive art school in Chicago before she finishes high school, which Roseanne allows her to attend after realizing it is her only chance to get out of Lanford and make a better life for herself as the writer Roseanne never was able to be. While in college, she meets a boy named Jimmy, whom she dates while still with David. David is aware she was dating Jimmy, and eventually tells her she has to choose between them. She chooses Jimmy. Later he dumps her because he couldn't get close to her. Darlene later becomes pregnant by David and soon marries him. She eventually finishes art school and later gives birth to her daughter, Harris Conner Healy. Harris is born very prematurely and almost doesn't survive, but becomes a healthy child by the series' end.
David Jacob "DJ" Conner
Played by Sal Barone in the pilot, and Michael Fishman for the remainder of the series. Born in 1981, DJ is a lonely, bizarre, and unpopular child who is frequently taunted by his sisters and peers. He is portrayed as being something of a simpleton in school and abnormal, for instance peeking at both Darlene and Becky naked at different times, as well as Becky finding dismembered Barbie dolls under his bed. As a teenager, he shows interest in filmmaking and eventually finds a girlfriend who shares his interests. One episode deals with DJ's relationship in a mature way, showing the couple's decision not to rush into a deep commitment too soon. In season three, it is stated that while Becky and Darlene were planned pregnancies for the Conners, DJ was a "surprise". Later in the series, it is mentioned that Jose Cuervo tequila was responsible for the interlude that led to DJ's conception. In the first episode of season nine, it's revealed that DJ was the one who saved Dan's life by doing CPR on him, while the rest of the wedding attendees were shocked.
Other major characters
Crystal Anderson Conner
Played by Natalie West. Crystal is a neurotic but goodhearted friend of Roseanne's and Jackie's from childhood and later became Dan's stepmother, despite being roughly the same age as him. A self-described "doormat" when it comes to men, she speaks with a Southern accent despite having grown up in Lanford because her father was from Arkansas. Crystal lost her first husband, Sonny, in a construction accident but had a son, Lonny, with him that she had married in May of the year she graduated high school but that husband died in short order and she soon found herself married to another man, whom she later divorced. Only then did she in fact marry Sonny wherein she conceived a child named Lonny but did not give birth until after Sonny had died in an accident at his construction site where he was entombed in a cement pillar holding up a bridge.)* Crystal works at the Wellman Plastics factory with Roseanne and Jackie and quits in order to start a successful cosmetics sales career. Crystal has been married two more times (before the series started) before she marries Dan's father, Ed (against Dan's strong disapproval), and bears two children with him. Their marriage is perceived to be happy, with Ed's absences creating most of the conflict. A regular cast-member for the first four seasons, Crystal appears as an occasional recurring character afterward.
Mark Healy
Played by Glenn Quinn. Mark is an edgy "rebel without a cause"-type who dates and later elopes with Becky, much to the Conners' consternation. Despite Mark's tough-guy image, he is rarely seen to engage in criminal activity, except when Mark is intoxicated at the Lobo Lounge and punches through the glass of the bar's jukebox, and another time when he punches out Becky's verbally abusive boss at the Buy & Bag market, and when he moons photographers swarming the house after the Conners win the lottery. Mark is strongly disliked by Roseanne for his condescending attitude toward her. Dan initially dislikes Mark also but respects Mark's work ethic and hires him as a mechanic both at his bike shop and his truck-inspection office. Mark later proves himself to be a responsible, though dim-witted, husband and earns Roseanne's and the family's grudging respect. He has a younger brother, David, who dates (and later marries) Darlene and also two little sisters, Lisa and Nikki, who are much younger and appear briefly in the episode "No Place Like Home for The Holidays" from the 5th Season and are mentioned later to have moved with their dad when their parents divorced.
David Healy
Played by Johnny Galecki. David is Mark's younger brother (they also have two little sisters: Lisa and Nikki, who are much younger and appear briefly in the episode "No Place Like Home for The Holidays" from the 5th Season and are mentioned later to have moved with their dad when their parents divorced), but he is very much Mark's opposite. David is soft-spoken, artistic, and intelligent and is in a relationship with Darlene for much of the series. He is a talented artist and draws comic books that Darlene writes, and his well-behaved manner endears him to the Conner family, who think of him as part of the family and jokingly refer to him as being more welcome in the family than Darlene is. He moves in with the Conners after Roseanne, a victim of child abuse, sees how abusive his family life is. He has a long-term off-and-on relationship with Darlene and eventually fathers her child. David often finds himself dominated by Darlene's powerful personality. In one episode, Roseanne points out to Dan that "David" isn't even his real name – just one Darlene came up with. David always tells the truth, as pointed out by Roseanne in an episode where David is down in the basement playing Monopoly (she believed he and Darlene were having sex until DJ came in holding a Monopoly box). She then tells David not to tell her or Dan the truth, explaining that they "raised three kids through lies and did just fine." He first appears in "The Bowling Show". (In that episode, he is referred to as "Kevin" – hence the above joke about his name.)
Beverly Lorraine "Bev" Harris
Played by Estelle Parsons. Bev is the mother of Roseanne and Jackie and the wife of Al. She is overbearing and shrill and is avoided by all members of her family. She nags them with her shockingly whiny voice, often with good intentions but coming off the wrong way (in a discussion with Fred at the end of an episode, she reveals her attitude to be an act). The family (especially Jackie) tries to avoid spending any time with Beverly, as she is quick to inadvertently criticize how people live their lives (after going back and forth playing tricks on each other in one Halloween episode, Roseanne ultimately gets the upper hand by having a fake phone conversation with Bev in front of Dan where she agrees to let her mother stay for three weeks). She is very traditional and conservative, as opposed to her daughters' more liberal and feminist philosophies. She proves herself generous with the wealth she receives from her husband's alimony, constantly giving financial gifts to the family to bail them out. She even provides the seed money for the Lanford Lunch Box and insists on staying on as a partner, but is later forced out because Roseanne and Jackie do not want to work with her. As revenge, she sells her share of the restaurant to Roseanne's ex-boss and rival, Leon Carp, effectively making him their new partner. During the show's final season, she comes out as a lesbian (according to one of Roseanne's fictional twists on her family, along with winning the lottery), this is revealed in the finale in which Roseanne states that her mother is not a lesbian but that her sister is; she just thought it'd be interesting to put a radical twist on the character of her Mother, who lived her life according to her husband's rules, and because she wished her mother had a better sense of herself as a woman. Bev's relationship with her own mother is very similar to the one her daughters have with her.
Leon Carp
Played by Martin Mull. Leon plays the sarcastic, urbane foil to Roseanne as her put-upon boss at Rodbell's luncheonette. Leon is gay and is seen dating many men and having romantic troubles. He later marries his life partner Scott (Fred Willard) in a very public ceremony. He and Roseanne have a contentious relationship. He later purchases Beverly's share in the Lanford Lunch Box, much to Roseanne's chagrin. He is especially upset when Roseanne wins the lottery. They are friends, although neither of them admit it.
Nancy Bartlett
Played by Sandra Bernhard. Nancy is the part owner of the Lanford Lunch Box. She is married to Arnie but later comes out as a lesbian after he leaves her, then admits to being bisexual. She frequently is seen dating very attractive women; her first girlfriend is played by Morgan Fairchild. Nancy is never ashamed of her promiscuity, nor does she ever show any self-consciousness of her unusual behavior. In fact, she is the most self-confident of all the characters in the series, often even more than Roseanne. Her tendency toward self-absorption seems to only be quelled while dating a woman or being around Jackie. Nancy turns out to be a loyal and good friend to both Roseanne and Jackie throughout the series.
Fred
Played by Michael O'Keefe. Fred is a mechanic who works at the truck inspection with Dan and is introduced to Jackie, leading to a one-night stand, accidental impregnation, and marriage. It takes a lot of encouragement for Jackie to eventually warm up and face the fact that Fred is the father of her child and therefore a part of their life (in the beginning, Jackie is still healing from her trauma with Fisher and is fearful of getting too close to another man). Fred at first assumes that Jackie's just putting him off lightly and initially doesn't understand that Jackie has been through a very traumatic experience (which Jackie told Fred about early on) that is not easily healed in addition to her traumatic childhood. It takes a verbal butt-kick from Roseanne in order for Fred to also realize that Jackie is the mother of the then-unborn Andy and that Jackie has her own rights that need to be respected as much as Fred's rights. Fred is very conventional and average and is shocked by the Conners and Harrises' unconventional ways and cannot understand the whole subculture of Jackie's family. These two aspects, and his having very few interests outside himself lead to the dissolution of his marriage to Jackie who has varied, unusual interests and likes to try new things. Despite their attempts to make their marriage work, Jackie and Fred break up when they discover how incompatible they are.
Arnie Thomas
Played by Tom Arnold. Arnie is the overweight, jovial friend of Dan. He frequently cheats on the women he dates and is very ill-mannered. However, Arnie always tries to be a good friend to Dan. He marries Nancy but leaves her, claiming to be abducted by aliens (later played upon in the fourth-season finale's end-credit sketch, where he is seen conversing with aliens on a spaceship). Before he and Nancy are engaged, he has a one-night stand with a drunk Jackie. Arnie is often seen wearing a yellow University of Iowa sweatshirt (Tom Arnold attended the University of Iowa in real life).
Ed Conner
Played by Ned Beatty. Ed is Dan's father, a charming, traveling salesman who always brings presents for the grandchildren. Dan has a troubled past with his father, but he is well-liked by everyone else. Ed never makes any blatant attempt on the show to anger Dan on purpose, but he often baits his son covertly (eg, when Ed begins to date Crystal and when Dan questions him on it, Ed makes a rude crack about Dan being "interested" in Crystal). It usually doesn't take long for Dan to become annoyed at his father's presence. He is portrayed as irresponsible and neglectful of his first family, though it is later revealed he justified his actions in reference to raising Dan by reconciling his frequent commitment of Dan's mother to a mental institution with his desire to provide Dan with at least one stable parent as he would often be gone on sale's trips during Dan's adolescence. He marries and has two children with Crystal, even though she is over 20 years younger than he is.
Al Harris
Played by John Randolph. Al is Roseanne and Jackie's physically abusive father who has a mistress for over 20 years. Upon his death, Roseanne meets with his mistress, Joan. Despite his violent nature, Al possesses a highly humorous nature that, in his passing, Roseanne thanks him for after reading a list of many things she hates him for doing to her and Jackie.
Jerry Garcia Conner
Played by Cole and Morgan Roberts. Born in 1995, Jerry is the family's baby, born to Roseanne and Dan when they are in their forties. His name is a tribute to Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Roseanne's pregnancy in the seventh season was to coincide with her real-life pregnancy, made possible via fertility drugs and methods in a clinic (which Roseanne explains at the end of an episode in which she does not appear due to her pregnancy). Also, Roseanne explains at the end of the season 8 Halloween episode, her character became pregnant three months before the actress. Roseanne's labor was to occur during a Grateful Dead concert; however, because of Jerry Garcia's death in 1995, that was changed. Before Jerry's birth, it is understood that Roseanne's baby will be a girl. However, during the end credits following the birth episode, Roseanne explains to the audience that she wanted the baby's gender to be the same as her real-life child's.
Nana Mary
Played by Shelley Winters. Nana Mary is Beverly's mother, and grandmother of Roseanne and Jackie who first appears in season three at a family barbecue. She has another daughter named Sonya. She makes several appearances from season three onwards, mostly during family occasions. She is a brash, outspoken, and lovable pensioner who gambles with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Unlike Bev, she is popular with the family. She also disgrees with her daughter on certain situations (such as siding with Jackie when Bev tries to get her to marry Fred, and revealing that she had two abortions, upsetting Bev who is against the idea). She outsmarts and drives Bev crazy, much to the amusement of Roseanne and Jackie, who usually endure the same torment from their own mother. Her character is often a comic relief for the family, as well as offering a balance between Roseanne and Jackie's relationship with their mother, and Bev's relationship with Nana Mary. She was promiscuous in her younger days and claims to have dated Pablo Picasso and Louis Armstrong. Mary had Bev with another man before marrying her deceased husband, Marvin. She tells Bev she was very young when she was born, and doesn't know who the father is, avoiding the subject whenever Bev brings it up. Her last appearance is in mid season nine. She is a big fan of a local radio call-in show that revolves around sex, and states, "If I don't call, they worry."
Audrey Conner
Played by Ann Wedgeworth and Debbie Reynolds. She is the mother of Dan Conner, and the ex-wife of Ed Conner. In Season Two she is introduced in, "We Gather Together", as a friendly, eccentric brunette woman who loves her son and her new boyfriend, as well as her successful career owning a travel agency. It's later revealed that she has a history of mental illness which Dan's father hid from him. She returns in person in season 9, angry at her son for putting her away.