I’m not sure how many people will care about this story, but it’s such a sweet tale that I had to write about it. Sara Gilbert may be happily engaged to musician Linda Perry, but coming out wasn’t easy for the former child star. Sara outed herself in 2010 although she had already been in a long-term lesbian relationship for nearly a decade. On Thursday’s episode of “The Talk,” Sara talked about how she realized she was gay and how former boyfriend Johnny Galecki kept her secret. The way she talks about him makes me realize I might have a crush on Johnny Galecki. God, what a wonderful guy:
On helping others come out: “I want people to know there can still be a struggle with it and that’s okay. It’s a process and there can be a part of you that doesn’t want to feel different or feel scared.”
On dating Johnny Galecki: “I thought he was super cute and I had a total crush on him. And we started dating and he would come over and we would, like, make out, and then I would start to get depressed.” Once Gilbert realized Galecki was offended by her actions, she “eventually told him I thought it was about my sexuality and he was super sweet about it.”
Johnny kept her secret: “I started dating a woman who was like 18 years older than I was, who was also in the public eye. It was something people could have found out about. Like no one knew at the show for years, and Johnny held the secret the whole time. And I always felt so scared. If it came out, what could happen? Could I lose my career? Will I ever be able to play a straight role again?”
She got Johnny’s permission to tell the story: “I called him and I just said, ‘Is it okay – I’m thinking of talking about this. The story sort of starts with you. And I’ve got to say I made out with you and got depressed, which is kind of a bummer. [He said], ‘Of course. I love you and I think it’s really important and I’m so proud of you … If you want, I will be there and I will hold your hand.’ It was so sweet, and this story really makes Johnny look good.”
[From People]
He offered to hold her hand while she told the story on air. That slays me. I always loved Johnny and Sara as a couple on “Roseanne.” Remember that time when their characters moved in together? They were really bummed out because they had to miss the family dinner and eat macaroni and cheese for Thanksgiving dinner. For some reason, that episode brings back fond memories.
Seriously, Johnny sounds like an amazing guy. Sara really appreciates how well he handled her revelation, and he continues to be supportive. So yeah, crush city. Hey, I always forget Johnny dated Kaley Cuoco. He must dig his co-stars.
Photos courtesy of WENN
He sounds like such a sweet, gentleman. I may have a crush on Johnny now, too!
I have a definite crush on Johnny Galecki and this story just furthers that. So sweet.
That really is a nice story, he sounds like a sweet guy. I’m still not crushing on him in any way but yeah…good for the both of them. 🙂
They look weirdly alike. And he does seem incredibly sweet.
On the show, one of the things they liked about each other was they had the same hair.
such a sweet story and what a great friend.
how old is she?
Only 38- she looks at least 45 in these shots
I have absolutely no idea who he is and only the vaguest of who she is, but I like them both now.
He’s on The Big Bang Theory, his character lives with Sheldon, on the show.
Thanks! In which case, I have at least heard him. My kids watch the show but it’s just too noisy and bangy-crashy for me.
Ha, that made me laugh out loud. I didn’t realize it was a noisy show. No explosions or shoot ’em ups on there, so I wouldn’t expect it.
And I thought only Sheldon and George Costanza could make women play for the other team.
It’s one of those shows where you need to turn down the volume on the TV, even though the last thing you watched was on the exact same channel. Screechy audience noise. Melts my brain!
Johnny sounds like a great guy and a wonderful friend!
Love him!!
I do too. Isn’t he also the first one to answer the gay rumors with “why would I be offended by something I don’t find offensive?” He seems like a guy who really has his act together.
I’ve always heard he was a sweetheart and this just makes me like him more. That quote from him is amazing.
I know! This story makes me want to hold HIS hand. So sweet.
Everyone has mentioned his days on Rosanne (loved him) but I also really liked his stuff on Entourage. Playing himself as a typical Hollywood a**hole actor. He was great.
Sara Gilbert and Johnny Galecki played my two favorite characters on Roseanne. They had great parts to play, and I was impressed by their acting skills. They seem to be two honest, caring people. I have followed them both in the news since the show ended, eager to see them succeed and be happy in life after all the enjoyment they brought me.
+1
+2. I loved Darlene’s snarkiness.
That show was great…
I loved Darlene too. Especially during the time the show came out, so many kid roles were really cheesy with pageant-y delivery. Sara played Darlene’s sarcasm so naturally.
+3…they were my favorite show characters & I always hoped they would end up getting a spin off together but alas didn’t happen. It’s nice to know Johnny’s a decent guy in addition to still being a cutie.
This is a really sweet story, and since Roseanne will always and forever be one of my favorite shows, it is extra sweet. I wonder if the other woman is Jane Lynch. She is 16 years older than Sarah Gilbert. I could see them together. Both are cute, funny, and smart.
Oh, good guess!
Jane Lynch wasn’t well known at that time , twenty years ago
Oooh, good guess. I was thinking Ellen, who I think is 55 (thus 17 years older), but I don’t really remember how the timing of Ellen’s sitcom and the later years of Roseanne line up – and I’m not invested enough to look it up, only invested enough to speculate on whomever she was dating as that was the most interesting part of the quotes to me!
Gay blogs are saying Jodie Foster or Ellen
I thought Ellen also because both shows were ABC I think so they wouldve know each other. Jodie Foster was Cydney Bernard in ’93 / ’94 so it doesn’t seem likely it was her, but you never know. Both she & Sarah are Ivy Leaguers. But Ellen and JF just seem so obvious which is why I like Jane Lynch. Jane Lynch wasn’t the star she is today, twenty years ago, but she was in the public eye and was building her career.
I’m thinking it’s got to be Sandra Bernhard. She was on the show, and she’s the right age.
Booyah! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this. (I’m such a “Roseanne” fan. Well, at least until they “won the lottery” and everything started going off the rails.) This makes perfect sense.
That is an awesome guess. Very likely. I could see SB seducing her. And Debi, I tee totally agree when Roseanne began to suck.
I doubt there are many men out there whose egos could handle that – the vast majority would have been dissing her all over town.
He is a awesome.
Johnny is so hot underneath all the Leonard get-up!
I think he looks cute as Leonard! 😄
Agree – always thought he was a total cutie and I’ve always had a thing for “nerds”.
She’s lucky that she picked him to express this too. Some other dude could have taken offense and this could have gone in a completely different direction.
Is that Blue Steel I see with Kaley C.
LMAO
At first glance I thought her gf was Johnny Depp……….. Oops!
Aww Leonard & Leslie Winkle. I feel like you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat their exes (unless the breakup was awful, in which case I totally get it). I love that he works with her and Kaley, I just watched the bloopers for last season and you can just tell they still get along so well. It’s super cute.
I love that she guested on BBT-that’s pretty cute. I did not know that they dated IRL. It says a lot about him that he was able to understand that it wasn’t about him in any way.
My husband was married to a woman who came out as a lesbian after 5 years of marriage, (12 years together total) and they are still tight to this day. He was able to put his “manliness” aside and say, “This is not about me. This is about who you are and what you need.” They got together really young, and as she grew up, she sort of found herself. She’s engaged to a wonderful woman and we couldn’t be happier for them.
Your husband sounds like a super-great understanding guy – lucky you!
Your husband sounds amazing.
I’m super lucky. They are both really good people. They had the cheapest divorce ever: sat down at the kitchen table, divided their stuff, and did the paperwork with no lawyers. All they paid were filing fees. I met him a few months after she came out, he bought out her share of the house, and we were married less than a year later. It was just great timing all around. Plus, he looks like Daniel Craig, so that’s good too.
I don’t think I would be able to stay friends with an ex if we were married or together for a long time and then they came out. My heart would be shattered. I’m glad your husband was able to do it, though. He must be a saint.
Never thought much about him but now I really like him.
When did they date?
I’ve never liked her, but I watched the show & it brought me to tears. She’s very abrasive snd judgemental, and just gets under my skin. If the woman is ever happy, I’ve never seen evidence of it! It’s hard to believe she is Melissa’s sister!
Not going to disagree or agree on your opinion of her, but siblings ARE different from one another, whether genetically related or not. Lord would life be dull if we were all the same!
Melissa was adopted in the mom’s first marriage. Sara is the biological child of the second marriage.
I think they have great chemistry together on Big Bang, must be from being such great friends – and yes, I’m old enought to remember them on Roseanne!
Aw, Johnny Galecki sounds like a sweetheart.
Her story reminds me of the blind item at CDaN (I think) about one actress sister walking in on her younger actress sister while she was in bed with a much-older woman. Most of the guesses were Melissa and Sara. Given the tidbit about the 18-years-older woman, I’m thinking those guesses were correct.
1. Sara and her fiancée look alike. Same facial bone structure.
2. The guy is awfully sweet. My cold, hard heart was touched when I read the part about holding her hand.
Awww….
😉
I have never watched The Talk, but I caught it yesterday since I was looking for weather updates. I wanted in the worst way to hug her. Everything about her story was touching and she was barely holding back the tears.
I also loved her and Johnny on Roseanne. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that Johnny is as great in real life as David was on the show. I used to want a boyfriend just like him.
Good for her, and how lucky she is and was to have him in her life. Nice to read about a real friendship that’s this strong and meaningful in a tough Hollywood world.
He said he would hold her hand. !!!!
I’ve had a mild Johnny crush, but it’s definitely bigger now. He seems like he’s really just a wonderful guy. I’m glad she’s able to be secure in who she is now. Makes me look at their date-kiss-experiment in BBT with a new slant though. lol
Aw, sweet. I feel like most lesbians I knew in college had had one, super sweet, awesome boyfriend/best friend in high school.
But whooooooooo is the much older woman?!?!
Ps love them both!
YES, THIS! Who was the lesbian she dated in the public eye??? Ellen deGeneres?
Someone guessed Jane Lynch up thread.
The older woman she was with is Alison Adler. She shared custody of two children with her. They were together 10 years.
The woman she was referring to couldn’t be Adler; Gilbert and Adler got together in 2001, long after Roseanne was off the air.
I’m liking the Ellen guess. Jodie Foster’s only 12 years older, so that sort of leaves her out.
I don’t think that she was talking about the “show” being Roseanne. She has a reoccurring part on Big Bang Theory since 2007, but came out in 2010.
I posted upthread that I think it might have been Sandra Bernhard, who was on the show and is the right age.
I just died of love for both of them. You hear do many stories about actors being jerks to each other. How amazing that they treat each other with such care.
I read a comment on another page by a poster who said that her/his grandfather did yard work for Johnny; the grandfather recently passed away and Johnny came in person to express his condolences to the family and brought them flowers.
WHAT AN AMAZING GUY! LOVE HIM!
More about them, please! What a refreshing change. And what a sweet story all around.
I love that not only did sara guest on TBBT, but the woman who played jackie (I’m blanking on her name) guests as Sheldon’s mom…not sure if Johnny has pull with casting, but I think it says a lot about their past on Roseanne.
If there’s any BBT fans out there there HAS to be a role for John Goodman? Maybe Leonard’s dad, opposite Christine Baranski?
I could see JG as Sheldon’s dad (in flashback, since Sheldon’s dad is dead, based on what Sheldon said about the effects of his mother’s cooking on his father’s health (no offense, John Goodman). Although it would be an intriguing stroke to cast JG as Leonard’s dad- I want to see how he would play the residual effects of having been married to Leonard’s mother.
But I think the reason for all of the Roseanne alums is because of Chuck Lorre. I’m pretty sure that he worked on Roseanne, at least that what I gleamed when Roseanne decided to poke her nose into the Charlie Sheen/TAHM debacle, siding with Sheen and shading Lorre. JMO, Roseanne and Roseanne alone was responsible for turning the show into a major pile of boom boom (as Raj would say).
I agree about jg as sheldon’s father- that would be precious! Although I had flashbacks to his hosting days on SNL and linda tripp….how funny would he beas Howard’s mother? Too bad we already have the voice…
I second the bit about roseanne…I respect her in the sense that her comedy was truly groundbreaking, but I don’t think the show was as much her as the chemistry between everyone else.
For a minute there while reading the story I asked myself, “Johnny and Sara” WHO? Then I realized you meant their characters “David” & “Darlene” on Roseanne . . . lol. . . He was SO FLIPPIN’ ADORABLE on that show. Especially playing off of Sara’s really harsh-talking, flack-giving Darlene . . . those were great episodes that I’ll always cherish and enjoy seeing on Roseanne reruns . . .
Must. Know. Who. Older. Woman. Is.
I absolutely love these two and have since I was a little girl watching Roseanne with my mom. I knew that there was a little more to Darlene’s tomboy-esque demeanor (that’s not saying all lesbians are tomboy, after all I love women and I’m not a tomboy). I was instantly drawn to her wit and personality. David was such a sweet pushover … oh how I miss that show!
Jodie Foster or Ellen
It isn’t a secret. The older woman she was with is Alison Adler. She shared custody of two children with her. They were together 10 years.
It isn’t Adler… 2001 is when they got together which was looooong after Roseanne was off the air.
For everyone wondering about the “older woman”, it is Alison Adler (tv producer). They split recently, but share custody of two children.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2029826/Roseanne-star-Sara-Gilbert-splits-long-term-girlfriend-10-years-together.html
Respectfully, I believe you’re incorrect. Both the age difference and the timing is wrong based on what Sara’s saying. Adler’s not even ten years older, and they didn’t start dating until Roseanne was off the air.
Thanks for respectfully disagreeing!
I think I could be right, however. She doesn’t say the show she was working on was Roseanne. She was with Adler since 2001, but came out in 2010. She has been on Big Bang Theory since 2007…meaning she was with Adler and working with Johnny for 3 years before coming out of the closet.
I think Johnny and Sara might have dated and she came out to him years before, but he still kept her secret while she was playing a straight woman on BBT and not yet out of the closet.
No biggie if I am wrong, though!
She is not old enough though, age difference doesnt fit.Also Sara dated Johnny during Roseanne, the blonde chick who played Becky mentioned it in interview.
I forgot to type Sara said the woman was 18 years older and well known .
I knew she was a lesbio when she was on
The Roseanne Show
She just looks gay.
I hope that’s a typo and not a slur
Love Johnny Galecki- you can just see his tender soul.
I’m interested in the fact that with all of this Johnny love going on, there has only been a couple of mentions of his relationship with Kaley on BBT, they were together for two years and kept it quiet. When she dated Superman she got a lot of crap from this site about being a dumb blond attention seeker. I’ve always thought that she’d been misjudged during that incident and I think we can use a quiet long term relationship with a stand up guy as evidence on that one.
@38 +1 🙂