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List of Roseanne characters
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The cast of Roseanne (from top left to top right): Glenn Quinn as Mark Healy, Johnny Galecki as David Healy, Martin Mull as Leon Carp, Estelle Parsons as Beverly Harris and Laurie Metcalf as Jackie Harris. (From bottom left to bottom right) Michael Fishman as D.J. Conner, Sara Gilbert as Darlene Conner, Roseanne Barr as Roseanne Conner, John Goodman as Dan Conner and Sarah Chalke as Becky Conner
The following is a list of major characters in the television series Roseanne.
Contents
[hide]
1 Family tree
2 Main characters
2.1 Roseanne Conner
2.2 Dan Conner
2.3 Jackie Harris
2.4 D.J. Conner
2.5 Darlene Conner
2.6 Becky Conner
2.7 Mark Healy
2.8 David Healy
2.9 Harris Conner-Healy
2.10 Mark Conner-Healy
3 Other major characters
3.1 Nancy Bartlett
3.2 Leon Carp
3.3 Crystal Anderson
3.4 Ed Conner
3.5 Jerry Conner
3.6 Fred
3.7 Andy Harris
3.8 Bev Harris
3.9 Nana Mary
3.10 Arnie Thomas
4 Minor/recurring characters
4.1 Other family members
4.2 Wellman Plastics
4.3 Art's Beauty Shop
4.4 Rodbell's Department Store
4.5 Neighbors
4.6 Other characters
5 References
Family tree[edit]
Sonny Anderson Crystal Anderson Ed Conner Audrey Conner Al Harris Bev Harris
Lonnie Ed and Angela Dan Conner
b. 1951 Roseanne Conner
b. 1952 Jackie Harris
b. 1956 Fred
Becky Healy
b. 1975 Mark Healy Darlene Healy
b. 1977 David Healy D.J. Conner
b. 1981 Geena Conner Jerry Conner
b. 1995
Harris Conner-Healy Mark Conner-Healy Mary Conner Andy Harris
Main characters[edit]
Actor
Character
Seasons
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Roseanne Barr Roseanne Conner Main
John Goodman Dan Conner Main
Laurie Metcalf Jackie Harris Main
Michael Fishman D.J. Conner Main
Sara Gilbert Darlene Conner Main
Lecy Goranson Becky Conner Main Main Main
Sarah Chalke Main Also Starring Main
Andrea Recurring
Natalie West Crystal Anderson Also Starring Main Also Starring Guest Guest Guest
Emma Kenney Harris Conner-Healy Main
Ames McNamara Mark Conner-Healy Main
Jayden Rey Mary Conner Main
George Clooney Booker Brooks Also Starring Guest
Estelle Parsons Bev Harris Guest Also Starring Recurring
Glenn Quinn Mark Healy Guest Recurring Also Starring
Martin Mull Leon Carp Recurring Guest Recurring Also Starring
Johnny Galecki David Healy Recurring Also Starring Guest
Sandra Bernhard Nancy Bartlett Recurring Also Starring Guest Recurring Also Starring Guest
Danielle Harris Molly Tilden Also Starring
Mara Hobel Charlotte Tilden Also Starring
Michael O'Keefe Fred Also Starring
Fred Willard Scott Recurring Also Starring
Roseanne Conner[edit]
Main article: Roseanne Conner
Roseanne Conner is played by Roseanne Barr.[1][2] Roseanne, in a takeoff of her stand-up comedic and presumed real-life persona, is a bossy, loud, caustic, overweight, and dominant woman.[3] She constantly tries to control the lives of her sister, husband, children, co-workers, and friends. Despite her dominating nature, Roseanne is a loving mother who works hard and makes as much time for her kids as possible.[4] She and her younger sister Jackie are the daughters of Beverly and Al Harris. Roseanne is married to Dan Conner and, when the series begins, they have three children: Becky, Darlene and David Jacob ("D.J."); a fourth child, Jerry Garcia, is born late in the series.
She and her family deal with the many hardships of poverty, obesity, 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/receptionist at a beauty salon. Subsequently, she works for several years as a waitress in the luncheonette at Rodbell's department store located in the Lanford Mall (much to the chagrin of daughters Becky and Darlene, who regularly hang out there).
Roseanne eventually co-owns a successful restaurant called the Lanford Lunch Box with Jackie, her mother Bev, Nancy, and later her former boss from the luncheonette, Leon, after Bev sells her share in the restaurant to him.
In Season 9, Roseanne and Jackie win a lottery in excess of $108,000,000. At the end of the season, it is revealed that she didn't win the lottery at all and that most of what had happened on the show was actually from a book of her own writing. She also reveals that Dan died from a heart attack at the end of the previous season. However, in Season 10, which takes place twenty years later, the events of Season 9 are ret-conned out of existence. By this time, she is still married to Dan and is now a grandmother of three.
In June 2010, Entertainment Weekly named Roseanne one of the 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years.[5] In 2009, she was listed in the Top 5 Classic TV Moms by Film.com.[6] In May 2012, she was one of the 12 moms chosen by users of iVillage on their list of "Mommy Dearest: The TV Moms You Love".[7] AOL named her the 11th Most Memorable Female TV Character.[8]
Dan Conner[edit]
Main article: Dan Conner
Daniel "Dan" Conner' is played by John Goodman, Daniel, or more commonly known as Dan or Danny, is the husband of Roseanne and father of Becky, Darlene, DJ, and Jerry. Dan is a loving, easygoing drywall contractor.[citation needed]
During the final episode of Season 9, which was later ret-conned out of existence, Roseanne reveals that the entire series was written as a book based on her life and family, and she changed certain elements of what she hadn't liked; most notably, during the final season, Dan and Roseanne are shown living apart after Dan cheats on Roseanne, but he had actually died from his heart attack at Darlene and David's wedding near the end of Season 8. Writing that he cheated was her way of explaining her feelings of loss and abandonment from his death. The potential absence of Dan from all or most of the next season prompted Phil Rosenthal of the Los Angeles Daily News to describe it as a rare occasion where ending the show would be preferred to doing without. Robinson described Goodman's potential absence as leaving a tremendous void, owing to his ability to make those acting with him better.[9] The revelation that Dan actually died and the series' being a work of fiction within the show was not well received.[10] At the commencement of Season 10, which takes place twenty years after Season 9, Dan is alive, still married to Roseanne, and now a grandfather of three.
In an article about television dads, The Post and Courier editor Mindy Spar began discussing how '90s TV dads became goofier than dads from earlier decades, calling Dan more like one of the children than the father.[11] IGN editor Edgar Arce called Dan Conner a prototypical everyman.[12]
An article in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune praised Dan and Roseanne's relationship, calling it realistic and commenting that while they mock each other, viewers can feel their love while they deal with the kinds of problems real families face.[13] Daily News editor David Bianculli stated that while they were the most entertaining and realistic couples on television, they were one of the least during their separation.[14] Their relationship was included in TV Guide's list of the best TV couples of all time.[15]
Jackie Harris[edit]
Marjorie Jacqueline "Jackie" Harris is played by Laurie Metcalf, Jackie is Roseanne's younger sister by three years, neurotic but a loving, devoted aunt to her nieces and nephews.[16][17]
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 she feels vulnerable. Jackie's character becomes more animated and colorful as the series progresses.[18] 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, then becoming a truck driver, then opening The Lanford Lunch Box with Roseanne and Nancy, with her mother as a silent partner.[19][20] Jackie often comes up with off-the-wall ideas, but many of her unconventional ideas actually work. Her romantic relationships are frequently unstable, including one with a domestic abuser. She eventually marries Dan's co-worker Fred, who impregnated her during 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, who returns home upset, accuses Jackie of adultery and refuses to speak to her. With Bev's help, Roseanne has Fred realize that his accusations against Jackie are unjustified, and he returns to her. But at this point Jackie has realized that she's happier being single. The marriage is 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.
In Season 6, whilst Jackie is in labor, her mother Bev reveals to Jackie that her birth name is actually Marjorie and that the family began calling her Jackie because Roseanne couldn't pronounce Marjorie and instead called her "my Jackie."[21] However, in Season 10, Jackie introduces herself to Andrea, the woman looking to hire Becky as her surrogate, as Jacqueline. 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 of Season 9. It is also revealed in that same episode that the character of Jackie had come out as a lesbian during the final season, and that Roseanne knew but had simply always pictured Jackie with a man.[22] However, as most of Season 9 (and the final episode in particular) has been since ret-conned out of existence, this revelation may no longer be applicable.
D.J. Conner[edit]
David Jacob "D.J." Conner is played by Michael Fishman (Sal Barone in the pilot episode).[23] Born in 1981, David, better known by his initials D.J., was the youngest of Roseanne and Dan's children and their only son until the birth of Jerry Conner, in 1995. D.J. is more simple-minded, naive, and boisterous than his older sisters, who frequently taunt him. In the first episode of season three, it is stated that while Becky and Darlene were planned pregnancies, D.J. was a "surprise". As he grows up, D.J.'s storylines deal with more mature topics such as masturbation and human sexuality. Later episodes depict D.J. as having a close, brother-like friendship with Becky's husband Mark. He is also shown to develop an interest in filmmaking: he repeatedly asks Darlene if he can videotape her giving birth. He was one of the only characters that wasn't changed in the final episode of Season 9, which has since been ret-conned out of existence.
In Season 10, D.J. is shown to have recently retired from the military and returned home after serving in Syria for an unspecified amount of time. He is also shown to be married to a woman named Geena Williams, who is still serving in the military abroad, and that the two have a daughter, Mary.
Darlene Conner[edit]
It has been suggested that this section be split out into another article titled Darlene Conner. (Discuss) (August 2017)
Darlene Conner (later Healy) is played by Sara Gilbert.[16] She is Dan and Roseanne's second child and younger daughter, born in 1977. She is normally artistic, sarcastic, tomboyish, intelligent, and slightly rough. In the early seasons, she's a tomboy who loves sports and has trouble in school. However, during high school, she becomes moody, artistic, and an animal rights activist and vegetarian to more closely match Gilbert's real-life views and personality. During her freshman year of high school, she begins dating David Healy (Johnny Galecki), coincidentally the younger brother of Becky's husband Mark. Darlene is sarcastic and domineering like her mother, often causing the couple to clash. Her bossy nature is best seen with David, who usually gives in to her. Darlene is a talented writer, and David is a budding graphic artist, so they begin collaborating on a graphic novel.
Darlene is awarded early admission and a scholarship to an exclusive art school in Chicago, which Roseanne eventually allows her to attend, giving Darlene a chance to become the writer Roseanne wanted to be. At college, Darlene meets Jimmy, whom she dates without breaking up with David. David is aware she is dating Jimmy and eventually tells her she has to choose between them. She chooses Jimmy, who later dumps her because he can't get close to her. Darlene realizes she still loves David after a movie date, and Roseanne talks the two of them into reconciling. Darlene becomes pregnant by David at Disney World, and they marry. She finishes art school and gives birth to a daughter, Harris Conner Healy. Harris is born three months prematurely and almost doesn't survive; David and Darlene must decide whether to keep her on life support or take her off and let nature take its course; the two decide she should get a chance to "experience life without being hooked up to all those machines", and surprisingly Harris pulls through. In the final episode of Season 9, it is revealed that Darlene had actually been dating Mark all along in reality but was written in Roseanne's book as having been with David instead, as Roseanne felt it made more sense. However, by the start of Season 10, which takes place twenty years later, this revelation has been retconned out of existence.
In Season 10, Darlene is revealed to be a single mother of two children, daughter Harris and son Mark, and she has recently lost her job in publishing, forcing her to move from Chicago back to Lanford to live with Roseanne and Dan in her childhood home.
Sara Gilbert was almost rejected from the role for not being cute enough.[24]
Becky Conner[edit]
Played by Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke.
Rebecca "Becky" Conner (later Healy) is born in 1975, Rebecca, or Becky as she's known to her family and friends, is the eldest of Roseanne and Dan's children. Becky is introduced to the series as a pre-teen, whose primary interests are centered around makeup, fashion, and boys, and while she can be self-centered and act spoiled at times, she actually is the least problematic of the Conner children, maintaining very good grades and rarely causing issues for her parents beyond an occasional argument. However, as Becky grows older, she begins to break from her good girl mold, drinking Roseanne and Dan's alcohol with a friend while they're home alone, cutting her hair, and dating guys that Roseanne and Dan strongly disapprove of, her future husband Mark Healy being one of them. Becky's ultimate act of rebellion comes when she drops out of high school and elopes to Minneapolis.
In the year before she eloped, Becky's life was stressful. In addition to working as a cashier to help support her family and going to school, she was the sole person responsible for maintaining the household and looking after her younger siblings. Her breaking point came when she learnt her parents had used her college fund to pay household bills after the family's bike shop failed and that her long-time boyfriend Mark was leaving Lanford to work in Minneapolis. Feeling she had no prospects in Lanford, she eloped with Mark. Unfortunately, the marriage didn't bring her any financial security or stability. The two were ultimately forced to return to Lanford, where Mark began working for the city alongside Dan and Becky began serving at a restaurant called Bunz. The two lived in the Conner house for some time before moving into their own place, a mobile home. In the final episode of Season 9, it was revealed Becky was pregnant. In season 10, she reveals that she miscarried.
Twenty one years later, in Season 10, Becky is shown to still be living in Lanford and working as a server at a chain Mexican Restaurant. Her husband Mark has died. Having been widowed and left in dire financial straits, she turns to egg donation and surrogacy in an effort to make ends meet, having been offered $50,000 from an affluent couple. Her parents are disapproving of Becky's decision, with Roseanne explaining to Becky that while she might not feel a connection to her biological child, Roseanne and the rest of the family would. Becky feels she isn't in a position to turn down the offer. Becky later finds out she has a very small chance of becoming pregnant. The couple that offered her the surrogacy decides they need to move on to someone else.
Lecy Goranson played the role of Becky from the show's inception through Season 5. Goranson decided to leave the show in order to earn her college degree (she attended Vassar College). Becky's absence is written as having her elope with Mark and moving out of state. However, producers wished to return the character to the show and since Goranson wasn't available, they recast the role with Canadian actress Sarah Chalke. Chalke appeared as Becky starting in the middle of Season 6 and all of Season 7. Goranson returned for Season 8 as Becky, while still attending college, and Chalke was let go. However, Goranson's school schedule sometimes conflicted with her filming schedule and thus she was unavailable at times. The writers did not write in the Becky character when Goranson was not available for filming, but the show needed the Becky character in some episodes. Chalke was asked again to play the role when Goranson was not available during Season 8. Not wanting to put the show through more scheduling conflicts, Goranson did not sign on for Season 9 and concentrated on her studies. The role was turned over to Chalke for Season 9. With the series re-boot, Goranson plays the role of Becky. In Season 10, Goranson as Becky, and Chalke as a character named Andrea, comment on how much they resemble one another - as the two actors once had played the same role.
Mark Healy[edit]
Mark Healy is played by Glenn Quinn. Mark dates and later elopes with Becky, much to the Conners' consternation. Despite Mark's tough-guy image and rebel persona, he is rarely seen to engage in criminal activity. Roseanne initially had a strong dislike for Mark because of his condescending attitude toward her. Dan initially dislikes Mark as well; Mark's choice to ride a British Triumph motorcycle rather than an American Harley-Davidson causes particular tension. However, Dan soon respects Mark's work ethic and hires him as a mechanic, both at his bike shop and his truck-inspection office. Mark's personality changes drastically over the course of the series — he starts off as a rebellious delinquent but ultimately proves himself to be a caring and responsible (although dull-witted) husband and brother. Roseanne and the rest of the family eventually grow to love Mark, though they still get amusement out of insulting him. Mark has a younger brother, David, who dates (and later marries) Darlene. He also has two much younger sisters, Lisa and Nikki, who appear briefly in the Season 5 episode "No Place Like Home for The Holidays".
In the Season 9 finale, Roseanne reveals that Mark had actually been dating Darlene in "real life", and Roseanne simply wrote that Mark and Becky were a couple because Roseanne felt that made more sense. In Season 10, this is retconned as a dream and a story by Roseanne. However, it is mentioned that Mark has passed away, leaving Becky a widow in severe financial ruin. No further information is given as to how long ago he died or what he died of, except that Darlene and David’s 10-year-old son is named after him.
David Healy[edit]
David Maurice Healy is played by Johnny Galecki. David Maurice Healy is Mark's younger brother. He first appeared in "The Bowling Show" (episode 4.14) when his first name was indicated to be Kevin. In a season 6 episode Roseanne comments that David isn't his real name, it's just something that Darlene made up. So it's possible that Kevin really is his name, although everyone including his own family call him David, and Roseanne might not have been serious. Whereas Mark acted like a rebellious delinquent at first, David is friendlier to the Conners. He's shy, polite, thoughtful, sensitive, soft-spoken, artistic, and intelligent. He has a relationship with Darlene and collaborates with her by illustrating graphic novels that she writes, being the submissive one in the relationship. His manner is endearing to the Conners, who think of him as part of the family and jokingly refer to him as being more welcome than Darlene. He moves in with the Conners after Roseanne, herself a victim of child abuse, sees how abusive David's mother is to him. David and Darlene break up three times throughout the course of the show, each for a longer period of time than the last; they always end up back together. Eventually, David impregnates Darlene and they decide to marry. In the series finale, Roseanne reveals that David had actually been dating Becky in "real life," and that Roseanne simply wrote his relationship as being with Darlene because she felt it made more sense. That series finale is retconned for season 10, where it is revealed that David and Darlene have separated and David has been away traveling and doing volunteer work, leaving Darlene to care alone for their two children, Harris and Mark. He later visits Darlene, telling her he is moving back into town to settle down with another woman and asks her for a divorce. After they end up sleeping together, they both consider getting back together until Roseanne informs Darlene that it wouldn't be good for their kids, who resent David for not being there for them. They both agree to move forward with the divorce and on Dan's urging, David agrees to get his act together and proceed with the move before he can see the kids again.
When David was first introduced to the series, it was said his name was Kevin, not David, but while applying for college, he uses the name David Maurice Healy. Writers might have tried to explain this discrepancy with a comment Roseanne makes in Season 6, saying "David's not even his real name. Darlene made it up!" However, in real life, Barr reportedly wanted to name the character David from the beginning but the idea was shot down as Galecki was starring on another show, Billy as a character named David.[25]
Harris Conner-Healy[edit]
Harris Conner-Healy is portrayed by Emma Kenney. The elder of Darlene's two children, Harris is a teenager who possesses her mother and grandmother's sarcasm and bears a strong physical resemblance to Darlene. Having grown up in Chicago, Harris is less than thrilled about moving to Lanford and is resentful towards her mother and hostile towards her family members. As Harris continuously shows herself to be indifferent to the needs of others in the home, Roseanne does what Darlene hasn't done; she confronts Harris about her rude and discourteous behavior. Though Darlene is initially upset by the confrontation between her daughter and her mother, she accepts Roseanne's actions as justified when she discovers that Harris, left to make her own decisions, has been selling stolen goods on Etsy in an effort to raise money to move back to Chicago. While Darlene is sympathetic to Harris's unhappiness, she exerts more control over her daughter's life, grounding her and demanding passwords to all of her social media accounts.
Mark Conner-Healy[edit]
Mark Conner-Healy is portrayed by Ames McNamara. The younger of Darlene's two children, Mark is a 10-year-old boy with a strong interest in fashion. His interest in things traditionally feminine, such as wearing makeup and skirts, is somewhat worrisome to his grandparents, with Roseanne worried that Mark will be bullied by his narrow-minded peers and Dan feeling that he needs to persuade the youngster to take on more masculine traits. Noticing a classmate make a snide comment to Mark on his first day at school in Lanford, Roseanne threatens his classmates by telling them she's a witch, while Dan gives Mark a pocket knife, which ultimately results in him being called to the principal's office and sent home from school for the day, much to Darlene's chagrin. Despite Roseanne and Dan's concerns, they express support and love for him. Mark is named for his deceased uncle, Mark Healy.
Other major characters[edit]
Nancy Bartlett[edit]
Nancy Lynn Bartlett is played by Sandra Bernhard, Nancy is a 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 women; her first girlfriend Marla 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 one of the most self-confident 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, although she doesn't hesitate to reprimand them for their selfishness and cruelty when they treat their mother, Bev, so harshly that Bev ends up crying about it for days afterward, while Nancy supports her.
Leon Carp[edit]
Leon Carp is played by Martin Mull. Leon, originally as Roseanne's boss at Rodbell's Luncheonette and later as her business partner in The Lanford Lunchbox, is portrayed as a foil to Roseanne; although they have a contentious relationship at times, it is apparent that Leon is still a good friend of Roseanne's, eventually becoming an extended family member of sorts. As a gay man, he is occasionally seen dating many men and having romantic troubles; however, he later marries his life partner Scott (Fred Willard) in a very public ceremony. In the series finale, they visit the Conner residence bearing gifts for Darlene and David's new baby, Harris, proclaiming themselves as the infant's Aunt Scott and Aunt Leon. Near the end of the episode, they announce their plans to adopt a little girl. Leon's role in the series expands significantly in the eighth and ninth seasons, as he is featured in more episodes. He is especially upset when Roseanne wins the lottery, but Roseanne and Jackie end up relinquishing control of the restaurant to Leon and Nancy. Leon is a Republican, and holds George Bush in high regard. He also is shown throughout the series' run to be a fan of Liza Minnelli, as well as Broadway musicals.
Crystal Anderson[edit]
Crystal Anderson is played by Natalie West. Crystal is a close friend of Roseanne, having gone to high school with her and Jackie and later working together with them at Wellman Plastics. A mild-mannered and good-hearted woman, Crystal's kindness is often taken advantage of, even by Roseanne at times. Though Crystal is not oblivious to others using her, with few exceptions, she never asserts herself, fearing she might lose others' favor or be perceived as unladylike.
Crystal's most poignant hallmark is her troubles in dating. At the beginning of the series, she has been married three times. Her marriages to two of her husbands, Rusty and Travis, were fairly short and ended in divorce, while another marriage to a third husband Sonny, with whom Crystal had one son, Lonnie, was also cut short when Sonny was killed in a construction accident. Afterwards, Crystal endures years of bad relationships before gradually kindling a romance with Dan's father, Ed, much to Dan and Roseanne's surprise in Season 3. The two eventually get married, which proves to be a stepping stone in Dan's efforts to repair the long-strained relationship with his father, and Roseanne welcomes her best friend into the family by planning her wedding, during the planning of which Crystal reveals she is pregnant. She later gives birth to another son, Ed Jr, or commonly known as little Ed. The following year, Crystal gives birth to a daughter, Angela, much to her delight having always wanted a daughter.
Little is known about Crystal's background, other than her mother forced her to leave home at 16 and that she married at 18, shortly after graduating from high school. Curiously, Crystal speaks with a Southern accent despite being a Lanford native. Her explanation is that her father was from Arkansas.
Ed Conner[edit]
Ed Conner is played by Ned Beatty. Ed is Dan's father, a charming traveling salesman who always brings presents for the grandchildren. Dan has a troubled history with his father, but he is well liked by everyone else. Despite a stained relationship with his son, Ed is well-meaning and likable. Ed never purposely attempts to anger Dan, but he often baits his son covertly (e.g., when Dan questions Ed dating Crystal, Ed makes a rude crack about Dan being "interested" in Crystal). It usually takes little time for Dan to become annoyed by his father's presence. Ed is portrayed as being irresponsible and neglectful of his first family, though it is later revealed that his wife's (Dan's mother) mental illness contributed to their strained marriage and resulted in her frequent commitment to mental institution. All this was unknown to Dan until Crystal revealed it to Roseanne. Ed hoped to provide Dan with at least one stable parent as he would often be gone on sales trips during Dan's adolescence. He wants to learn from his past actions and be a better father and husband. He loves his son despite their troubled relationship, and also loves the rest of his family. He marries Crystal and has two children with her (Ed Jr. and Angela), who are considerably younger than their half-brother, Dan.
Jerry Conner[edit]
Jerry Garcia Conner is played by Cole Roberts and Morgan Roberts. Jerry is the youngest of Roseanne and Dan's children, born in 1995 when the two are in their forties. Jerry's conception presented a real struggle for Roseanne and Dan, who previously had never experienced issues with their fertility. He was named for musician Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, who passed away of a heart attack while Roseanne was pregnant and of whom she and Dan were fans. Because he was so young, Jerry didn't play a large role in the series' initial run. Jerry did not appear in the premiere episode of Season 10, his absence explained by Roseanne as him being on a fishing boat in Alaska.
The decision to add a pregnancy storyline to the series coincided with Roseanne Barr's real-life pregnancy with her son, Buck Thomas. Barr, like her character, struggled with fertility, though Barr ultimately resorted to fertility drugs to conceive while her character was able to become pregnant naturally. Initially, it was planned that the new addition to the cast would be a daughter, but when Barr gave birth to a boy, she decided the Conners should have a son instead, wanting her on-screen child's sex to match her newborn child's. Once it was decided the child would be a boy, Barr named the character after Jerry Garcia and intended to have Roseanne give birth at a concert held by the Grateful Dead. However, plans for a concert birth were scrapped when Garcia passed away unexpectedly.
Fred[edit]
Fred is played by Michael O'Keefe. Fred is a mechanic who works at the garage with Dan and is introduced to Jackie, leading to a one-night stand, accidental impregnation, and subsequent marriage. After much encouragement Jackie eventually warms up and faces the fact that Fred is the father of her child and therefore a part of their lives. At first Fred assumes that Jackie is just putting him off lightly because he fails to understand that she had a previous abusive relationship in addition to her dysfunctional childhood. Being very conventional, Fred is shocked by the Conners' and Harris' unconventional ways and cannot understand the inner workings of Jackie's family. This leads to the dissolution of Jackie and Fred's marriage. Despite their attempts to make the marriage work, Jackie and Fred break up when they realize they have little in common.
Andy Harris[edit]
Andy Harris is Jackie and Fred's son, born in 1994 on the episode "Labor Day". Jackie breastfeeds Andy at the altar while marrying Fred ("Altar Egos"). Andy was the ringbearer in Darlene and David's wedding ("The Wedding"). Jackie likes to dress him up in outfits Fred deems to be feminine. DJ makes it a point to spend time with Andy because DJ didn't have any male siblings at the time, not until his brother Jerry came along a year later. Andy and Jerry are cousins and take naps together in the same crib.
Bev Harris[edit]
Beverly Lorraine "Bev" Harris is played by Estelle Parsons. Beverly is the mother of Roseanne and Jackie, the wife of Al, and the daughter of Nana Mary. She has a half-sister named Sonya. Overbearing and shrill, she's avoided by all of her family members. She nags them with her shockingly whiny voice, often with good intentions but presenting them in the wrong way. The family (especially Jackie) tries to avoid spending any time with Bev, 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.
From what is known of Bev's childhood and marriage, life was hard on her emotionally, plagued with instability and neglect. Her mother, Mary, put her freedom ahead of her children and, as a result of her mother's promiscuity, Bev never knew who her father was. As a young woman, Bev, like her mother, found herself pregnant out of wedlock but, unlike her mother, married the man she was pregnant by, Al Harris. While Bev's marriage to Al lasted several decades, their union wasn't a success as Al was physically abusive towards their children and cheated on her for much of their marriage. Largely disappointed the outcome of her life, Bev grew to be a bitter person in her old age, which she dealt with by hiding her emotions and being highly critical of others.
Nana Mary[edit]
Nana Mary is played by Shelley Winters. Nana Mary is Beverly's mother and Roseanne and Jackie's grandmother, and first appears at a family barbecue in season three. She has another daughter named Sonya. She makes several appearances from season three onward, mostly during family occasions. She is a brash but caring, free-spirited, outspoken, lovable retiree who gambles with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Unlike Bev, she is popular with the family. She also disagrees with Bev 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 Bev and drives her crazy, much to the amusement of Roseanne and Jackie, who usually endure the same torment from Bev. 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. She is a big fan of a local radio call-in show that revolves around sex: "If I don't call, they worry," she claims. Nana Mary's last appearance is midway through season nine, in which she finally has a heart-to-heart with Bev, thus closing the story on their relationship. Despite her absence, Mary appears at other family occasions, including the birth of her great-great-granddaughter.
Arnie Thomas[edit]
Arnold Shep "Arnie" Thomas is played by Tom Arnold. Arnie is the overweight, hot-tempered but jovial friend of Dan. Originally, he was written as a relative stranger to both Roseanne and Jackie, although this was later retconned, and he was subsequently written as having gone to high school with them. 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). He is last seen in season 5, where he unsuccessfully tries to win Nancy back, even after finding out that she is a lesbian. Tom Arnold appears in the ending credits of a later episode, but is now playing Jackie Thomas (in his role on The Jackie Thomas Show), and none of the characters seem to recognize him.
Minor/recurring characters[edit]
Actor
Character
Seasons
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Charlayne Woodard Vonda Green Recurring Guest
Anne Faulkner Sylvia Foster Recurring Guest
Evelina Fernandez Juanita Herrara Recurring Guest
Judy Prescott Miss Crane Guest Guest
Jared Rushton Chip Lang Recurring
Ned Beatty Ed Connor Guest Guest
William Sadler Dwight Guest
John Randolph Al Harris Guest
Tom Arnold Arnie Thomas Recurring Guest
Stephen Dorff Jimmy Meltrigger Recurring
Ann Wedgeworth Audrey Conner Guest
Debbie Reynolds Guest
Debra Mooney Meg Wellman Recurring
Elizabeth Franz Marsha Recurring
Lori Tan Chinn Iris Recurring
Melora Walters Debbie Recurring
Brian Kerwin Gary Hall Guest
Jay O. Sanders Ziggy Guest
Adilah Barnes Anne-Marie Mitchell Recurring Guest
James Pickens, Jr. Chuckie Mitchell Guest Recurring Guest
Bonnie Bramlett Bonnie Watkins Recurring
Kristopher Kent Hill Lonnie Anderson Guest Guest
Danton Stone Jerry Bowman Guest
Meagen Fay Kathy Bowman Guest
Troy Davidson Todd Bowman Guest
Shelley Winters Nana Mary Guest
Dan Butler Art Recurring
Matt Roth Fisher Recurring
Morgan Fairchild Marla Recurring
Wings Hauser Ty Tilden Recurring
Joan Collins Ronnie Guest
Joseph Gordon-Levitt George Guest
Unknown Baby Andy Harris Guest Recurring
John McConnell Alexander Recurring Guest
Danny Masterson Jimmy Phillips Guest
Traci Lords Stacey Flagler Recurring
Buck Thomas Jerry Connor Recurring Guest
Matthew Fishman Stinky Guest
Stan Freberg Mr. Parkin Recurring
Heather Matarazzo Heather Recurring
Other family members[edit]
Audrey Conner (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, seemingly trying to kill him. Her nurse at the mental institution is who Dan had a relationship with while being married to Roseanne (although this is revealed to be false and part of a story Roseanne is writing as a way to deal with Dan's actual death due to a heart attack in the previous season).
Al Harris (John Randolph) – Al is initially portrayed as Roseanne and Jackie's henpecked yet humorous father with a knack of making knock-knock jokes much to his wife's chagrin. Al initially has a good relationship with his daughters, especially Jackie, and despite having more in common with her mother Roseanne prefers the presence of her father, finding him more bearable. Randolph made two appearances as Al Harris during the shows first two seasons. In season four, however, the portrayal of the character changes dramatically. After not being able to secure Randolph for future shows, his character was written out of the series. It is revealed at Thanksgiving dinner in 1991 that Al has had a mistress for over 20 years which eventually leads to Bev divorcing him. Additionally around this time Roseanne Barr was publicly in a battle with her real-life parents, claiming that she was abused physically and sexually by both of them. Barr insisted that the abuse be incorporated into the series storyline and thus it is revealed that her father was physically abusive to both her and Jackie, who lived in fear of him for most of their childhood. Upon his death, Roseanne meets with his mistress, Joan, who doesn't know of Al's abuse of his family, as Al had led her to believe that Roseanne and Jackie were ungrateful to him despite his doing so much for them. Despite this, in his passing, Roseanne thanks him for his humorous nature after reading a list of many things she hates him for doing to her and Jackie.
Wellman Plastics[edit]
All characters below appear in the first season and part of the second season before being written out altogether. Clooney would make one more appearance in a season four episode.
Booker Brooks (George Clooney) – The original foreman at Wellman. Booker wasn't always taken seriously by the workers, but compared to their future boss, Roseanne and the others appreciate him more. He dated Jackie for a while, and they tried to keep it a secret.[26] He set the quotas at Wellman at 5,500, much lower than the 8,000 set by their next boss Keith Faber (Fred Thompson).[27]
Vonda Green (Charlayne Woodard, credited as Charlaine Woodard)- Spirited and perky friend of Jackie and Roseanne, also has a great singing voice.
Sylvia Foster (Anne Faulkner)- Older Wellman employee working there since the late 1950s, she occasionally hangs out with Jackie, Roseanne, and the rest of the gang at the Lobo. Has a husband named Joe who is hard of hearing.
Juanita Herrara (Evelina Fernandez)- Hispanic co-worker who after leaving Wellman with the rest of the gang opens a successful small business in Lanford with her husband Emilio and their teenage son.
Meg Wellman (Debra Mooney) – Owner of the Wellman factory, who believes she and Roseanne are good friends. She comically refers to Roseanne as "Roxanne Conway" and Jackie as Janet. Accidentally hits Roseanne's car with her car in one episode.
Art's Beauty Shop[edit]
All characters below appear in the show's second season only, when Roseanne takes a job as a receptionist and shampoo girl at Art's Beauty Salon.
Marsha (Elizabeth Franz) – Good friend of Crystal's who is the owner of Art's Beauty Salon named after her late husband who she was only married to for eleven months between 1959 and 1960. Marsha hysterically quotes Arthur throughout her run on the show despite the fact that he has been gone nearly thirty years leading Roseanne to quip that maybe Marsha would not miss him so much if they had been married longer.
Iris (Lori Tan Chinn) – Vietnamese beautician at the salon. Comically makes jokes throughout her run on the show about being a Vietnamese refugee held captive before emigrating to the United States. Often makes acerbic remarks about people being blown away by gun mortar attacks, which she reveals to Roseanne is her comic way of letting off steam. Chinn and Barr had appeared together in the 1989 movie She-Devil.
Debbie (Melora Walters) – Manicurist at the salon who is a young naive newlywed.
Rodbell's Department Store[edit]
Bonnie Watkins (Bonnie Bramlett, credited as Bonnie Sheridan) – Roseanne's coworker at Rodbell's, during season three and four. She has a daughter who lives in Oregon and enjoys traveling by motorcycle with her husband Duke (David Crosby). Suffered from a drinking problem with her husband Duke early on in her life that she has since brought under control.
Neighbors[edit]
The Bowman Family are the Conner's neighbors between season three and four who relocated from Chicago to Lanford. At the end of season four they move back to Chicago.
Jerry Bowman (Danton Stone) – Kathy's laid-back husband who loves the small town atmosphere of Lanford. Moved to Lanford from Chicago to take a managers job at Wellman.
Kathy Bowman (Meagen Fay) – Roseanne's wealthy and tense neighbor who hates Lanford and its blue-collar atmosphere. Has an acrimonious relationship with Roseanne.
Todd Bowman (Troy Davidson) – Kathy and Jerry's son; friend of DJ.
The Tilden Family move into the Bowman's old house in season five.
Ty Tilden (Wings Hauser) – A neighbor of Roseanne's, who moved into Kathy's old house. He is a kind, laid-back, struggling single father of two daughters and owns a Winnebago.
Charlotte Tilden (Mara Hobel) – Ty Tilden's older daughter who acts responsibly, filling in the mother role for her sister Molly. Because of this, she finds that she has more in common with Roseanne than with Darlene or Molly.
Molly Tilden (Danielle Harris) – Ty Tilden's promiscuous daughter, who flirted with Darlene's boyfriend David.
Other characters[edit]
Lonnie Anderson (Josh C. Williams, Luke Edwards, Kristopher Kent Hill) – Crystal's eldest child, born to and her first husband, Sonny.
Art (Dan Butler) – A divorced accountant whom Roseanne and Jackie sell a motorcycle to, and who provides tax services to Lanford Custom Cycle.
Alexander (John McConnell) – A close friend of Dan's.
Dwight (William Sadler) – A buddy of Dan's, who had a crush on Jackie.
Fisher (Matt Roth) – Jackie's former long-time boyfriend, whom Dan ultimately went to jail for assaulting after learning he'd abused Jackie.
Stacey Flagler (Traci Lords) – A waitress at the Lunchbox.
George (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – DJ's classmate.
Gary Hall (Brian Kerwin) – Jackie's former fiancé.
Heather (Heather Matarazzo) – D.J.'s girlfriend.
Jimmy Meltrigger (Stephen Dorff[28]) – Becky's former boyfriend from high school.
Chip Lang (Jared Rushton) – Becky's former boyfriend from high school.
Marla (Morgan Fairchild) – Nancy's girlfriend.
Anne-Marie Mitchell (Adilah Barnes) – Roseanne's childhood friend, whose married to one Dan's poker buddies, Chuckie. She and Chuck have son, Chuck Jr., who is the same age as Lonnie and Darlene.
Chuckie Mitchell (James Pickens, Jr.) – Anne-Marie's husband, who occasionally worked with Dan. Pickens is set to reprise the role in two episodes of the 10th season revival.[29]
Mr. Parkin (Stan Freberg) – A highly qualified man who is frequently unemployed due to various incidents with the Conners.
Scott (Fred Willard) – A probate attorney who marries Leon.
Stinky (Matthew Fishman) – Roseanne's youngest child in an alternate reality, in the place of Jerry.
Ziggy (Jay O. Sanders) – Old friend of the Conners' who helps Dan open Lanford Custom Cycle, then disappears.
Jimmy Phillips (Danny Masterson) – Darlene's boyfriend, whom she breaks up with David for. In episode 16 in season 7, Darlene confesses to Jackie that he broke up with her.
Ronnie (Joan Collins) – Roseanne's rich cousin who persuades Darlene to get her GED and apply to art school.
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "Feminism and Pop Culture: Seal Studies – Andi Zeisler – Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
Jump up ^ "BBC – Comedy Guide – Roseanne". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2004-12-05. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
Jump up ^ "Women Watching Television: Gender, Class, and Generation in the American ... – Andrea L. Press – Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
Jump up ^ "Where are the realistic TV moms?". Salon.com. 2014-02-09. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
Jump up ^ Adam B. Vary (June 1, 2010). "The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years: Here's our full list!". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
Jump up ^ Wilson, Stacey (May 8, 2009). "Top 10 Favorite TV Moms". Film.com. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
Jump up ^ Garfinkel, Jacki (May 10, 2012). "Mommy Dearest: The TV Moms You Love". iVillage. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
Jump up ^ Potts, Kim (March 2, 2011). "100 Most Memorable Female TV Characters". AOL TV. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
Jump up ^ Phil, Rosenthal (16 March 1996). "Casting Their Fate To The Wind" (Newspaper). Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles Daily News. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
Jump up ^ "TV Eye". The Austin Chronicle. 1997-06-05. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
Jump up ^ Spar, Mindy (16 June 2002). "TV dads sure have changed" (Newspaper). Charleston, South Carolina: The Post and Courier. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
Jump up ^ "Roseanne – The Complete First Season Review". IGN. 2005-08-31. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
Jump up ^ "Christmas in a box; DVD, CD sets make great gifts" (Newspaper). Sarasota, Florida: Sarasota Herald Tribune. 2 December 2005. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
Jump up ^ "TWO OLD SITCOMS GOING RANCID". Daily News. 1997-02-26. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
Jump up ^ "Couples Pictures, Roseanne Photos – Photo Gallery: The Best TV Couples of All Time". TV Guide. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
^ Jump up to: a b Terrace, Vincent (ed.). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Retrieved 2015-03-11.
Jump up ^ "Roseanne – The Complete First Season". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
Jump up ^ Dalton, Mary M.; Linder, Laura R. (12 May 2016). "The Sitcom Reader, Second Edition: America Re-viewed, Still Skewed". SUNY Press. Retrieved 27 July 2017 – via Google Books.
Jump up ^ Savage, Ann M. (15 June 2017). "Women's Rights: Reflections in Popular Culture". ABC-CLIO. Retrieved 27 July 2017 – via Google Books.
Jump up ^ Sickels, Robert C. (8 August 2013). "100 Entertainers Who Changed America: An Encyclopedia of Pop Culture Luminaries [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Pop Culture Luminaries". ABC-CLIO. Retrieved 27 July 2017 – via Google Books.
Jump up ^ Terrace, Vincent (29 September 2011). "Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed". McFarland. Retrieved 27 July 2017 – via Google Books.
Jump up ^ "The Top 5 Most Lesbian Moments of "Roseanne" - AfterEllen". 6 May 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
Jump up ^ ""Roseanne" Life and Stuff (1988)". IMDb. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
Jump up ^ Hadleigh, Boze (3 August 2016). Hollywood Lesbians: From Garbo to Foster. Riverdale Avenue Books LLC. Retrieved 27 July 2017 – via Google Books.
Jump up ^ "6 Bizarre Explanations from the set of Roseanne". 2009-07-17. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
Jump up ^ Anna Chan (2013-10-18). "'Roseanne' guest stars like George Clooney found big stardom – Pop Culture". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
Jump up ^ https://www.nytimes.com/.../what-did-fred-thompson-say-and-why-did-he-say-it.html
Jump up ^ "Stephen Dorff on 'Roseanne' – Video on". Today.com. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
Jump up ^ Ausiello, Michael (17 November 2017). "Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on Good Doctor, Roseanne, Chicago Fire, Supernatural, Walking Dead, The Flash and More". TVLine. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
[show]
v
t
e
Roseanne
Seasons
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Episodes
"The Little Sister"
"Brain-Dead Poets Society"
"A Stash from the Past"
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
"December Bride"
"Into That Good Night"
Characters
Dan Conner
Roseanne Conner
Other
Awards and nominations
[show]
v
t
e
Roseanne Barr
Stand-Up
Albums/Specials
I Enjoy Being A Girl Album (1990)
Live from Trump Castle Special (1991)
Roseanne and Tom: Getting Away with It Special (1992)
Roseanne Arnold Special (1992)
Blonde and Bitchin Special (2006)
Rockin' with Roseanne: Calling All Kids Special (2006)
TV Series
Comedy Central Roast Roastee (2012)
Star, Writer & Producer
Films
The Woman Who Loved Elvis TV (1993)
Cherry Street, South of Main TV (1994)
Roseanne for President! (2015)
TV Series
Roseanne (characters/episodes) sitcom (1988-1997, 2018)
Little Rosey animated (1990)
The Jackie Thomas Show creator/sitcom (1992-93)
Saturday Night Special variety show (1996)
The Roseanne Show talk show (1997-2000)
The Real Roseanne Show reality show (2003)
Roseanne's Nuts reality show (2011)
Books
Roseanne: My Life as a Woman (1989)
My Lives (1994)
Roseannearchy: Dispatches from the Nut Farm (2011)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Roseanne_characters&oldid=843643528"
Categories:
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Out of My Mind (Draper novel)
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Out of My Mind (novel)
Book Cover for Out of My Mind
Author
Sharon M. Draper
Cover artist
Debra Sfetsios-Conover
Country
United States
Language
English
Genre
Realistic fiction
Set in
United States
Publisher
Atheneum Books For Young Readers, Simon & Schuster
Publication date
9 March 2010
Media type
Print (Hardcover, Paperback), eBook, audiobook
Pages
295
ISBN
978-1-4169-7170-2
Out of My Mind is a novel by Sharon M. Draper, a New York Times bestselling author.[1] The cover illustration of the fifth edition is by Daniel Chang, and the cover photography is by Cyril Bruneau/Jupiter Images. A reading group guide is enclosed. The book is recommended for ages 10 and up and for grades 5-8. The story was written in first person, featuring Melody Brooks, a girl with cerebral palsy.
Contents
[hide]
1 Plot
2 Cover
3 Awards and achievements
4 Reception
5 References
6 External links
Plot[edit]
Melody Brooks is an eleven-year-old girl who was born with Cerebral Palsy. Her parents have done everything they can to help her live a normal life, but life is often frustrating for Melody since she cannot speak, move, or communicate her wishes. As a result, Melody has to fight to get her wishes. At age five, Melody is even diagnosed as profoundly retarded. Despite this, Melody's mom enrolls her in Spualding Street Elementary school to get the education she needs. However, the class she is put in is like a baby class, learning the same things every day. Melody is frustrated by this. Her neighbor, Mrs. V., is a kind, but tough woman. She pushes Melody to do the best she can. When Melody was three, Mrs. V. wasn't impressed for Melody to rely on her parents for everything. Because of this, Mrs. V. forced her to learn how to crawl and roll on the ground. She even taught Melody how to catch herself whenever she fell from her wheelchair. These things helped Melody become self-sufficient, but she continues to be reliant on her parents to help feed her and help her go to the bathroom. When Melody turns eight, her mother becomes pregnant. During this time, Melody overhears them talking about the new baby and their fears that it will suffer the same disabilities. Melody feels ashamed when she hears this. However, Melody is happy when the baby, Penny, is born perfectly healthy. Melody feels jealous as Penny grows and matures since she'll never be able to do the things Penny can do. However, Melody loves her little sister, and the pleasures Melody brings to her parents. When Melody enters fifth grade, she gets a communication device that allows her to talk with other people. At school, her new teacher starts an inclusion program that allows the special needs students to participate in the standard classes. Melody also gets an aide, Catherine, to help her. Melody enjoys her classes but dislikes the way other students assume that she is stupid. Two girls named Molly and Claire bully Melody. They think that Melody is so twisted and backwards that she can't hear them call her dumb. But Melody can hear and understand everything. Even her teacher, Mr. Dimming, believes that Melody cannot participate, but is surprised that not only does Melody join, but passes a test exam of a trivia competition with a perfect score. Melody is then involved in the qualifying exam to be part of the trivia game and once again surprises everyone when she makes the team. Melody then helps the team win the qualifying competition to earn a trip to Washington D.C. for the national competition. However, on the day the group is to fly to Washington, Melody learns that her flight has been canceled due to weather, but the rest of the team has made an earlier flight without her. The next day, Melody insists on going to school. It is raining, and Melody's mother is sick, tired, and frustrated. As they are about to leave, however, Melody realizes that Penny has gotten into the path of the car. Therefore, Melody kicks, screams, and hits to warn her mother. Her mother fails to understand, and Penny gets run over and is injured. Melody blames herself for not being able to inform her rude mom, even though everyone, especially Mrs. V., tells her it's not her fault. Melody is terrified that Penny will have a brain injury like her and be like her. In the end, Melody learns that Penny is going to be okay, and just has a cast on her leg. Her class also apologizes for their lack of being considerate towards her by giving her their 9th place trophy. Melody in reply says, "No you keep it."
Cover[edit]
The cover shows a goldfish jumping out of a bowl. This cover represents Melody going out of her mind when being stuck in her head so long. The goldfish represents Melody, and the bowl symbolizes her mind.[citation needed]
There is also a scene in the book where Melody watches her pet goldfish jump out of the fish bowl to freedom. The cover of the book is both literal and a metaphor for how Melody feels trapped in her mind.
Awards and achievements[edit]
New York Times Bestselling Novel for nine weeks[citation needed]
Over 18 months on the New York Times Best Seller List[citation needed]
Winner of the 2011 Bank Street College of Education Josette Frank Award[citation needed]
Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2010[citation needed]
A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of The Year[citation needed]
The Virginia Readers' Choice Reading List for 2011-2012[citation needed]
A Parents' Choice Silver Honor Book[citation needed]
Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List 2011-2012[citation needed]
Essence Magazine Book of the Year[citation needed]
A 2011 Notable Children's Book in the English Language Arts[citation needed]
Top 10 Book of the Year for Shelf Awareness[citation needed]
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choice of 2011[citation needed]
2011 IRA Teachers' Choice Book[citation needed]
2011 IRA Young Adult's Choice[citation needed]
Buckeye Children's Book Award from Ohio[citation needed]
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award in both the middle school and elementary categories[citation needed]
Black-eyed Susan Book Award[citation needed]
Beehive Book Award[citation needed]
Featured in the July 9 issue of Time Magazine[citation needed]
Featured in the July issue of Ladies' Home Journal[citation needed]
On the Indie National Bestseller List[citation needed]
Receiver of the SAKURA Award[citation needed]
A NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts[2]
Reception[edit]
Critical reception has been positive and seen as a well-written novel. Out of My Mind has received reviews from The Denver Post, The Columbus Dispatch, Publishers Weekly, Children's Literature, Washington Post, The Horn Book, and The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. The novel received starred reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Reviews praised the book was "rich in detail of both the essential normalcy and the difficulties of a young person with cerebral palsy", and "descriptions of both Melody’s challenges—“Going to the bathroom at school just plain sucks”—and the insensitivities of some are unflinching and realistic".[3] Publishers Weekly criticized that there was a "lack of tension in the plot", although it was "resolved halfway through".[4] Booklist stated that Out of My Mind is "a book that defies age categorization, an easy enough read for upper-elementary students yet also a story that will enlighten and resonate with teens and adults".[5] The Bulletin said the novel "[Will make] students think twice about their classmates, acquaintances, and siblings with special needs".[2] The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) stated "Draper challenges those who read her story to become activists for those who are different".[2] The Denver Post powerfully concluded: "if there's only one book teens and parents (and everyone else) can read this year, Out of My Mind should be it."[6] VOYA Magazine praised "Melody's triumphs and setbacks as she strives to become a socially accepted classmate and team member are vividly described in this inspirational novel, which will appeal not only to middle school readers but also to anyone who wonders what might be going on in the minds of individuals with severe physical handicaps".[citation needed] The Horn Book exclaimed that the novel is "a powerfully eye-opening book with both an unforgettable protagonist and a rich cast of fully realized, complicated background characters".[7] Children's Literature said "this is a genuinely moving novel".[citation needed] The Washington Post commented "author Sharon Draper creates an authentic character who insists, through her lively voice and indomitable will, that the reader become fully involved with the girl in the pink wheelchair".[2]
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "Sharon Draper: Biography". Sharon Draper,. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
^ Jump up to: a b c d "Sharon Draper Author Page: Out of My Mind Reviews". 2014 Sharon Draper. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
Jump up ^ "Kirkus Starred Review:OUT OF MY MIND". 22 December 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
Jump up ^ "Publishers Weekly: Out of My Mind". PWxyz, LLC. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
Jump up ^ Frances Bradburn. "Booklist Review: Out of My Mind". 2014 Booklist Publications. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
Jump up ^ Claire Martin (7 March 2010). "The Denver Post: Children's Books". 2014 The Denver Post. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
Jump up ^ "The Horn Book (Bookverdict): Out of My Mind". Media Source Book Verdict 2012. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
External links[edit]
Literature portal
Out of My Mind School Project
Sharon Draper Author Page
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