Johnny Galecki

The Roseanne star, with two new movies, uses lessons learned from the show and life to pave his way.

This month: Galecki stars in Suicide Kings.

For five seasons on Roseanne's sitcom, he watched her reach into her gut for answers. What did he learn from this larger-than-life personality? "Don't be afraid to do it your way, to speak up, to say no to anyone."

As Galecki, 22, begins to make a name for himself on the big screen -- in movies like the teen screamer I Know What You Did Last Summer -- he vows to keep his priorities straight. He talks about his father, who died six years ago and was a rehab teacher for blind veterans.

"These vets weren't born with this disability," Galecki says. "They got it serving their country, and most had other handicaps as well. My dad taught them to type, to cook, to live their everyday lives. It was important to him to have an occupation where he helped people."

As a boy, Galecki would run his fingers through his father's Braille books. Once, his dad put a blindfold on him. "He said, 'Just imagine.' The point was: 'Be thankful you're healthy.' "

Galecki has developed an affinity for such simple messages. Until recently, for instance, he never understood a childhood mystery. He was born in Belgium, where his father served in the U.S. Air Force, and moved to Chicago at age 3. "I don't remember anything about being overseas, really, except that it was very orange." Orange? "Yeah. It was inexplicable." But now he has found a photo of his family's home in Belgium. The carpeting was orange.

"I was a baby on my hands and knees," says Galecki, who sees a lesson in this discovery. "Sometimes, you don't have to delve into the cerebral to find answers. A lot of answers are literally right in front of your face."

Photo Credit: SANDRA JOHNSON FOR USA WEEKEND

If you live on a busy street:
"I just bought a CD of Tibetan monks banging on these big gold bowls. It's great white noise."

Zaslow is an advice columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.