John Goodman shows off his shrinking frame at awards ceremony in Los Angeles



He's made his name as an overweight, larger-than-life character throughout his Hollywood career.

But the pounds have been falling off portly actor John Goodman as he showed off a slimmer physique at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles last night.

The 57-year-old, who was rumoured to weigh 28 stone 18months ago, looked almost half the man he was just under a year ago as he attended the AFI Life Achievement Award party.



Shrinking: John Goodman is several pounds slimmer than the man he was last August (R) as he attends an award ceremony in Los Angeles last night



The actor, who shot to fame in the Nineties as Roseanne Barr's long-suffering husband Dan Conner on the sitcom Roseanne, looked happy and healthy as he posed on the red carpet.

And the weight loss was all too obvious, his tuxedo fitting him perfectly, with not a bulge in sight.

The event, held at the Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, was in honour of director Mike Nichols.



Celebrity friends: John poses with acclaimed British actress Helen Mirren

The actor's weight, which is known to fluctuate, has been the subject of many showbiz columns and stories over the years.

But yesterday, the 6ft 3in actor's slimmer figure was a far cry from the obesity he has struggled with.



In August 2009, he was snapped on set in New York in a red polo shirt that barely concealed his large size, as he filmed You Don't Know Jack, alongside Al Pacino.

Obese: This picture of Goodman, taken on set of his movie Confessions of a Shopaholic in New York in December 2008 sparked concerns about his weight

But the picture that sparked so much concern about his weight, was one taken while he filmed the comedy Confessions of a Shopaholic in New York in December 2008.

The snap of an obese Goodman walking round Manhattan smoking a cigarette prompted US tabloid The Globe to publish an article about his weight.

With the headline '400-lb Goodman eating himself to death!', the feature spoke about his friends' fears that his weight and eating habits were getting out of control.

Happy families: John Goodman in a publicity shot for Roseanne, the TV show that shot him to fame, alongside Laurie Metcalf, and his on-screen wife Roseanne Barr



