Sara Gilbert gained fame for portraying Darlene Conner on the sitcom “Roseanne” and later starred in its spin-off, “The Conners.” Additionally, audiences recognize her from her role as Leslie Winkle on “The Big Bang Theory.”
Off-screen, Gilbert and her recurring co-star Johnny Galecki have been romantically linked for years, having collaborated on both “Roseanne” and “The Big Bang Theory.” As viewers witnessed their on-screen characters date, the delight extended off-camera as their relationship grew. However, Gilbert and Galecki eventually became close friends after she realized her queer identity during the course of their romantic involvement.
The actress and her sister, Melissa Gilbert, have openly discussed the moments when Sara shared her feelings. Reflecting on that time, Melissa recounted, “I took her to dinner when she was in her teens, and I sat her down, giving her this long speech about how much I love her, it doesn’t matter, and she’s my darling. She looked at me and said, ‘I’m not gay.’ And I was like, ‘OK, whatever.’”
She added, “Years later, she called me, and during our conversation, she said, ‘You know, what if I just said that I’m gay,’ and I responded with, ‘And?’ I mean, I think deep down, I always knew.”
Gilbert also had heartfelt conversations with her former boyfriend, Galecki, who expressed equally supportive and loving sentiments.
Born in 1975 into a family deeply entrenched in show business, Sara Gilbert had a familial connection to the entertainment industry. Her grandfather, the comedy writer Harry Crane, was the creator of the show “The Honeymooners,” and her siblings Melissa and Jonathan Gilbert played significant roles in the beloved series “Little House on the Prairie,” which ran for nine years starting in 1974. Growing up surrounded by the world of entertainment, Gilbert developed a keen interest in acting. After a few appearances in TV movies and commercials, she secured the role of Darlene Connor on the hit sitcom “Roseanne.”
In “Roseanne,” which aired from 1988 to 1997, Gilbert portrayed the sardonic middle child in Roseanne Barr’s fictional family. The show garnered acclaim for its portrayal of a normal, blue-collar family and its depiction of typical slice-of-life situations. Notably, the series featured relatively ordinary and unglamorous actors in starring roles, including Barr and Gilbert’s on-screen father, played by John Goodman. Widely regarded as one of the greatest American TV shows, “Roseanne” achieved milestones such as its 1993 episode “A Stash from the Past” ranking 21 on TV Guide’s 100 Greatest Episodes of All-Time and placing 35 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
While the show was running, Gilbert simultaneously pursued her education at Yale University. Producers accommodated her schedule to ensure her continued involvement in the main cast. Gilbert graduated with honors from Yale, majoring in art with a specialization in photography. Although the original run of “Roseanne” concluded in 1997, the era of sequels, revivals, and reboots in the 2000s paved the way for the potential resurrection of popular shows, including “Roseanne.”
Before the development of an eight-episode revival series of “Roseanne” in 2017, Sara Gilbert remained active in the entertainment industry. Following the conclusion of the show’s initial run, the actress took on roles in various acclaimed programs such as “24,” “Will & Grace,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and “ER.” In 2007, Gilbert reunited with her former co-star Johnny Galecki in his hit sitcom “The Big Bang Theory,” portraying Leslie Winkle, a friend of Galecki’s character, Leonard Hofstadter. Although Gilbert joined the main cast in the second season, her character faced uncertainty in development, leading to her transition from a regular to a recurring cast member in 2009.
In 2010, Gilbert ventured into hosting and created “The Talk,” a talk show featuring multiple hosts discussing diverse topics, including current events, human interest stories, and early motherhood. With a format reminiscent of “The View,” the show has seen several notable hosts, including Sharon Osbourne, Leah Remini, Aisha Tyler, and Julie Chen. Gilbert’s role as a producer on the show earned her a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show in 2016.
It was during an appearance by Gilbert’s former co-star John Goodman on “The Talk” for a sketch reprising their “Roseanne” characters that sparked the idea of a reboot. Gilbert approached the original cast members, and when the response was positive, the reboot was officially announced in 2018. The show’s success led to the approval of a 13-episode second season, but a scandal involving Roseanne Barr halted the entire project.
In May 2018, Roseanne Barr was dismissed from the revival series following a controversial tweet directed at Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to former President Barack Obama. The tweet, which likened Jarrett to the offspring of the “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes,” stirred widespread backlash due to its racial overtones. The negative attention prompted the cancellation of the “Roseanne” revival. However, a glimmer of hope emerged in the form of a spin-off.
News of a spin-off centered around Sara Gilbert’s character surfaced in mid-2018. After Barr relinquished the rights to the show, “The Connors” received approval and shifted its focus to Darlene and her family. Premiering in October of the same year, the series retained the original cast, excluding Barr, and welcomed back Johnny Galecki. “The Connors” proved to be a strong performer for ABC, resonating as enjoyable family viewing that captivated audiences, reaching its fifth season by 2022.
Gilbert credited the show’s success to the audience’s desire for untold stories but acknowledged the role of external factors, stating, “so often there are elements outside of your control. You do your best and then stars align, or they don’t.” Expressing gratitude to fans, writers, cast, producers, and everyone involved, she emphasized the significance of their collective commitment, telling Variety, “I’m so grateful to the fans and the writers and the cast and producers and everybody for hanging in there, and like I said, the fans for continuing to watch because it was a big change.”
While Sara Gilbert has typically kept her personal life private, she shared a charming anecdote during an appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” shedding light on a sweet moment from their shared past. The two actresses starred together in the 1992 film “Poison Ivy.” In a segment where Gilbert had to identify the true statement among three “facts” about herself, she revealed:
“The true one is C, my first girl kiss was with Drew. And now I’m not one to kiss and tell, but I have to say … look, now I’m like going to blush! Drew was the coolest person I ever met and yeah, that’s what happened.”
Barrymore reminisced about the on-screen kiss, mentioning that they were meant to share a kiss in the film and had engaged in some “research” by practicing in the trailer. Barrymore shared more details, saying, “We were supposed to kiss in the movie and then we started practicing in the trailer, which was kind of fun.”
The talk show host continued with additional memories, recalling, “We were like, ‘Oh, I guess we should practice, because we wanted it to look good on screen. We had so much fun. I remember, I feel like it was in the parking lot in Los Feliz, right? I feel like we had that little basecamp. I drove that Jeep and I used to go get like ice cream on lunch breaks and I was constantly getting into accidents. I think I got my license taken away on that movie.” Gilbert chimed in, remembering Barrymore’s playful spirit, “I remember you dancing on the hood of the Jeep.”
Although Gilbert and Barrymore were not romantically involved, Gilbert did experience her fair share of highs and lows in matters of the heart.
Despite only publicly confirming her sexuality later in life, Sara Gilbert had been in a relationship with television producer and writer Ali Adler since 2001, keeping it private. In October 2004, they celebrated the arrival of their first child, a son named Levi Hank, born to Adler. Subsequently, in August 2007, they welcomed a daughter, Sawyer Jane, born to Gilbert. Throughout this period, Gilbert maintained a low profile regarding her personal life, and many were unaware of her relationship with a woman. However, the couple parted ways in 2011.
In 2013, it was revealed that Gilbert was engaged to Linda Perry, a musician and former frontwoman of the rock band 4 Non Blondes. The couple tied the knot in a picturesque ceremony in Malibu, California, the following year, featuring musical performances by Perry and other notable guests like Annabella Lwin from Bow Wow Wow, Martha Davis from The Motels, Dale Bozzio from Missing Persons, and Terri Nunn from Berlin.
In 2015, Gilbert and Perry welcomed their first child together, a son named Rhodes Emilio. However, after nearly six years of marriage, Gilbert filed for divorce in 2019, citing irreconcilable differences. During the same year, she announced her departure from “The Talk” to devote more time to her family. A month later, Gilbert shared a heartwarming clip of herself and her close friend, Johnny Galecki, on the talk show set, presumably celebrating the new chapter in her life. This gesture wasn’t surprising for fans of Gilbert and “The Talk,” as she had previously opened up on the show about the close and affectionate relationship she shares with her ex-boyfriend, Galecki.
During the interview, Gilbert opened up about her journey at the time. She began: “So, some of you may know, that when I was a teenager I dated Johnny Galecki for a little while, who played my boyfriend and husband on Roseanne.” Gilbert continued, exposing for the first time her feelings at the time, “I thought he was super cute and had a total crush on him and we started dating and he would come over and we would make out and then I would start to get depressed.”
An attentive partner, Galecki sensed something was wrong. Gilbert spoke to his reaction to her shift in mood, as she said:
“Johnny felt badly, I think, and started to take it personally and didn’t know what was going on.” Gilbert then revealed that the two of them had quite a frank conversation. She explained, “I eventually told him that I thought it was about my sexuality and he was super sweet about it.”
More than supportive, Galecki didn’t share what Gilbert had confided in him with anyone. Gilbert talked about how thankful she was for his secrecy, explaining how at the time she began dating another woman and yet “no one knew at the show for years.” Despite perhaps his own heartbreak in losing a partner, Galecki kept up the onscreen chemistry and kept Gilbert’s secret. She commented on this stalwart stance: “Johnny held this secret the whole time and I always felt so scared if it came out, what could happen? Could I lose my career?”
Gilbert harbored apprehensions about how her sexuality might affect her professional life. However, eventually, she reached a juncture where emotional authenticity outweighed career concerns.
During her appearance on “The Talk,” she delved into her reasons for initiating this discussion, stating, “I aspire to live authentically. While we often say things like ‘it gets better,’ and indeed it does, I acknowledge that despite leading an extraordinary life, there can still be challenges. It’s okay to grapple with the fear of being different, and that inner struggle takes precedence over everything else.”
Reflecting on the compassionate man who not only embraced her during their time together but also stood by her side in the years that followed, Gilbert shared that she had a conversation with Galecki before going public. Given that she would be unveiling details about their past relationship, she sought his approval to disclose their shared secrets, considering the loyalty he had maintained over the years.
Remaining a co-star and a steadfast friend, Galecki expressed his support to Gilbert, saying, “‘I love you, and I believe it’s crucial. I’m genuinely proud of you. If you wish, I’ll stand by you and offer my support.’”
Gilbert is genuinely fortunate to have such love and encouragement in her life. While her relationship with Galecki may be a thing of the past, it’s heartening to see that he, despite the breakup, continues to stand by her unconditionally.
Which Sara Gilbert character do you love the most? Share your thoughts, and don’t forget to share this article with friends, family, and fellow “Roseanne” enthusiasts!
