Sara Gilbert Revealed She Was Gay To Then-Boyfriend Johnny Galecki While On ‘Roseanne,’ He Supported Her Since

Nov 11, 2022 by apost team

Sara Gilbert is best known for her role as Darlene Conner on the sitcom "Roseanne." She then starred in the spin-off, "The Conners." Audiences will also recognize Gilbert from her work on "The Big Bang Theory," where she plays Leslie Winkle. 

Off-screen, the actress and her reoccurring co-star Johnny Galecki have been romantically linked for years. The two worked together on "Rosanne" and later "The Big Bang Theory." Having seen their characters date on-screen, audiences were delighted in watching their relationship grow once the cameras were turned off. However, Gilbert and Galecki were ultimately fated to be just friends as she realized during the course of their relationship that she was queer. 

Both Gilbert and her sister, Melissa Gilbert, have spoken about the times in which she confided her feelings. Recalling that moment, Melissa said: “I took her to dinner when she was in her teens and I sat her down and I gave her this long speech about how much I love you and it doesn’t matter and you’re my darling and blah, blah, blah and you can tell me anything. And she looked (at) me and she said, ‘I’m not gay.’ And I was like, ‘OK, whatever.'”

She continued: “Years later she called me and we were having a conversation about something and she said, ‘You know, what if I just said that I’m gay,’ and I went, ‘And?’ I mean I think always I kinda knew.”

Gilbert also had similarly touching conversations with her once-boyfriend, Galecki, who had equally loving words of support. 

During an 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?"

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Gilbert remained fearful of the impact her sexuality would have on her career. However, eventually, she reached a point where it was perhaps more important to her emotionally to be open about her personal life. 

She touched on her motivations to finally have this conversation as a part of her interview on "The Talk." She explained: 

"I want to live a true life. Beyond that, we do often say things like 'it gets better' — and it does get better. I have an amazing life, but there can still be a struggle with it, and that's ok. There can be a part of you that doesn't want to be different or feel scared. And that is more important than any of it."

Remembering the sweet man who not only loved her when they were together but supported her in all the years since Gilbert said she spoke with Galecki before coming on the show. Given she would be revealing details about their relationship together, she wanted to make sure that he was okay with her spilling their secrets, especially after he had so dutifully kept them all those years. 

Galecki, still a co-star and clearly still a very close friend, told Gilbert: "'I love you and I think it's really important. I'm so proud of you. If you want, I'll be there with you and I'll hold your hand.'"

Gilbert is truly lucky to have such love and support in her life. While she and Galecki were quite the pair, it warms the heart to know that he — although broken up with — still supports her no matter what. 

What's your favorite Sara Gilbert role? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends and family, as well as any fellow "Roseanne" fans!