The Conners Cast: Where Are They Now? The Final Season 7 Roster Revealed & Post-Show Projects

The Conners officially concluded its run on ABC with the series finale of Season 7 in April 2025, marking the end of one of television’s longest-running and most beloved working-class families. This final chapter brought the Conner family's story to a definitive close, prompting massive curiosity from fans about which core cast members returned for the emotional farewell and, more importantly, what the stars are moving on to next in their careers. The conclusion of the show, which served as a spin-off and continuation of the iconic sitcom *Roseanne*, left a significant void in the television landscape. As of today, December 12, 2025, the focus has shifted entirely from the show's weekly drama to the impressive, diverse projects the core actors have lined up, ranging from blockbuster films to major Broadway productions, cementing their legacies far beyond Lanford.

The Core Conner Family: Complete Final Cast & Biography Profiles

The final season of *The Conners* saw the return of the essential, multi-generational family unit. Here is the definitive list of the main cast members who anchored the show until the very end, along with their recent career highlights and biographical details.

• John Goodman (as Dan Conner)
  • Role: The patriarch of the family and Roseanne's widower. Dan is the emotional center, navigating life as a single father, a grandfather, and a husband to Louise.
  • Biography Snapshot: An Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Goodman is one of Hollywood's most respected character actors. His career spans decades, including iconic film roles in *The Big Lebowski* and collaborations with the Coen brothers.
  • Post-Conners Projects: Goodman immediately transitioned back to his critically acclaimed role as Eli Gemstone in the final season of HBO's *The Righteous Gemstones*, which premiered in March 2025. He is also set to voice a character in the upcoming 2025 animated film *Smurfs* and has a major role in a highly anticipated 2026 film project with Tom Cruise and director Alejandro Iñárritu.
• Laurie Metcalf (as Jackie Harris-Goldufski)
  • Role: Dan's sister-in-law, Darlene and Becky's eccentric and often neurotic aunt. Jackie found stability and happiness in the later seasons, culminating in her marriage.
  • Biography Snapshot: A four-time Emmy winner and two-time Tony Award winner, Metcalf is renowned for her versatile work in film, television, and especially theater. She is celebrated for her performances in *Lady Bird* and the HBO series *Hacks*.
  • Post-Conners Projects: Metcalf quickly returned to her roots on the stage. She starred in the Broadway production of *Little Bear Ridge Road* in 2025 and is scheduled to take on the role of Linda Loman in a new Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's classic play, *Death of a Salesman*, alongside Nathan Lane.
• Sara Gilbert (as Darlene Conner-Olinsky)
  • Role: Roseanne and Dan's sharp-witted, cynical middle daughter, who takes on the role of the family's primary caregiver and intellectual.
  • Biography Snapshot: Gilbert is not only a seasoned actress but also an executive producer. She was instrumental in spearheading both the *Roseanne* revival and the subsequent *The Conners* spin-off. She is also known for her time as a co-host on the daytime talk show *The Talk*.
  • Post-Conners Projects: While no major new acting roles have been immediately announced, Gilbert's focus is expected to remain heavily on her production work, leveraging her experience as an executive producer throughout the seven seasons of *The Conners*.
• Lecy Goranson (as Becky Conner)
  • Role: Roseanne and Dan's eldest daughter, who struggled with alcoholism and single motherhood but found stability as the series progressed.
  • Biography Snapshot: Goranson has played the role of Becky since the original *Roseanne* series premiered in 1988, though she famously shared the role with Sarah Chalke for several seasons.
  • Post-Conners Projects: Goranson has maintained a focus on her private life and does not appear to have major film or television roles immediately lined up following the conclusion of the series in April 2025.
• Emma Kenney (as Harris Conner)
  • Role: Darlene and David's oldest child, known for her rebellious and artistic nature.
  • Biography Snapshot: Kenney is also widely recognized for her long-running role as Debbie Gallagher on the Showtime series *Shameless*.
• Ames McNamara (as Mark Conner-Olinsky)
  • Role: Darlene and David's younger child, known for his ambition and creative spirit.

Notable Absences: Which Characters Did Not Return for the Final Season?

Despite the show's desire to bring back as many familiar faces as possible for the series finale, several key actors and characters from the *Roseanne* legacy were confirmed to be absent from *The Conners* Season 7. This created a sense of finality for the show, as some of the most iconic figures were not present for the last goodbyes. The most significant confirmed departures for the final season included:

• Michael Fishman (DJ Conner): Fishman, who played Dan and Roseanne’s son DJ Conner, did not return for Season 7. His character’s absence was a notable change, especially given his long history with the Conner family dynamic since the original show.
• Johnny Galecki (David Healy): Galecki, who played David Healy—Darlene’s ex-husband and the father of Harris and Mark—was confirmed not to appear. The character’s story had largely moved off-screen in previous seasons, focusing the final narrative on the core Lanford household.
• Estelle Parsons (Bev Harris): The character of Bev, Jackie and Roseanne's mother, was also confirmed to be absent from the final season. Parsons, a legendary actress, had a long-standing recurring role, and her absence closed a chapter on the extended family's matriarchal line.

The reasons for these absences were varied, from the creative decision to focus the final episodes on the immediate family living in the Conner house to the actors' scheduling conflicts and career transitions. The decision to omit these characters was a clear signal that the show was narrowing its focus for a tight, emotional conclusion.

The Legacy of Lanford: Topical Authority and The Conners' Impact

*The Conners* successfully managed to carve out its own distinct identity after its contentious split from its predecessor, *Roseanne*. By focusing on the harsh realities of the working class in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois, the show maintained the topical authority and relevancy that made the original series a cultural touchstone. The series finale in April 2025 solidified the show's legacy as a true modern family sitcom. It tackled heavy, real-world issues—like financial struggles, the opioid crisis, single parenthood, and the high cost of healthcare—with a blend of raw honesty and dark, signature comedy. The final season's narrative centered on the family's resilience and their ability to stay together despite constant economic pressure. Key entities and themes that defined the show's final years include the family's struggle to maintain their home, Dan's second marriage to Louise, and the professional evolution of Darlene and Becky. The permanent closing of the iconic Conner kitchen set, where so many pivotal moments took place, was an emotional event for the cast, with some actors, like Emma Kenney, even taking memorabilia like a mug from The Lunch Box set as a keepsake. The end of *The Conners* allows its immensely talented ensemble cast to move on to new, diverse projects. While John Goodman continues his film work and Laurie Metcalf returns to her award-winning stage career, the legacy of the Conner family—the laughter, the struggles, and the enduring love—will remain a vital part of television history. The show proved that even in spin-off form, the story of a working-class American family remains one of the most compelling narratives on television.