Screenwriter, poker player John Goodman dies

Son of late Austin council member took disability in stride, found humor in everything, sister said.

John Goodman's life was spent defying expectations.

He was not supposed to live past his second or third birthday, and his spinal muscular atrophy required him to use a wheelchair and sleep in an iron lung. But those things didn't keep Goodman from becoming a champion poker player and award-winning screenwriter whose goal was to accomplish as much as he could because he never knew how much longer he had.

Goodman died Wednesday at St. David's Medical Center in Austin, his family members said. He was 36.

"He was a brilliant person in a limited body," said his mother, Diane Vela. "John was tenacious, committed and courageous."

Born in Laredo, Goodman was the son of former Austin City Council member and KVUE anchor Richard Goodman. He grew up in Austin, graduated from Austin High School and took some classes at the University of Texas before deciding that he wanted independence and heading west to California.

"He was a rascal, a wild one," Vela said. "He did things you and I would never dream of doing."

Goodman spent time in Las Vegas, where he made his living as a poker player and won several tournaments — even though he could barely move one of his hands, Vela said.

But his lifelong love was film, she said. After studying screen writing at San Diego State University, he went on to write for the Fox sitcom "Malcolm in the Middle." He also wrote and directed "Angels of Light," a documentary about missionaries in Mexico who care for children with disabilities.

"He wanted to make a difference in the lives of others, and he did that through film," said his sister, Lisa Goodman.

His sister said he took his condition in stride and found humor in everything.

Goodman moved back to Austin about three years ago after his father died. He was taking classes at Austin Community College to try to figure out what his next step in life would be, Vela said, and was thinking about becoming a lawyer.

"He went beyond his limitations and lived life to the fullest," she said.

News Added: 12 April, 2008

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