‘Roseanne’ Revival: Details Emerge On How Producers Will Explain The Absence Of Late Star Glenn Quinn


The Roseanne revival is under way—executive producers and stars Roseanne Barr and Sara Gilbert recently tweeted messages from the writers’ room—but a glaring omission from the cast will have to be explained. While the death of Roseanne character Dan Conner (John Goodman) will be ignored in the ABC reboot, the real life death of actor Glenn Quinn, who played Mark Healy on the show, will be addressed when the show picks up for an eight-episode revival next year.

According to TV Line guru Michael Ausiello, the role of Becky Conner’s husband, Mark, will not be recast. In addition, one of Roseanne’s grandchildren will reportedly be named Mark. When asked how producers plan to handle the death of Glenn Quinn, Ausiello revealed:

“Two big clues: They’re not recasting the role and rumor has it that David and Darlene’s son is named Mark.”

TV Line previously reported that casting is underway for the children of Roseanne characters David and Darlene (Johnny Galecki, Sara Gilbert). While the couple’s daughter, Harris, was introduced as a newborn during the original series’ final season, she is now a “14-year-old hellion” who will be “the spitting image of Young Darlene, in appearance and attitude.”

TV Line reports that the other Healy child will be a boy under the age of 10. And now it sounds like he will be his late uncle’s namesake.

Glenn Quinn played Mark Healy from 1990 to 1997 on the original Roseanne series, logging 74 episodes and hiding his real-life Irish accent the entire time. The actor turned a one-episode stint as Becky Conner’s bad boy boyfriend and David Healy’s brother into a long-running role on the hit sitcom.

In an interview with The Independent, Roseanne star Michael Fishman, who played DJ Conner on the show, said Glenn Quinn made the role of Mark Healy his own.

“If Glenn hadn’t got that role it would’ve been a fleeting character,” Fishman revealed. “Mark was a harder character to play than people realize. The bad boy, undesirable boyfriend. Teased as not bright but strong, dedicated and honest.”

[Image by Getty Images]

After transitioning from his bad boy Roseanne role to a role as half-demon, Doyle, on Angel, Glenn Quinn was found dead of a heroin overdose in 2002. According to Fishman, there were no signs of drug use by Quinn during his days on Roseanne.

“On Roseanne, Glenn was a professional,” Fishman said. “Any struggles he had started while working on Angel.”

Fishman and the rest of the Roseanne cast were devastated by Glenn Quinn’s death. Sadly, they may have to relive their loss again as part of the Roseanne reboot.

Take a look at the video below to see one of Glenn Quinn’s first scenes as Mark Healy on Roseanne.

[Featured Image by Kevork Djansezian/AP Images]

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