Michael Fishman found fame in Hollywood playing D.J. Conner, one of the kids on “Roseanne,” the iconic 1990s sitcom. He’s now part of the show’s spinoff, “The Conners.”
This week, Fishman, 39, shared news about his youngest son, Larry. Fishman said that Larry died from a drug overdose in June. Fishman already had officially adopted Camille, Larry’s older sister. He was in the process of adopting Larry when he died.
“I feel like I came to Larry maybe later than I wish I could,” Fishman tells CNN. “I think for parents, you know, you wish you had more time.”
Fishman said his son “tried drugs that turned out to be bad drugs that multiple people had a very serious reaction.”
Fishman talked of his family’s loss when he appeared on the show “Tamron Hall” earlier this week. He said he went pubic with the news in hopes he could reach other families.
“A couple years ago, I probably would have never shared this, to be honest with you,” Fishman said. “The really important part is that you’re brave enough to admit when you struggle and that you need help or that you aren’t strong.”
Fishman has three children. He shares two of them with his ex-wife Jennifer Briner. He said he adopted Camille when she asked him to be his dad.
On the show “The Conners” Fishman plays the grownup DJ. He’s retired from the military, although his wife still serves. They have a daughter.
The show had its season premiere, Oct. 21. It’s broadcast on ABC. The season debut drew 4.8 million viewers.
