Q. Is the John Goodman who played Pap Finn on Broadway in "Big River" the same John Goodman starring in "Roseanne"? If so, in what other theatrical productions has he performed? - R.S., Conyers, Ga.
A. That was "Roseanne's" Goodman. It took him 10 years from the time he arrived in New York with $1,000 in 1975 to land the part that first brought him fame. He did dinner and children's theater, off-off Broadway theater, toured in "The Robber Bridegroom" and was featured on Broadway in "Loose Ends" before "River." He was playing in "Antony and Cleopatra" in Los Angeles when he was asked to audition for "Roseanne."Q. Now that Huey Lewis is back performing again, will he shed that "nice guy" image?
A. No way. "I think, with a lot of these guys who get better press or have a more glamorous image, quite frankly, you wouldn't hear the difference in the music, but they give great interviews," says Lewis, 40, whose new album with the News is "Hard at Play" (EMI)." . . . I don't get mad when people call me bland. And I'm not very quotable. It's not that big a deal to me." Actually, Lewis' background is pretty unconventional - a jazz drummer father and a bohemian mother, then prep school and some time at Cornell before he quit to play rock. Upset about the "education" and "values" of his northern California life, he's moving his family for a year to Montana. "I'm running away for my kids' sake, for the time being." Daughter Kelly is 71/2 and son Austin is 6.
Q. Isn't zany film star Leslie Nielsen kind of old to be enjoying such nutty roles?
A. Finally, at 65, he has experienced the "personal freedom" that comes with "the license to be nuts." In making "Naked Gun 21/2: The Smell of Fear," Nielsen decided that "this is what I really want to do, this crazy guy. This is my way to turn that guy loose." With hardly serious movies like "Airplane!" and the short-lived TV series "Police Squad!" behind him, Nielsen says, "If it's funny, then the hell with dignity."
Q. Whatever became of Rhonda Fleming, the voluptuous screen siren of the '50s?
A. The sultry redhead is married to Hollywood businessman and producer Ted Mann. They are rich, so she doesn't have to work. Born Marilyn Lewis nearly 67 years ago, Fleming still entertains on occasion. Recently she was the toast of a charity tribute in which a featured flick was her 1952 movie, "Hong Kong," with Ronald Reagan.
Q. Is Ice-T's "gangsta rap" purely exploitive of the tough racial times?
A. Ice-T makes no apologies for his sinister rap, which has been banned by some radio stations for its profanity (and probably its politics). "My stuff is definitely for discussion" by black and white audiences, he says. " . . . You can agree or disagree. But you should never think everything I'm thinking. 'Cause then only one of us is thinking." Born Tracy Marrow in Newark, N.J., he wrote rhymes for gangs at his Los Angeles high school and later became a petty criminal. Now in his 30s, he sees himself as a street moralist and has testified before Congress about gang problems. "Very few people abide by all the laws. So the question is, how far will you take it?"
Q. I admire Ashley of "Fresh Prince of Bel Air." Tell me about her. What's her name and where can I write her? - D., Detroit.
A. Tatyana M. Ali plays Ashley Banks. She's 12, a native of Long Island, N.Y., and veteran of four years, 1984-88, on "Sesame Street." She's also done several Broadway plays and appeared in "The Cosby Show," "Hawk" and "All My Children." Write: NBC-TV, 3000 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA. 91523.
Q. Who are the voices of Bart Simpson and the rest of his family? Who created them all? - J., Charlotte, N.C.
A. Matt Groening created the animated family for Fox's "Tracy Ullman Show" and they were such a hit, they spun off to the their own series. Fox tried to keep the voices secret - especially since a girl does Bart - but it's no secret that they are Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart) and Yeardley Smith (Lisa)
Q. Give us a few stats on Kevin Dobson. Isn't he a Detroiter and lived on Lansing Street? - J.B., Redford, Mich.
A. Dobson was born in Jackson Heights, N.Y., March 18, 1943, and grew up there. After Army service, he attended New York University, then made his acting bow in TV commercials and did his first stage role in a touring company of "The Impossible Years." His big TV break was being cast as Detective Crocker in "Kojak." He's married, father of three daughters.
Q. Tell me where to contact the producers of "Full House." - C.J.B., Treherne, Manitoba, Canada.
A. Jeff Franklin is the creator of the show; Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Bogett are the executive producers. Write: Lorimar Telepictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA. 90232.
Q. I often watch CNN's "The World Today." Can you give information on Catherine Crier: age, background, marital status, where to write her. - Tom Paterson, Macon, Ga.
A. Crier, 36, resigned a Texas state judgeship to anchor CNN's newscast. She's from Dallas, studied law at Southern Methodist, was an assistant district attorney before being elected as a state judge. She's divorced. Write: CNN, 1 CNN Plaza, Atlanta, GA. 30348.
Q. Twice now I have caught the last half of "The Taming of the Shrew" with Cybil Shepherd and Bruce Willis. Was it part of the "Moonlighting" series? Where can I buy the video? - J.L., Fullerton, Calif.
A. "Shrew" was a 1986 dream sequence in "Moonlighting" when the series was still at its inventive and amusing peak. There is no video.
Q. Tell me where can I write to Vanna White of "Wheel of Fortune"? - Mrs. C.C., Detroit.
A. Write: 1541 N. Vine St., Hollywood, CA. 90028.
Q. Tell me about Joey Lawrence of "Blossom." Tell me where to write him. - E.P., N. Syracuse, N.Y.
A. Lawrence, 15, was born in Montgomery, Pa., and has been acting since he was 5 when he started in TV commercials. He did TV guest roles, then joined "Gimme a Break" as a regular in 1985. Joey and younger brother Matthew have acted together on TV and performed in a song-and-dance routine. Write: Touchstone Television, 500 S. Buena Vista Blvd., Burbank, CA. 91521
Q. My daughter says the lady who does the candy commercial is Rick Nelson's widow. I say it isn't. - I.A., Anaheim, CA.
A. You're right. But she was Nelson's sister-in-law. She's Kelly Harmon, older sister of Kristen Harmon, who was married to Rick Nelson. They were divorced four years before Nelson was killed in an airplane crash in 1985.
Q. Do you know what happened to Bert Convy? I remember reading that he was in serious condition after several strokes. - M.H.K., Des Moines, Iowa.
A. Convy died of a brain tumor in July. He was 57.
Q. Why haven't I seen "Chico and the Man" and "Fish" since the mid-70s? I loved those sitcoms. - T.M., Camden, N.J.
A. "Chico" was seen on NBC, 1975-78, but the last season was cut short after the suicide of Freddie Prinz, who played "Chico." "Fish," with Abe Vigoda, was a 1977-78 spin-off from "Barney Miller." But it turned out Fish wasn't nearly as funny on his own as he was as part of the Miller team. "Chico" repeats had a daytime run. Both series are available for rerun and could still turn up on cable.
Q. Do you have some information on Daniel Massey? I saw him in a movie and would like to know about him. - H.G., Philadelphia.
A. Massey, 58, was born in London, England, son of actor Raymond Massey. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge in England. Primarily a stage actor, he has done a few movies and got an Oscar nomination for his work as Noel Coward in the 1968 movie "Star!" Among his other movies: "The Entertainer," "Mary, Queen of Scots" and "The Incredible Sarah." His sister Anna Massey is also an actor. He's married.
- Send your questions to Celebrity Questions, Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI 48231.