Albert "Al" Harris was Roseanne and Jackie's father. He appeared in two episodes during seasons 1–2 of Roseanne, in "We Gather Together", and "Dear Mom and Dad". The part of Al was played by late veteran character actor John Randolph.
About Al[]
The maternal grandfather of Roseanne's children appeared to be a normal, jovial guy. It turned out that Al was a physically-abusive and largely absent father to Roseanne and Jackie when they were children. He also had a mistress, Joan, for over 20 years.
After admitting to her daughters the details of her husband’s affair his wife, Beverly, finally kicks him out of the house. Roseanne and Jackie never see him again.
Some time later in the episode, Wait Until Your Father Gets Home, Joan calls and informs Dan that Al had passed away of a heart attack while out on the road for work.
Upon his death, Roseanne meets with his mistress Joan, who didn't know anything of Al's abuse and neglect towards his family. Al had led her to believe that Roseanne and Jackie were ungrateful for everything he ever did for them.
Despite his violent nature, Al possessed a highly humorous nature that, in his passing, Roseanne thanks him for after reading a letter containing the many things she hates him for doing to her and Jackie. Roseanne places the letter inside of his casket as she says her final farewell to her father.
Trivia[]
In the episode, Wait Until Your Father Gets Home, it is revealed that Al was a traveling salesman. Dan’s father, Ed Conner, was also, coincidentally, a traveling salesmen who was largely absent from his child’s life.
In the episode, I Pray the Lord My Stove to Keep, Dan mentions that Al was Jewish.