The 19th season of America’s Got Talent with host Terry Crews and judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofía Vergara, and Howie Mandel premiered on May 28, 2024. School janitor Richard Goodall from Terre Haute, Indiana, was announced as the winner on Tuesday night. The middle-aged school janitor garnered the attention of the public after he received a Golden Buzzer from Heidi Klum for his singing performance.
Richard Goodall wins America’s Got Talent Season 19 | Credits: NBC
During the finale, which was held on Tuesday, i.e., September 24, 2024, Richard Goodall beat dog act Roni Sagi and Rhythm and electric drone group Sky Elements to become the winner of America’s Got Talent. Fans were thrilled with the results, as the school janitor had performed consistently week after week, impressing everyone with his ’80s-era-inspired musical performances. Goodall already has his eyes set on an actor who he thinks can play him well in a biopic.
AGT S19 winner Richard Goodall picks Zac Efron to play him in a movie
According to the reports by The Sun, the winner of the 19th season of America’s Got Talent, Richard Goodall, feels that actor Zac Efron would be a perfect choice to play him on screen. His wife Angela believes that actress Demi Moore is an ideal choice to play her alongside Efron.
Goodall shared with the publication that he hopes that he gets a biopic or a documentary made about his life, just like Paul Potts and Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent. His wife added that fans might be surprised to learn some of the hardships Goodall had to go through in his life. She said,
Richard’s life would be a magnificent film. The biggest thing? I just can’t put it out there for the world yet. It is just life that has not been kind.
Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman in A Family Affair | Credits: Netflix
The school janitor added that Zac Efron playing him on-screen would be cool before adding that he’d probably have to put on a little weight. He also mentioned that he would like to continue his collaboration with AGT judges and show creator Simon Cowell. He said he’d love it if they could oversee his career and a biopic. Talking about Cowell, Goodall said,
He has done so much for not just the music community, but he is a man to not only look up to but a man who’s changed people’s lives, not just with music but with TV shows. He has put regular, ordinary people at the forefront.
Zac Efron, who has a background in singing thanks to his High School Musical movies, can be an ideal choice to portray the AGT winner on-screen. The actor has impressed the audience with his work over the years, and the audience surely cannot get enough of him. Efron’s fans also believe that the actor can portray Goodall’s story well on-screen.
Richard Goodall describes his AGT journey as a ‘wild, wonderful roller coaster’ ride
In his conversation with EW, America’s Got Talent’s winner Richard Goodall shared that his journey on the reality show has been just like a wild and wonderful roller coaster ride. The school janitor noted that for him, winning the reality show was just the beginning. The singer added,
The actual effects afterward, I really haven’t felt yet. It’s not really sunk into me yet. It really hasn’t.
Richard Goodall, Heidi Klum and Terry Crews | Credits: Netflix
During the interview, the school janitor added he connected with people more behind the scenes compared to others because he knew what they did from day to day. Goodall did not forget to thank the AGT family, whom he said had been wonderful and supportive to him. Talking about what it was about the ’80s era of music that resonated with him the most, he said,
I’m not placing any shadow on today’s music whatsoever, but music back then. I mean, we’ve got people that still sample music from our era back then. I don’t know if it was. I wouldn’t use the word innocence, but it was different. Look at when I did ‘Don’t Stop Believing’. These kids are singing that stuff now and Eye of the Tiger. Music back in our day was just, to me, it feels like it was different than it is today.
Richard Goodall also mentioned that Heidi Klum will always be his champion, adding that she’s just been amazing to him always. He clarified that everyone on the show has been good to him. He had revealed that one of the students from the school he is the janitor suggested he audition for AGT when they heard him hum a tune.
Congratulations, Richard Goodall.