Bob Saget, beloved TV dad on 'Full House' and 'America's Funniest Home Videos' host, dies at 65
Comedian Bob Saget, the star of TV's "Full House" and host of "America's Funniest Home Videos," has died. He was 65.
Saget, who was best known for his role as widowed father Danny Tanner in ABC's "Full House," was found unresponsive in his hotel room at The Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida, at about 4 p.m. Sunday, police said. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office told USA TODAY in a statement that detectives found "no signs of foul play or drug use." The Medical Examiner’s Office will ultimately determine the cause and manner of death, saying Monday that an autopsy had been conducted.
Further studies and investigation "may take up to 10-12 weeks to complete," Chief Medical Examiner Joshua Stephany said in a statement. "Our condolences go out to Mr. Saget’s loved ones during this difficult time."
Saget's family confirmed his death in a statement provided to USA TODAY on Sunday.
"We are devastated to confirm that our beloved Bob passed away today," the statement said. "He was everything to us and we want you to know how much he loved his fans, performing live and bringing people from all walks of life together with laughter.
“Though we ask for privacy at this time, we invite you to join us in remembering the love and laughter that Bob brought to the world."
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Saget, the wisecracking host of "America's Funniest Home Videos" from 1989 to 1997, had been traveling the country with the "I Don't Do Negative" tour and performed a two-hour set in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday.
His final Instagram post on Saturday night was filled with hope.
"I loved tonight’s show in Jacksonville," Saget wrote. "Very appreciative and fun audiences. I had no idea I did a two hour set tonight. I’m back in comedy like I was when I was 26. I guess I’m finding my new voice and loving every moment of it. A’ight, see you in two weeks.
"Goin’ everywhere until I get the special shot. And then probably keep going cause I’m addicted to this," he added, signing off with "Peace out. ??"
Saget was born in Philadelphia on May 17, 1956, to Benjamin, a supermarket executive, and Rosalyn, who worked in hospital administration. He graduated from Temple University and enrolled briefly in the University of Southern California to study film.
He left the college but stayed in Los Angeles and shifted to stand-up comedy, which led to small roles in TV and film before he found success with “Full House," for which he played the sweetly neurotic father Danny Tanner from 1987 to 1995 opposite Jesse (John Stamos), Joey (Dave Coulier) and his TV daughters D.J. (Candace Cameron), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Michelle (a role shared by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen).
Stamos expressed his grief on Twitter Sunday. "I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete and utter shock. I will never ever have another friend like him," Stamos wrote. "I love you so much Bobby."
I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete and utter shock. I will never ever have another friend like him. I love you so much Bobby.
— John Stamos (@JohnStamos) January 10, 2022
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who became global child superstars on "Full House" as Michelle, paid tribute to their TV dad in a statement to USA TODAY:
"Bob was the most loving, compassionate and generous man. We are deeply saddened that he is no longer with us but know that he will continue to be by our side to guide us as gracefully as he always has. We are thinking of his daughters, wife and family and are sending our condolences."
Candace Cameron Bure tweeted with a heartbroken emoji, "I have no words. Bob was one of the best humans beings I’ve ever known in my life. I loved him so much."
Saget played another widowed dad with winsome kids on the short-lived sitcom "Raising Dad."
He found himself repeatedly fielding questions about his habit of playing sitcom widowers and had a ready response. ”(Kevin) Costner does three, four baseball movies and that’s OK. There’s my rationale.”
Saget reprised his role as Danny in Netflix's spinoff "Fuller House" for five seasons, from 2016 to 2020.
As a stand-up comic, Saget told USA TODAY he preferred "immature taboo humor – good immature taboo humor" while promoting his 2014 memoir, "Dirty Daddy: The Chronicles of a Family Man Turned Filthy Comedian."
Saget showed this rawer sense of humor with what become a much-talked-about cameo in the 2005 documentary "The Aristocrats," in which 100 comics riffed on the world’s dirtiest joke.
For CBS's "How I Met Your Mother," Saget voiced the narrator, the grown-up Ted Mosby (played onscreeby Josh Radnor).
In early 2020, Saget was preparing for the start of his comedy tour when the pandemic put it on hold. He turned his energies to a podcast, “Bob Saget’s Here For You,” which gave fans an open mic to comment and ask him questions.
He focused occasionally on directing over the years, including on HBO’s “The Mind of the Married Man,” and the Norm Macdonald film “Dirty Work,” and appeared on Broadway in “Hand to God” and in “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
He drew praise as producer-director of the 1996 TV film “For Hope,” loosely based on the battle of his late sister, Gay, with the tissue disease scleroderma, and appealed for increased federal support for research funds.
He remembered his sister in a January 2020 post, noting that she died when she was 47 and would have been 73 that month.
Survivors include his wife, Kelly Rizzo (they were married in 2018), and three daughters from his first marriage to Sherri Kramer – Aubrey Saget, Lara Melanie Saget and Jennifer Belle Saget.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bob Saget dead: 'Full House' TV dad Danny Tanner and comedian was 65
