Bob Saget

Bob Saget, an actor, comedian, and director who starred in “Full House” and “Fuller House” and was the original host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” died January 9, 2022, at the Ritz Carlton Orlando. He died at the age of 65 after taking a fall.

Saget became “America’s Dad” with his first big role, starring in the popular sitcom “Full House.” Debuting in 1987, the show featured Saget as a widowed dad whose brother-in-law and best friend helped him raise his three daughters. Saget’s character was wholesome and corny, with a repertoire of squeaky-clean dad jokes. He reprised the role in the 21st century Netflix reboot, “Fuller House.”

In 2001, Saget starred in the single-season sitcom “Raising Dad.” He had a notable – but uncredited – role in “How I Met Your Mother,” providing voiceover narration as the future voice of main character Ted Mosby. Saget narrated every episode of the show’s nine seasons.

As Saget’s “Full House” fame was at its peak, he hosted a 1989 TV special, “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” The special was never intended to be a series, but viewers loved watching Saget introduce home videos with his trademark Danny Tanner-style jokes, and it was picked up in 1990. Saget hosted “America’s Funniest Home Videos” through 1997; the show later returned for two dozen additional seasons with other hosts – though Saget returned to host anniversary specials in 2009 and 2019.

Fans who loved Saget’s family-friendly humor on “Full House” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos” were often surprised to find that his stand-up comedy was quite the opposite. Onstage, Saget reveled in dirty jokes and vulgar words that would never find their way to “Full House.” He performed stand-up comedy for decades, doing a two-hour set the night before his death.

Saget also directed the Norm Macdonald movie “Dirty Work,” as well as appearing in movies including “Critical Condition,” “Half Baked,” and “A Stand Up Guy.” His many TV guest roles included “Quantum Leap,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and “Shameless.”

By Linnea Crowther

(Image: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)