Robert Lane Saget (born on May 17, 1956 – Died on January 9, 2022), better known as Bob Saget, was an American actor, comedian, and host. He is known for his role as Danny Tanner in the series Full House and Fuller House. He is also known for hosting the home video show America’s Funniest Home Videos and for being the voice of Ted Mosby, of the year 2030, in the series How I Met Your Mother.
| Bob Saget | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Name | Bob Saget |
| Full Name | Robert Lane Saget |
| Birth date | May 17, 1956 |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Death date | January 9, 2022 (65 years) |
| Death place | Orlando, Florida, United States |
| Death cause | Cranioencephalic trauma |
| Burial | Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Height | 1.93m (6′4″) |
| Eyes | Dark brown |
| Hair | Dark brown |
| Family | |
| Parents | Benjamin Saget Rosalyn Saget |
| Spouse | Sherri Kramer (m. 1982; div. 1997) Kelly Rizzo (m. 2018; d. 2022) |
| Children | Aubrey Saget (1987) Lara Melanie Saget (1989) Jennifer Belle Saget (1989) |
| Education | |
| Education | Temple University (B.A.), Abington Senior High School, Rockbridge County High School, University of Southern California, Lake Taylor High School |
| Professional information | |
| Work | Actor, Comedian, Presenter, Director |
| Years active | 1977-2022 |
| Notable works | Full House fullers house |
| Website | https://www.bobsaget.com/ |
The private life of Bob Saget
He was born on May 17, 1956, in Philadelphia, the son of Benjamin (1917 – 2007), a supermarket attendant and Rosalyn (1925 – 2014), a hospital administrator. He had a sister, Gay Saget, who died in 1994 of scleroderma.
His childhood and adolescence are marked by the number of transfers he had to make with his family. He lived in Norfolk, Virginia, Encino, California and back to Philadelphia, where he graduated from Abington Senior High School. Being constantly moving, it was difficult for him to make friends every time he arrived in a new place, so he relied on his comic side to make it easier to make friends.
He was married for 15 years to Sherry Kramer, from whom he separated in 1997 and with whom he has 3 children: Aubrey, Lar and Jennifer.
In 2018, Bob married journalist and host Kelly Rizzo for the second time. The relationship began in 2015 after meeting via Instagram and from there they formed a sentimental relationship that in 2017 would take its next step with the marriage proposal. The wedding took place in 2018 at an event held in Santa Monica, California.
Bob Saget’s Career
His beginnings
Although at first, his language teachers, especially Elaine Zimmerman, advised him to dedicate himself to interpretation, realizing his creative personality and the ease of reaching people. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in film school at Temple University. There he shot Through Adam’s Eyes, his first black and white film, which received the Student Academy Awards. He then landed at the University of Southern California, which he left a few days later.
He wanted to direct above all things, but he thought that before directing, he had to know what it feels like to be an actor so that he can direct better. That’s when he started performing at a Los Angeles comedy club. These weekly appearances later became national tours. He liked it so much, that it was increasingly clear to him that maybe it was not so bad to be in front of the camera.
In 1987 he received a call from CBS to participate in the evening show The Morning Program, the last attempt of the channel to give a new air to American mornings. The program combined news, debates and a comedy section by a young Saget. The program was canceled a few weeks later, leaving Bob unemployed and sunk.
Full House and America’s Funniest Home Videos
Shortly after the cancellation of the CBS morning show, Bob Saget received the call again from the network, to join the cast of Full House, playing the role of Danny Tanner, a widowed father who turns to his brother-in-law, Jesse (John Stamos) and his best friend, Joey (Dave Coulier), to raise his three young daughters: DJ (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Michelle (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen).
The series did not get off to a good start, relegated to Friday nights, a complicated schedule to rival the Dolly Parton show that broke audience records week after week. However, the series was making a place little by little until in its second season and with the recent cancellation of the competition program, it began to mark good audience ratings, until it became the undisputed leader of Fridays, gathering millions of viewers in front of the television.
In 1990, and at the height of the series, he began hosting the home video program America’s Funniest Home Videos, which was a success for years. For a long time, he combined both programs, in marathon weekly days of 70 hours.
In 1995, all the protagonists of Full House decide that the series has to end, wanting to undertake new professional challenges. The series that was on the air for 8 seasons marked the career of all the protagonists and will always be in everyone’s memory.
For Bob Saget, it was a liberation, wanting to embark on new roles and distance himself from the image of the perfect father and son-in-law. Two years later he also left America’s Funniest Home Videos, at the end of his contract with the network. His last episode had a wonderful moment when he appeared surrounded by all the casting of Full House, his family of the last years.
After success
After making a place for himself in all American homes and abroad for his role as an endearing godfather, the perfect neighbor or the ideal son-in-law, he tried to distance himself from that image, making roles to which no one was accustomed. In 1998 he made a small appearance in the film Half Baked, where he played a cocaine addict. This role made his idyllic image change in the eyes of many people, but created another loyal legion of followers of the new Bob.
He achieved the maximum as an actor by starring for 4 months in the Broadway musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. In the play he played the “Man in Chair”, while the lead actor, Jonathan Crombie, went on a national tour. The critical and public success was overwhelming. In 2005 Bob appeared in New York Minute, starring the Olsen twins.
He was the host of the game show 1 vs. 100 broadcast on NBC. Between 2005 and 2014 the voice of Saget was in the CBS series, How I Met Your Mother, playing the role of Ted Mosby of the year 2030 that tells his children how he met their mother. He also made a cameo appearance in the HBO series Entourage. In addition, he has a comedy DVD, That Ain’t Right, released in 2007 by HBO.
This DVD is dedicated to his father, who passed away from a heart problem. In 2007 he starred in the sitcom Surviving Suburbia, broadcast by ABC, but which only lasted one season due to low ratings.
Between 2016 and 2020 he revived his role as Danny Tanner in the spin-off Fuller House, a Netflix series centered on the character of D.J. Tanner-Fuller.
Director
In 1996 he directed the television movie For Hope, inspired by the true story of his sister Gay Saget, who died three years earlier of scleroderma. He also created and chaired a foundation in his honor and that is responsible for raising funds to research possible cures for this disease.
In 2007 he wrote and directed the documentary film Farce of the Penguins, a parody of the 2005 documentary March of the Penguins, featuring voices to penguins.
Death of Bob Saget
On January 9, 2022, Saget was staying at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes south of Orlando, Florida and east of Walt Disney World. He was in the middle of a stand-up tour and had performed at Ponte Vedra Beach the night before.
Hotel staff found Saget unconscious in his room around 4 p.m. He had not left at the scheduled time to leave the hotel and his relatives had been worried after not hearing from him. Emergency services confirmed his death at the time. He was 65.
The cause of death was not immediately announced, but police and the medical examiner ruled out possible murder or drug use. News of Saget’s death surfaced during a broadcast of America’s Funniest Home Videos, and ABC interrupted the show to announce it.
An autopsy was performed, the results of which were published on February 9, 2022, revealed that he had suffered head trauma from a blow to the back of the head, possibly as a result of a fall, but that he did not give it much importance so he went to sleep. Hence, he died in his sleep.
Saget was found to have an enlarged heart, with 95% blocked on one side, an “intravascular congestion with no acute or chronic inflammation present,” and while no alcohol or drugs were found in his system, Clonazepam, which is taken for seizures, panic disorders and anxiety, was found.
Several of Saget’s Full House co-stars issued statements honoring him. John Stamos said, “I’m devastated. I am destroyed. I am in complete and total shock. I will never have another friend like him. I love you so much, Bobby.” Candace Cameron Bure called him “one of the greatest human beings.” Dave Coulier said his heart was broken and referred to Saget as his “forever brother”.
Andrea Barber also showed her regret. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen said that “Bob was the most caring, compassionate and generous man”, and that they were deeply saddened by his death. Jodie Sweetin: “There aren’t enough words to express what I’m feeling today. They’re also not big enough to capture even a part of who he was”.
Lori Loughlin, meanwhile, said: “Words cannot begin to express how devastated I am. Bob was more than my friend, he was my family. I will miss his good heart and quick wit. Thank you for a lifetime of wonderful memories and laughter. I love you Bobby.”
Filmography
Cinema
| Year | Title | Character | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Through Adam’s Eyes | Short documentary, writer/directorStudent Oscar Award – Documentary Merit (Temple University) | |
| 1979 | Outer Touch | Wurlitzer | Uncredited. Voice in the US version |
| 1980 | Devices | Therapy Patient | |
| 1981 | Full Moon High | Sports Presenter | |
| 1987 | Critical Condition | Dr. Joffe | |
| 1993 | For Goodness Sake | Surgeon | |
| 1997 | Meet Wally Sparks | Reporter #4 | |
| 1998 | Half freaked out | Addicted to cocaine | Not accredited |
| 1998 | Dirty Work | Director | |
| 2003 | Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd | Walter Matthews | |
| 2004 | Move, this is New York | Himself | Cameo (no dialogue) |
| 2005 | The Aristocrats | Himself | Documentary |
| 2005 | Madagascar | Zoo Animal (voice) | |
| 2007 | Farce of the Penguins | Carl (voice) | Directly for video; also screenwriter, director and producer |
| 2015 | I Am Chris Farley | Himself | Documentary |
| 2016 | A Stand Up Guy | Mel | |
| 2018 | Benjamin | Ed | Also director and executive producer |
| To be announced | Killing Daniel | Post; Posthumous release |
Television
| Year | Title | Character | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Friends of the Soul | Bob the Comedian | Episode: “The Show Must Go On” |
| 1983 | The Greatest American Hero | Rook | Episode: “Desperate” |
| 1985 | New Love, American Style | Several | 4 episodes |
| 1986 | It’s a Living | Dr. Bartlett | Episode: “The Doctor Danny Show” |
| 1987–1995 | Full House | Danny Tanner | 192 episodes |
| 1989–1997 | America’s Funniest Home Videos | Himself/Presenter | 191 episodes, guest hosted 1 episode in 2009 |
| 1989 | Mickey Mouse Club | Danny Tanner | Episode: “Guest Day” |
| 1992 | Quantum Leap | Macklyn “Mack” MacKay | Episode: “Stand Up – April 30, 1959” |
| 1992 | Let’s go to Grandma’s house | Win-O-Lotto (Lottery Presenter) | Movie; Not accredited |
| 1994 | Father and Scout | Spencer Paley | Movie; also executive producer |
| 1995 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (Presenter) | Episode: “Bob Saget/TLC” |
| 1996 | For Hope | Movie; Director and executive producer | |
| 1999 | Sorority | Dean Tinker | Movie; disreputable |
| 2000 | Becoming Dick | Bob | Film (discredited); also director |
| 2000 | The Norm Show | Mr. Atkitson | Episode: “Norm vs. Schoolin’”; also director |
| 2001–2002 | Raising Dad | Matt Stewart | 22 episodes |
| 2002 | The Jamie Kennedy Experiment | Himself | Episode #1.6 |
| 2004 | Joey | Himself | Episode: “Joey and the Road Trip” |
| 2004 | Huff | Butch | Episode: “Flashpants” |
| 2005 | Listen Up | Mitch | Episode: “Coach Potato” |
| 2005–2010 | Entourage | Himself | 4 episodes |
| 2005–2014 | How I Met Your Mother | Ted Mosby (in 2030) | 208 episodes; Voice-over narration |
| 2006–2008 | 1 vs. 100 | Himself/Presenter | Game show (28 episodes) |
| 2006 | Casper’s School of Terror | Dash (voice) | Movie; voice |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Glenn Cheales | Episode: “Choreographed” |
| 2007 | That Ain’t Right | Himself | Special |
| 2008 | Tim’s Misadventures | Party Marty | Episode: “Mugger/Cin City”; voice |
| 2008 | The Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget | Himself | Special |
| 2009 | Surviving Suburbia | Steve Patterson | 13 episodes |
| 2010 | Strange Days with Bob Saget | Himself/Presenter | 6 Episodes |
| 2011 | Law & Order: LA | Adam Brennan | Episode: “Van Nuys” |
| 2011 | Louie | Himself | Episode: “Oh Louie/Tickets” |
| 2013 | That’s What I’m Talking About | Himself |
|
| 2014 | Super Fun Night | Mr. Porter Warner | Episode: “Cookie Prom” |
| 2014 | Legit | Himself | Episode: “Licked” |
| 2015–2016 | Grandfathered | Ronnie | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Robot Chicken | Mike O’Malley, Galactus, Cable Guy (vocals) | Episode: “The Unnamed One” |
| 2016–2020 | Fuller House | Danny Tanner | Recurring role; 10 episodes |
| 2017 | Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy Valentine’s Day Special | Himself | Variety special |
| 2017 | Nightcap | Himself | Episode: “Bringing Up Baby” |
| 2018 | The Good Cop | Richie Knight | Episode: “Did the TV Star Do It?” |
| 2018 | Shameless | Father D’Amico | Episode: “Face It, You’re Gorgeous” |
| 2019 | Videos After Dark | Himself/Presenter | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Historical Roasts | Abraham Lincoln | Episode: “Abraham Lincoln” |
| 2019 | Nashville Squares | Himself/Presenter | 10 episodes |
| 2019–2021 | To Tell the Truth | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | The Masked Singer | Squiggly Monster | Eliminated after the second appearance |
| 2021 | Unfiltered Nickelodeon | Himself | Episode: “Dreaming of an Awful Waffle!” |
References (sources)
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