Full House star John Stamos has revealed why the series was both a positive and negative point for his career, all stemming from his role as Jesse. The classic sitcom sees recently widowed Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) recruiting brother-in-law Jesse and friend Joey (Dave Coulier) to help him raise his daughters. Jesse was a hair-obsessed, often irresponsible adult who still stepped up whenever he needed to.
Speaking with The New York Times, Stamos reveals how joining the cast of Full House was both a “curse” and “blessing” for his career. The actor said he sometimes didn’t like that everyone only knew him as Jesse despite wanting to play more varied roles. Check out what Stamos had to say below:
It was a blessing and a curse…. It’s always killed me that that’s what everybody knew me from, that mullet-headed ding-dong.
How John Stamos Broadened His Career After Full House
While Stamos is still well-known for his role as Jesse, his career continued to branch out as he brought his acting skills to new places. This included performances in Broadway plays such as Bye Bye Birdie, Cabaret, and Gore Vidal’s The Best Man. He also lent his talent to ER as Dr. Tony Gates and to You as psychologist Dr. Nicky.
Despite his mixed feelings about the series that boosted him to stardom, Stamos returned in Fuller House, where he would reprise his role on a recurring basis. This eventually led to Jesse walking Stephanie down the aisle thanks to similar character arcs in the show. His involvement in the series shows how, eventually, he’d come to terms with the role he had despite not wanting to be defined by it.
As of writing, the actor’s latest roles include playing himself in Muppets Haunted Mansion, as well as Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute, a film dedicated to the life of his Full House co-star. While it’s unlikely Stamos will return as the Elvis-loving Jesse anytime soon, he’s clearly branched out beyond his role in the series. Still maintaining a passion for his work, he will no doubt continue playing a variety of roles as time goes on.
