The Full House franchise has been a staple of American television for decades, and its cast has grown alongside its fans. With the release of the Fuller House spinoff, many fans were curious to see how much the beloved cast had changed. How much older were the characters when Fuller House aired compared to their original roles on Full House? In this article, we’ll break down the ages of the main cast members from both Full House and Fuller House, revealing the surprising age differences and how time has impacted the iconic family sitcom’s stars.
The Age of the Full House Cast at the Time of the Show’s Premiere
Full House first aired on September 22, 1987, and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Its cast, both the adults and the children, brought warmth, humor, and heart to the series, which made it a hit for eight seasons. Let’s take a look at how old the main cast members were when Full House started.
Bob Saget as Danny Tanner
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Age at Premiere: 31 years old Bob Saget, who played the beloved father Danny Tanner, was just 31 years old when Full House debuted. Although he played a father of three, Saget was still in the early stages of his career. Over the years, Saget became known for his stand-up comedy and hosting America’s Funniest Home Videos, but his role as Danny Tanner remained his most iconic performance.
John Stamos as Jesse Katsopolis
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Age at Premiere: 24 years old John Stamos, who portrayed the cool and lovable Uncle Jesse, was 24 years old when Full House started. Stamos brought a youthful energy and a rock-and-roll edge to the role, which made him one of the show’s breakout stars. His portrayal of the rebellious yet caring uncle became a fan favorite, and Stamos remained an enduring symbol of the show’s success.
Dave Coulier as Joey Gladstone
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Age at Premiere: 28 years old Dave Coulier, who played the goofy but loveable Joey Gladstone, was 28 years old at the time of Full House‘s debut. Joey’s fun-loving nature and his dynamic with the Tanner family brought plenty of humor to the show. Coulier’s performance as the playful “uncle” figure was essential to the show’s warmth and charm.
Candace Cameron Bure as DJ Tanner
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Age at Premiere: 11 years old Candace Cameron Bure, who played the oldest Tanner daughter DJ, was just 11 years old when Full House premiered. As the responsible, sometimes overachieving eldest child, DJ grew up right before the audience’s eyes. Bure’s transition from child star to adult actress made her one of the standout stars of Full House.
Jodie Sweetin as Stephanie Tanner
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Age at Premiere: 5 years old Jodie Sweetin was only 5 years old when she began playing the middle Tanner daughter, Stephanie. Her character’s catchphrase, “How rude!” became iconic over time. Sweetin’s growth as an actress was witnessed over the course of Full House, and her ability to transition from a child star to a successful adult actress helped make Fuller House possible.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as Michelle Tanner
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Age at Premiere: 1 year old (shared role) Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen alternated playing Michelle Tanner, the youngest Tanner daughter, when the show began. Both twins were only one year old at the time Full House premiered. Despite their young age, the Olsen twins charmed the audience and became household names, with both becoming iconic figures in the entertainment world.
The Fuller House Cast: How Old Were They in the Reboot?
Now, let’s fast forward to Fuller House, the 2016 Netflix reboot of the classic series. The show brought back the original cast, now adults, to continue the story of the Tanner family. So, how old were the main cast members when Fuller House premiered?
Bob Saget as Danny Tanner
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Age at Fuller House Premiere: 60 years old By the time Fuller House premiered in 2016, Bob Saget was 60 years old. While he had aged quite a bit from his Full House days, his portrayal of Danny Tanner remained just as heartwarming as before. Saget continued to bring humor and love to the character, even if his appearance had matured over the years.
John Stamos as Jesse Katsopolis
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Age at Fuller House Premiere: 52 years old John Stamos, who once played the cool, rockstar uncle, was 52 years old when Fuller House aired. His character, Uncle Jesse, was still rock-and-roll, though now with a family of his own. Despite the passing years, Stamos still embodied the youthful energy that made Uncle Jesse a fan favorite, and his signature catchphrase “Have mercy!” made a nostalgic return.
Dave Coulier as Joey Gladstone
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Age at Fuller House Premiere: 56 years old Dave Coulier was 56 years old when Fuller House premiered, making Joey one of the oldest original cast members to return. Coulier’s portrayal of the silly yet lovable Joey still provided plenty of laughs in the reboot, and his friendship with Danny and Jesse remained one of the show’s strongest elements.
Candace Cameron Bure as DJ Tanner-Fuller
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Age at Fuller House Premiere: 40 years old Candace Cameron Bure was 40 years old when she reprised her role as DJ Tanner in Fuller House. Now a widow with three children of her own, DJ had matured into a strong, loving mother while still maintaining the leadership qualities that made her the oldest Tanner daughter. Bure’s return to the character was widely celebrated, as she had grown into a talented actress and television personality.
Jodie Sweetin as Stephanie Tanner
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Age at Fuller House Premiere: 34 years old Jodie Sweetin, who had been just 5 years old when she first played Stephanie Tanner, was 34 years old when Fuller House debuted. In the reboot, Stephanie was now a single woman with a career, but still retained the quirky and funny personality that made her a fan favorite. Sweetin’s growth as an actress was evident as she seamlessly returned to the role of Stephanie.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as Michelle Tanner
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Age at Fuller House Premiere: 29 years old (separate careers) While Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were both 29 years old at the time Fuller House premiered, they chose not to return for the reboot. They had already transitioned away from acting to focus on their successful fashion brand, The Row. This absence of Michelle Tanner left a noticeable gap in the show, but the cast and fans still celebrated the reboot in the absence of the twins.
The Surprising Age Differences Between Full House and Fuller House
When we compare the ages of the Full House cast at the start of the original show and then again in Fuller House, we see some interesting shifts. Here’s a breakdown of the age difference between the original series and the reboot:
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Bob Saget: 31 to 60 (29 years older)
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John Stamos: 24 to 52 (28 years older)
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Dave Coulier: 28 to 56 (28 years older)
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Candace Cameron Bure: 11 to 40 (29 years older)
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Jodie Sweetin: 5 to 34 (29 years older)
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Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen: 1 to 29 (28 years older)
While many of the cast members were still within their 30s or 40s when Full House aired, by the time Fuller House came around, they had all reached their 50s or 60s, with only Candace Cameron Bure and Jodie Sweetin remaining relatively close to the age they were when the original series premiered.
Conclusion: Growing Up with the Tanner Family
As we look back at the ages of the Full House cast compared to Fuller House, it’s amazing to see how much the actors—and their characters—have evolved over the years. While the original show captured the charm of youthful innocence, Fuller House brought the same warmth, humor, and love to a more mature, family-oriented story.
The cast members who grew up on screen alongside their fans showed us that the Tanner family will always be a part of our lives, no matter how old we get. The transition from Full House to Fuller House may have involved a few decades, but the love and loyalty from the fans never aged a day.
FAQs
1. How old was Bob Saget during the original Full House? Bob Saget was 31 years old when Full House premiered in 1987.
2. How much older were the Full House cast members in Fuller House? The cast members were between 28 to 29 years older in Fuller House compared to their ages when Full House first aired.
3. Why didn’t the Olsen twins return for Fuller House? The Olsen twins chose not to return for Fuller House as they had moved on to their successful fashion career and were no longer acting.
4. How old was Jodie Sweetin when Full House premiered? Jodie Sweetin was 5 years old when Full House premiered in 1987.
5. What character did Candace Cameron Bure play in Full House and Fuller House? Candace Cameron Bure played DJ Tanner, the eldest daughter of the Tanner family, both in Full House and Fuller House.
