Dave Coulier Biography

David Alan Coulier (born September 21, 1959) is an American stand-up comedian, impressionist, television and voice actor, and television host. He became known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for playing Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom Full House.

Early life

Coulier was born in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He got his start in stand up comedy in high school by impersonating his principal (Conrad Vachon) and other staff over his high school's PA system. He graduated in 1977 from Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Michigan, where he was a member of the varsity hockey team. He played defense alongside future NHL player John Blum.

Career

Coulier has done extensive voice work for shows including Extreme Ghostbusters, The Real Ghostbusters and Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters (taking over the character of Peter Venkman after Lorenzo Music's departure from the role), Muppet Babies after Howie Mandel left (Baby Animal, Baby Bunsen, Bean Bunny and Uncle Statler and Waldorf, even a pre-teen Janice for one episode), Scooby and Scrappy-Doo, The Jetsons, Rude Dog and the Dweebs, Detention and Teen Titans.. From 1984 to 1986, he was also the host of a comedy series on Nickelodeon known as Out of Control.

Coulier is best known for the role of Joey Gladstone on the ABC's sitcom Full House. He stayed on the show from 1987 until its cancellation in 1995. He was famous for doing voices and impersonations. In addition to Full House, Coulier appeared on George and Leo and Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher. He has also hosted America's Funniest People (first with Arleen Sorkin and later with Tawny Kitaen) and Opportunity Knocks. Additionally, he was also a voice actor in Yogi Bear and the Magical Flight of the Spruce Goose, and has voiced Felix the Cat on a few occasions. He also put out a solo album called Cut It Out, a self proclaimed tribute to "tank tops and short shorts."

In addition to his voice work, Coulier has also taken a few acting parts appearing in the Disney Channel Original Movie's The Thirteenth Year and The Even Stevens Movie (where he had a cameo as a reality show host), as well as the Nickelodeon original movie Shredderman Rules and he wrote and starred in an unaired pilot for FX called Whispers and Balls.

He also founded his own children's entertainment company F3 Entertainment, in 2000. In 2003, Coulier appeared on the 3rd season of The Surreal Life. Then in 2006, he appeared on the TV reality show Skating with Celebrities on FOX, where he was paired with Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan. They were eliminated on the fourth episode.

Currently he is a member of Duck's Breath Mystery Theater touring comedy troupe (which he claims is clean comedy but 'not quite as creepy' as Full House) as well as host of the series Animal Kidding. His work on Robot Chicken is probably his most "adult" to date, voicing off-color situations, like Popeye savagely beating Wimpy over a debt.

On June 2, 2008, Chikara, professional wrestling promotion based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, announced that Coulier was elected by the Chikara Board of Directors as the new commissioner of the company, a position that he will hold for the following two years until the next election (taking place on May 25, 2010). Coulier is the successor to former Commissioner and fellow Full House cast member Bob Saget.

In 2009, Coulier provided the voice for Bob McKenzie on the Canadian animated series Bob & Doug, based on the SCTV characters Bob and Doug McKenzie. Coulier became the first person other than Rick Moranis to portray the character, as Moranis (who serves as executive producer) was not interested in resuming the part. Coulier says he understands that longtime fans might be skeptical of his take on the role, but he couldn't help jumping at the chance to portray one of his favorite comic characters. "It's huge shoes to fill, stepping into Rick Moranis' shoes. It's such an established, great character and I guess the only thing I have going for me is that it kind of sounds alike and that half of my family is from Canada." His mother's family is from Bathurst, New Brunswick.

After the cancellation of Full House in 1995, Coulier struggled to find prominent roles in television and film. After a brief stint in reality TV with The Surreal Life and Skating with Celebrities, Coulier continued to make regular television appearances as the host of shows like America's Funniest People, Animal Kidding and America's Most Talented Kid. He continues to tour the US and Canada as a stand-up comedian, and recently Coulier launched a youth-oriented comedy website, cleanguys.TV.

Comedic style

Coulier's stand-up routine is centered on his ability to mimic celebrities and cartoon characters, a talent that has given him a second career in voice acting. Many of Coulier's bits involve putting well-known characters into unexpected situations. Coulier's material is largely family-friendly, a position he has extended to his youth-oriented comedy website, cleanguys.TV.

As of April 5, 2008, Coulier is presently on tour with the Clean Guys of Comedy Tour, a family-friendly comedy group. The tour includes Ryan Hamilton from Last Comic Standing and Kivi Rogers.

Personal life

Coulier was married for two years with Jayne Modean. He has one son Luc Coulier (born November 14, 1990) Having divorced, he started dating Alanis Morissette, but they broke up shortly before she recorded her album, Jagged Little Pill. In a 2008 interview with the Calgary Sun, Coulier said he thought he might be the ex-boyfriend portrayed in the song "You Oughta Know". Morissette has not confirmed the subject of her songs.

Coulier is a private pilot who owns and flies a Beechcraft B35. His first general aviation flight was at the age of five in Michigan. He earned his pilot's license at the same airport later in 1979 and is now instrument rated. He is part of the Hat in the Ring Society to support the AOPA foundation, an organization that promotes safe flying.

Coulier is an ice hockey fan, and participates in charity events with the Detroit Red Wings.

On July 16th, 2010, Coulier rescued an eldery woman while riding his bike in Detroit, Michigan. The woman was walking into oncoming traffic and was nearly hit by a moped. Coulier grabbed the woman and carried her with one arm while riding his bicycle to safety.

Filmography

• (re-syndicated (1985) version of) The Jetsons (1962) (TV series) (voice)
• Scooby and Scrappy-Doo (1979) (TV series) (voice)
• Things Are Tough All Over (1982) credited as Dave Coulier
• Out of Control (1984) (TV series)
• Muppet Babies (1986"1991) (TV series) (voice)
• The Real Ghostbusters (1986) (TV series) (Peter Venkman) (1987 " 1991) (Originally Lorenzo Music)
• Full House (1987"1995) (TV series)
• It's Garry Shandling's Show (1990) (TV series)
• America's Funniest People (1990) (TV series)
• Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995) (TV series) (Guest Star)
• The Thirteenth Year (1999) (TV)
• To Tell the Truth (2000) (TV series)
• The Even Stevens Movie (2003) (TV)
• America's Most Talented Kid (2003) (TV series)
• The Surreal Life (2003) (TV series) (2004)
• Skating With Celebrities (2006) (TV Series)
• Robot Chicken (2006) (TV series) (voice)
• Shredderman Rules! (2007) (TV)
• The GradeSchool Game (2007) (host)
• The Family Holiday (2007) (direct to DVD movie)
• Farce of the Penguins (2007) (direct to DVD movie) (voice)
• Bob & Doug (2009) (TV series) (voice of Bob McKenzie)