John Stamos Biography

John Phillip Stamos ( ; born August 19, 1963) is an American actor and musician. He first gained recognition for his contract role as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital for which he was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He is known for his work in television, especially in his starring role as Jesse Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom Full House. Since the show's finale in 1995, Stamos has appeared in numerous TV films and series. Since 2005, he has been the national spokesperson for Project Cuddle.

From 2005 to 2009, Stamos had a starring role on the NBC medical drama ER as Dr. Tony Gates. In September 2009, he began playing the role of Albert in the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie. From September 2015 to 2016, Stamos starred as the lead character in the Fox sitcom Grandfathered. As of 2015, he has been executive producer of the Netflix series Fuller House, as well as making occasional appearances, reprising his role of Jesse Katsopolis.

Early life

Stamos was born in Cypress, California, the son of Loretta (Phillips), a bathing-suit model, and Bill Stamos, a restaurateur. His father was of Greek descent, with roots in Santorini.

Acting career

1982-86: Early career

Stamos began his acting career with the role of Blackie Parrish on the soap opera General Hospital in late January 1982, for which he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 1984. That April, he went on to the lead role in the short-lived CBS sitcom Dreams, in which he played an aspiring musician in a band of the same name. Later, he played a cast role in the sitcom You Again? (1986) with Jack Klugman.

1987-95: Full House

In the late 1980s, ABC's Full House gradually became a hit, and the show solidified Stamos's career. He asked that the character's last name be Katsopolis to highlight his Greek heritage, according to show creator and executive producer Jeff Franklin. He played one of the show's protagonists, Jesse, who lives with his brother-in-law, whose deceased wife was Jesse's older sister. Danny's best friend, Joey, also lives in the house with them. The three help each other raise three young girls. Jesse is known to be the "bad boy" at first until he falls in love with and marries Rebecca Donaldson and has twin boys, Nicky and Alex. In 1995, after eight seasons, the series came to an end. Stamos has since maintained close relationships with co-stars Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, Lori Loughlin, Jodie Sweetin, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Andrea Barber, and Candace Cameron Bure.

1996-2009: Later career

Stamos has appeared in numerous made-for-television films, stage productions, television series, and commercials. He had starring roles in the television series Thieves (2001) and Jake in Progress (2005). Both shows ran for several episodes before cancellation. In 2003, Stamos guest-starred in Friends, appearing in the episode "The One with the Donor", playing a man who went to Chandler and Monica's apartment for dinner, not knowing he was actually being interviewed to be a sperm donor. Stamos was a guest star in a first-season episode of MTV's The Andy Milonakis Show (2005), playing himself. He took part in only one skit, which featured him in a tree, having rabies, and being put down by another character. In the A&E television movie Wedding Wars (2006), he starred as Shel, a gay wedding planner. He stated that his performance reflected his support for same-sex marriages.

He has made several voice acting appearances such as in the MTV animated series Clone High in the episode, "Changes: The Big Prom: The Sex Romp: The Season Finale", where he played himself, and as the What's Global Warming Penguin in Bob Saget's parody film Farce of the Penguins. In 2005, Stamos guest-starred in two episodes in season 12 of ER as paramedic-turned-intern Tony Gates. In 2006, at the start of ER's thirteenth season, he joined the cast of ER as a series regular. Executive producer John Wells said that he wanted him earlier the season before but Stamos was contracted with Jake in Progress. Shortly after that show was canceled, he was brought aboard as a series regular. In February 2008, Stamos appeared in the television adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun. In August 2008, he was the roast master for Comedy Central Roast Of Bob Saget.

2010-present: Grandfathered, Fuller House, and other ventures

On June 8, 2010, it was announced that Stamos would portray Carl Howell, a new love interest for Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays), in season two of the popular television show Glee. In 2011, Stamos guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and was featured in a CollegeHumor video with Bob Saget. Stamos also guest-starred as himself on Two and a Half Men as Charlie's old friend, who was interested in buying the house until he found out that the place was Charlie's.

Since 2011, Stamos has appeared in a series of commercials for Dannon's Greek yogurt brand Oikos; including his first Super Bowl commercial which was aired during Super Bowl 2012. In February 2012, it was reported that Stamos would take on one of the lead roles on the new Fox drama Little Brother. The series was created by Everybody Loves Raymond writer Mike Royce, and centers around a man who finds out that he has a long-lost half brother.

In March 2013, Stamos signed on in a recurring role on the USA Network drama Necessary Roughness, during season three. He played Connor McClane, the head of a sports and entertainment management company that is interested in hiring Dani. Stamos was to play the lead role in ABC's soap opera Members Only, but the network decided not to air the show.

In April 2015, Stamos announced on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that the streaming service Netflix would be picking up Full House for a 13-episode sequel, titled Fuller House, to start airing on February 26, 2016. In September, he began leading the cast of the Fox sitcom Grandfathered, also starring Josh Peck, Christina Milian, and Paget Brewster. In 2016, Stamos appeared in the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. In late 2016, he will join the Fox black comedy series Scream Queens in its season two premiere as series regular Dr. Brock Holt.

Music and theatre

Stamos started learning drums when he was four, then began to take up playing the guitar, and started his own band called Destiny. The band had paying concerts at some amusement parks and parties.

Independently

Stamos performed on an independently released 1994 album entitled Shades of Blue along with Lanny Cordola, Gary Griffin, Sandra Stephens, Tony Guerrero, and David Enos. Shades of Blue was re-released digitally through iTunes and other channels in 2010 after being long out-of-print. He appeared on Broadway as the emcee in Cabaret, and also in Nine and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Stamos performed the Billy Joel song "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" on the 2006 charity album Unexpected Dreams - Songs From the Stars.

On March 30, 2009, he announced that he would participate in the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie. Stamos won the 2009-10 Golden Icon Award for best actor in a musical for his performance in that production. Stamos was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 16, 2009. The star is located at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.

Stamos performed with John Fogerty on April 24, 2010, during one of the Tampa Bay Rays post-game concerts. Stamos rotated between the tambourine, drums, and bass guitar throughout the concert. In August 2011, Stamos performed in Hairspray at the Hollywood Bowl as Corny Collins, alongside an all-star cast.

On July 10, 2012, Stamos began performances on Broadway in Gore Vidal's The Best Man as Senator Joseph Cantwell. Stamos reprised his role as Jesse Katsopolis for a "Jesse and the Rippers" reunion on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on July 19, 2013. Played straight by host Fallon (who introduced the band as being from San Francisco and having a number one song in Japan), Stamos performed a medley of songs featured on Full House including "Forever" and the series' theme song "Everywhere You Look". Bob Saget and Lori Loughlin also made cameos.

In 2014, Stamos directed the music video "Let Yourself be Loved" for Nashville-based band Diamond Carter, featuring the band's front man Tyler Tuohy alongside actress Nicky Whelan. Stamos was also noted as a cowriter for the song, along with Michael Gigante, and the video was released on Yahoo Music on May 21, 2014.

The Beach Boys

Stamos has occasionally performed in concert with The Beach Boys, dating back to 1985, typically playing drums and various other percussion instruments. In 1988, he appeared in their video for "Kokomo", in which he played both the conga drums and the steel drums. In 1990, he played drums for them on the title track of the comedy Problem Child and also appearing in the song's music video.

In 1992, he sang lead vocals on a new version of "Forever" for their album Summer in Paradise. The song was originally written and sung by Beach Boy Dennis Wilson and released in 1970. The song was also featured twice on Full House. The first was a recording sung at his character's wedding, while the second was a recording sung for his character's twin sons. The 1992 music video, titled "Forever by Jesse and the Rippers", featured Stamos predominantly. Three of The Beach Boys members are however briefly shown singing harmonies with Stamos: Carl Wilson, Bruce Johnston, and Mike Love.

Since the 1990s, Stamos has regularly performed with The Beach Boys, such as during their summer tours, playing drums and guitar, and singing along on some of their hit songs, like "Forever", including:

• March 30, 2010, episode of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, playing drums, congas, and guitar, also touring with them that spring, including an appearance at Fort Myers, Florida
• June 2011 at a benefit concert for the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network
• Several appearances on their 50th Reunion Tour (April - September 2012)
• May 26, 2013, performed during a post-game concert at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio

Personal life

Stamos began dating model/actress Rebecca Romijn in 1994 after they met at a Victoria's Secret fashion show in which she was modeling. Stamos and Romijn became engaged on Christmas Eve 1997, and they married on September 19, 1998, at the Beverly Hills Hotel. They announced their separation in April 2004. Stamos filed for divorce in August 2004, and it became final on March 1, 2005.

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982-84	General Hospital	Blackie Parrish	Soap opera
1984	Dreams	Gino Minnelli	12 episodes
1985	Alice in Wonderland	Messenger	Movie
1986-87	You Again?	Matt Willows	Lead role (26 episodes)
1987-95	Full House	Jesse Katsopolis	Lead role (192 episodes)
1989	'	Jesse Katsopolis	Episode: "Guest Day"
1990	Daughter of the Streets	Joey	Movie
1991	Captive	Robert Knott	Movie
1993	'	Joe Seldon	Movie
	Tales from the Crypt	Johnny Canaparo	Episode: "Till Death Do We Part"
1994	Fatal Vows: The Alexandra O'Hara Story	Nick Pagan	Movie
1995/97	'	Himself	2 episodes
1997	Tracey Takes On...	Rob Trasca	Episode: "Movies"
	'	Tom Rosner	Movie
1998	'	Robert Walsh	Movie
1999	Sealed with a Kiss	Bennett Blake	Movie
2000	How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale	Tom Nathan	Movie
2001	Thieves	Johnny	Lead role (10 episodes)
2003	Clone High	Himself (voice)	Episode: "Changes: The Big Prom: The Sex Romp: The Season Finale"
	Friends	Zak	Episode: "The One with the Donor"
	'	John Sears	Movie
2005-06	Jake in Progress	Jake Phillips	Lead role (21 episodes)
2005-09	ER	Dr. Tony Gates	Lead role (65 episodes)
2006	Wedding Wars	Shel Grandy	Movie
2008	Comedy Central Roast Of Bob Saget	Himself/Roastmaster	Special
	'	Carl Lindner	Movie
	'	Andrew Kissel	Movie
2010	Entourage	Himself	Episode: "Tequila Sunrise"
2010-11	Glee	Dr. Carl Howell	4 episodes
2011	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Ken Turner	Episode: "Bang"
2011 2015	Two and a Half Men	Prospective House Buyer Himself	"Nice to Meet You, Walden Schmidt" "Of Course He's Dead"
2012	Secrets of Eden	Pastor Drew	Movie
2013	The New Normal	Brice	5 episodes
	Necessary Roughness	Connor McClane	10 episodes (season 3)
	Losing It with John Stamos	Himself/Host	Miniseries (19 episodes)
	I Am Victor	Victor	Unsold pilot
2015	Members Only	Randy	Canceled before premiere
	Galavant	Sir Jean Hamm	2 episodes
2015-16	Grandfathered	Jimmy Martino	Lead role (22 episodes)
2016-	Fuller House	Jesse Katsopolis	Netflix series; also executive producer of series
2016	Scream Queens	Dr. Brock Holt	Lead role (season 2) (10 episodes)

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986	Never Too Young to Die	Lance Stargrove
1991	Born To Ride	Cpl. Grady Westfall
2000	Dropping Out	Ronny
2001	My Best Friend's Wife	Steve Richards
2003	Party Monster	Talk Show Host
2004	I Am Stamos	Himself	Short film
	Knots	Cal Scoppa
2006	Farce of the Penguins	What's global warming Penguin	Voice role
2010	Father of Invention	Steven Leslie
2014	My Man Is a Loser	Mike
	They Came Together	Assistant Engineer	Cameo
2016	My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2	George

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Nominated work	Result
1982	Soapy Awards	Most Exciting New Actor	General Hospital
1983	Daytime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	General Hospital
1983	Young Artist Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	General Hospital
1984		Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (tie)	General Hospital
1985		Best Young Actor in a Television Comedy Series	Dreams
2016	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Actor in a New TV Series	Grandfathered