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Dave Coulier on Loss, Alcoholism and How He Almost Extinguished the Fire of Faith

Pure Flix

Dave Coulier on Loss, Alcoholism and How He Almost Extinguished the Fire of Faith

By Movieguide® Contributor

Comedian and actor Dave Coulier, known for his role as Joey Gladstone in FULL HOUSE and FULLER HOUSE, recently opened up to CBN about loss, alcoholism and faith.

Known for his friendship with FULL HOUSE co-star Bob Saget, Coulier described how the two became friends: “I had been doing standup comedy…I started when I was 18, and I’d only been doing standup a couple of weeks, but I thought I was pretty good,” Coulier said. “[Then] there was a club a comedy night…here in Detroit, Michigan.”

Saget happened to be at the club that night, and after exchanging numbers, the two reconnected in Los Angeles, where Saget let Coulier sleep on his couch.

“Bob and I just became instant brothers, and then art imitates life,” Coulier said. “I end up doing ‘Full House’ with Bob. And [my character] Joey moves into [Saget’s character] Danny Tanner’s living room and sleeps on his couch.”

The two remained friends until Saget’s death earlier this year.

As Movieguide® previously reported, Coulier reflected, “We made each other laugh. And, you know, it was me, Bob and [the late] Garry Shandling, and Saget always had a three-way calling, so the three of us would be on the road, and Bob always would patch me and Garry in, and we were like three fifth graders.”

After Saget’s death, Coulier relied on his faith and community.

“I grew up in a very Catholic community here in…the suburbs of Detroit, in a very large, Catholic family,” he explained. “So the beauty of that is that I always had wonderful people to lean on through tough times.”

While Coulier also struggled with alcohol abuse for a time, he thankfully got sober before some of the most significant losses occurred in his life. Within 12 months, Coulier’s brother killed himself, his father passed away and Saget died.

“I always equate my faith to a fire that’s burning inside of you, and I almost extinguished that fire because of my abuse with alcohol,” he shared.

During that time of loss, “The only thing I could think was, ‘Thank goodness I don’t have alcohol in my life that is extinguishing that fire which is my faith. And I was able to feel those raw emotions, which I never would have felt had I been abusing alcohol—and I was in touch with myself spiritually.”

“So, for me, it was allowing that flame to ignite again and to find my spirituality, and it helped me through all of that,” he continued.

For those struggling right now, Coulier encourages them, “Don’t forget to laugh. Laughter is such an amazing gift. It can heal you. It can give you perspective.”

Coulier brings that perspective in his new Pure Flix show, LIVE+LOCAL.

According to the Movieguide® review:

LIVE+LOCAL is a six-episode TV sitcom on the Pure Flix streaming outlet. The series focuses on the conflicts, troubles and interplay between Tommy Murphy and Tina Knott, the co-hosts of a morning radio show on a struggling Christian radio station somewhere in Middle America. The morning show includes comical bits and interviews with real Christian artists, comics and authors. When the long-time owner hires a new program director, Tommy and Tina fear the station will be sold to a conglomerate that will end original programming. Stand-up comic and actor Dave Coulier [“Coo-lee-yay”], star of the popular 90s sitcom FULL HOUSE, plays Tommy, and Emily Pendergast of HBO’s Emmy winning VEEP sitcom, plays Tina.

LIVE+LOCAL is a fun and funny, faith-filled sitcom that’s filmed like a mockumentary. As the heart of the program, Coulier and Pendergast work well together. The series builds to a heartwarming, satisfying climax in the last two episodes. The episodes are aided by great, inspiring interviews with two Christians, veteran stand-up comic Jeff Allen and THE CHOSEN creator Dallas Jenkins. Besides promoting faith and family, LIVE+LOCAL extols forgiveness and compassionate capitalism.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.