John Stamos

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Stamos

Stamos, circa 1990
Born John Phillip Stamos
August 19, 1963 (1963-08-19) (age 44)
Cypress, California
Spouse(s) Rebecca Romijn (1997-2005) (divorced)
Official website

John Phillip Stamos (IPA: /ˈsteɪmoʊs/ born August 19, 1963) is an Emmy Award-winning American television/stage actor. He is known for his role as Jesse Katsopolis on the ABC comedy series Full House; he can now be seen as Tony Gates on the NBC drama series ER.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Stamos was born in Cypress, California, the son of Loretta (née Phillips) and Bill Stamos, a fast food restaurateur.[1] Stamos has two younger sisters, Alaina and Janeen who both work as school teachers. He began learning drums at the age of four. When he was 13 he started a rock band with a couple of his friends and named the band Destiny. The band was able to get paying gigs at parties and local amusement parks. Prior to that, Stamos had enjoyed putting on puppet and magic shows, and making movies with the family movie camera as a child. After a high school field trip to a taping of Happy Days, he decided to focus on a career in show business. [2]

[edit] Early Career

Stamos began his acting career with a role on the television show General Hospital as Blackie Parrish. Then General Hospital casting director Gary Price noted that Stamos did not read for any particular parts.[citation needed] His stint on General Hospital got him noticed with daytime viewers, but by 1984 Stamos decided to move on when he auditioned for, and got the lead role, in a short-lived CBS sitcom called Dreams, in which he played an aspiring rock musician.

Stamos kept up television guest appearances until he landed a starring role opposite Jack Klugman in the NBC sitcom You Again?, in which he played Klugman's 17 year-old-son who had come back to live with him after many years. This series lasted exactly one year, and upon its cancellation, Stamos was approached by producer Jeff Franklin about a new comedy pilot for ABC, which eventually became Full House.

[edit] Full House

Stamos signed on originally as Adam Cochran, but he then changed the first name to Jesse before taping the premiere. Full House gradually became a hit, and the show solidified Stamos' career. During the second season he then changed his character's last name to Katsopolis to highlight his Greek heritage, according to Jeff Franklin.

After the eighth season of Full House, ABC decided to drop the show from their lineup. The ninth season was picked up by the WB Network, and consequently, Stamos announced his departure from the show.[citation needed] Concerned over the loss of such a major character, the Full House producers opted not to continue the series.

[edit] Post Full House

Stamos as Tony Gates in ER
Stamos as Tony Gates in ER

Since the show's cancellation, 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. He appeared in the episode The One with the Donor, playing Zach, a friend that Chandler brings home to use as a potential sperm donor.

In the controversial A&E television movie Wedding Wars (2006), he starred as Shel, a gay wedding planner. He stated that his performance reflected his personal support of same-sex marriages. [3] 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 2006, he joined the cast of ER as paramedic-turned-intern Tony Gates.

In February 2008 Stamos appeared in the television adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun.

[edit] Music and theater

Stamos also has an active music career, having occasionally toured as a drummer and backing vocalist with The Beach Boys, and having appeared on Broadway as the Emcee in Cabaret, and also in Nine and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. He is known for singing the lead vocal in the Beach Boys song Forever on the 1992 album Summer in Paradise. He played in the band The Signals.

[edit] Personal life

The actor has had several notable girlfriends. During his appearance on General Hospital, he dated actress Demi Moore. Following this, he dated actress Lori Loughlin, who would later become his television wife on Full House. [4] Stamos then dated singer and choreographer Paula Abdul before citing the media's interference as the reason for their separation[5].

In 1994, he met Rebecca Romijn at a Victoria's Secret fashion show, where she was modeling. Two months later, the pair began dating. [6] On September 19, 1998, the couple married. They were officially divorced on March 1, 2005.

Stamos is good friends with South Park co-creator Matt Stone.[7]

In 2007, Stamos arrived in Australia for a promotional tour. He appeared on a sketch on The Nation and an interview on Mornings with Kerri-Anne during which his behavior was erratic. A spokesperson for the network initially told reporters that it was due to jet-lag, however Stamos later states that it was in fact due to Ambien, a prescription sleeping medication.[8]

[edit] Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Other 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
2002 Femme Fatale Cheesy Agent Cameo Appearance
2003 Party Monster Talk Show Host
2004 I Am Stamos Himself Short film
Knots Cal Scoppa
2007 Farce of the Penguins What's Global Warming Penguin Voice Role
Direct-to-DVD Release
Television
Year Title Role Notes
19821984 General Hospital Blackie Parrish
1984 Dreams Gino Minnelli
1985 Alice in Wonderland Messenger CBS TV-Movie
1986 You Again? Matt Willows
19871995 Full House Jesse Katsopolis
1989 The New Mickey Mouse Club Episode: Guest Day
1990 Daughter of the Streets Joey ABC TV-Movie
1991 Captive Robert Knott ABC TV-Movie
1992 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Jesse Katsopolis Episode: Hangin' with Michelle
1993 The Disappearance of Christina Joe Seldon TV-Movie
Tales from the Crypt Johnny Episode: Till Death Do We Part
1994 Fatal Vows: The Alexandra O'Hara Story Nick Pagan TV-Movie
1997 Tracey Takes On... Rob Trasca Episode: Movies
A Match Made in Heaven Tom Rosner TV-Movie
1998 The Marriage Fool Robert Walsh TV-Movie
1999 Sealed with a Kiss Bennett Blake TV-Movie
2000 Fortunate Son Unsold TV-Pilot
The Beach Boys: An American Family Drummer Uncredited Role/Executive Prodcuer
ABC Miniseries
How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale Tom Nathan FOX TV-Movie
2001 Thieves Johnny
2003 Friends Zach Episode: The One With the Donor
The Reagans John Sears CBS TV-Movie
2006 Wedding Wars Shel Grandy A&E Network TV-Movie
2005 The Andy Milonakis Show Himself Episode: 1.3
20052006 Jake in Progress Jake Phillips
2005–present ER Dr. Tony Gates
2008 A Raisin in the Sun Karl Lindner ABC TV-Movie

[edit] Awards & Nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards

  • 1983: Nominated, "Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series" - General Hospital

Emmy Awards

  • 2000: Nominated, "Outstanding Miniseries" - The Beach Boys: An American Family (shared w/producers)

Soapy Awards

  • 1983: Won, "Most Exciting New Actor" - General Hospital

TV Land Awards

  • 2004: Nominated, "Quintessential Non-Traditional Family" - Full House (shared w/castmembers)
  • 2007: Won, "Favorite Elvis Impersonation" - Full House

Young Artist Awards

  • 1983: Nominated, "Best Young Actor in a Daytime Series" - General Hospital
  • 1984: Won, "Best Young Actor in a Daytime Series" - General Hospital
  • 1985: Nominated, "Best Young Actor in a Television Comedy Series" - Dreams

[edit] References

[edit] External links