Dave Coulier

Dave Coulier

Coulier in 2010.
Born September 21, 1959
St. Clair Shores, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation Comedian, actor, impressionist, voice actor, television host
Years active 1979–present
Spouse(s) Jayne Modean
(1990–1992)
Melissa Bring
(2014–present)
Website
davecoulier.tv

David Alan "Dave" Coulier (born September 21, 1959)[1] is an American comedian, actor, impressionist, 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.[1] His mother's side of the family is from New Brunswick, and his paternal grandmother was a Jewish immigrant from Germany.[2] He got his start in stand up comedy in high school by impersonating his principal 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, playing defense alongside future NHL player John Blum. He briefly attended the University of Michigan but dropped out after his freshman year to pursue comedy.

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.[3] 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 season three of The Surreal Life. 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 in episode four.

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.[4]

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 has also been known to include harmonica playing in his act. Coulier's material is largely family-friendly, a position he has extended to his youth-oriented comedy website, cleanguys.TV.

In April 2008, Coulier was featured on 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 to Jayne Modean. They have one son, named Luc. Having divorced, he started dating Alanis Morissette, but they broke up shortly before she recorded her album, Jagged Little Pill.[5] 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".[6] Morissette has not confirmed the subject of her songs.[7] In 2005, Coulier began dating photographer and producer Melissa Bring.[8] They married on July 2, 2014 in Montana.[9]

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. In 2012, he did more flight training in a Cirrus SR20 to "keep current".[10] He is part of the Hat in the Ring Society to support the AOPA foundation, an organization that promotes safe flying.[11]

Coulier is an ice hockey fan, and participates in charity events with the Detroit Red Wings. He is also an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers and has played in a few celebrity softball games alongside fellow Tigers fan Tom Selleck.[12]

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Dave Coulier". TVGuide.com. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  2. ↑ Pollak, Kevin; Coulier, Dave (2010-01-10). Kevin Pollak Chat Show. Interview with Kevin Pollak.
  3. ↑ Anderson, Cheryl (October 7, 2009). "Coulier on ABC's Full House". pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  4. ↑ "TELUS, news, headlines, stories, breaking, entertainment, music, movies". Beta.mytelus.com. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
  5. ↑ "Alanis Morissette marries rapper boyfriend". CBC News. June 7, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Interview With Coulier". clevelandleader.com. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  7. ↑ "Alanis Morissette reveals secret self in songs". .canada.com. 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  8. ↑ Billups, Andrea; Nahas, Aili (June 11, 2014). "Full House's Dave Coulier Is Engaged to Melissa Bring". People. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  9. ↑ Blumm, K.C.; Dyball, Rennie (July 2, 2014). "Dave Coulier Is Married!". People. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  10. ↑ "AOPA Summit - 10 Questions for Dave Coulier".
  11. ↑ "Uncle Joey is a pilot". Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "Q&A: Detroit celebrity and Red Wings’ fan, Dave Coulier ’77 (NDHS)" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-03-26.

External links