Remembering Bob Saget
Many are finding it hard to process the untimely death of Bob Saget on January 9. The comedian and actor widely known for his role as Danny Tanner on Full House was in Florida for the start of his I Don’t Do Negative comedy tour at the time. Saget had just performed the night before and tweeted about it.
“Loved tonight’s show @PV_ConcertHall in Jacksonville. Appreciative audience. Thanks again to @RealTimWilkins for opening. I had no idea I did a 2 hour set tonight. I’m happily addicted again to this s**t. Check BobSaget.com for my dates in 2022,” he shared on Twitter.
The next day, Saget was found unresponsive in his hotel room at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, and deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office pronounced him dead on the scene. “Detectives found no signs of foul play or drug use in this case,” states a post from the Sheriff’s Office. Saget was 65, and no cause of death has yet been released.
The Philadelphia native became a household name after landing Full House, which ran on ABC from 1987 to 1995, and his co-stars from the popular sitcom wasted no time in paying tribute. “Bob was the most loving, compassionate, and generous man,” stated Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who together played the role of Michelle Tanner. “We are deeply saddened that he is no longer with us but know that he will continue to be by our side to guide us as gracefully as he always has.”
Saget reprised his role of Danny for the Netflix sequel Fuller House, as did other original stars, who expressed their heartbreak over the news, as well. “I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete and utter shock. I will never ever have another friend like him. I love you so much Bobby,” John Stamos wrote on Twitter. “Bob was one of the best human beings I’ve ever known in my life,” Candace Cameron Bure asserted on the same platform. “I don’t want to say goodbye,” she added in an Instagram post.
Another sitcom on Saget’s long list of credits was How I Met Your Mother, which he narrated as the voice of future Ted Mosby. Josh Radnor, who played the onscreen iteration of the character in the popular CBS series, released a 7-part tribute to the late actor on Twitter. In it, Radnor shares how he felt “imposter syndrome” when first starting the show and that Saget’s support made all the difference. “This man that I’d delighted in seeing on TV for years [was] cheering me on, letting me know I had a right to be there and play that character … I can’t overstate how meaningful his words were,” Radnor wrote. “He also, true to form, told me jokes that I cannot tell here or in polite company.”
The late performer navigated the dichotomy of playing a wholesome father on Full House and hosting the family-friendly America’s Funniest Home Videos while also being known for the referenced raunchiness of his comedy. According to one tribute, Saget embodied both aspects of his work. “He had a big, big heart and a wonderfully warped comic mind,” Jim Carrey wrote on Twitter.
Saget’s standup specials included That Ain’t Right (2007), That’s What I’m Talking About (2013), and Zero to Sixty (2017). He also launched in April of 2020, Bob Saget’s Here For You, a podcast whose extensive guest list included names like Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Sudeikis, Tiffany Haddish, and John Mayer. B.J. Novak was on the podcast’s most recent episode, which just released on January 3.
After touring throughout last year, Saget’s new I Don’t Do Negative show kicked off in January and was planned to run through June before the news broke of his untimely death. He is survived by his wife, Kelly Rizzo, as well as three daughters from a previous marriage: Aubrey Saget, Lara Melanie Saget, and Jennifer Belle Saget.
“He was everything to us and we want you to know how much he loved his fans, performing live, and bringing people from all walks of life together with laughter,” said the Saget family in a statement. “Though we ask for privacy at this time, we invite you to join us in remembering the love and laughter that Bob brought to the world.”
