“Full House” star and metro Detroit native Dave Coulier has opened up on social media about being a recovering alcoholic.
“I was a drunk. Yes. An alcoholic. I’ve been alcohol free since January 1, 2020,” wrote Coulier in an Instagram post Thursday, sharing in frank terms with his 1.2 million followers how drinking had affected his life.
The 62-year-old comedian and actor, best known for his long-running role as Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom that ran from 1987 to 1995, described himself as “the life of the party” when he drank and posted a photo of himself with a bloodied nose and face.
“I could make people laugh until they fell down. In this picture I was the one who fell down. Not because I was playing hockey or doing the things I love — like chopping wood or doing construction, golfing, fishing or flying airplanes. I was hammered and fell, going up some stairs made of stone.”
Coulier continued: “The 8 hours of drinking, laughter and funny stupidity was followed by two days of feeling like a bowl of dog mess. I loved booze, but it didn’t love me back. I decided to make a decision for my own well-being, my family and for those around me who I love so dearly.”
Calling the mental and physical withdrawal process “big challenges,” Coulier thanked his wife, photographer Melissa Coulier, “for being by my side” and wrote that the change to sobriety “has been amazing”.
An alum of Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods who attended the University of Michigan before leaving to focus on comedy, Coulier has always kept close ties to Detroit and rooted for the city’s sports teams, particularly the Red Wings.
Coulier moved back to his hometown region a few years ago. In 2021, an honorary street sign for “Dave Coulier Way” was unveiled on Lange Street in St. Clair Shores, where he spent his childhood.
Coulier’s “Full House” co-star John Stamos showed support for Coulier online, commenting on his post, “Proud of you brother!” So did another “Full House” favorite, Candace Cameron Bure, who wrote, “Love you and always proud of you.”
His wife, Melissa, shared this comment: “SO proud of you. I love you and your strength so much!!”
In addition to “Full House,” Coulier appeared on the Netflix spinoff “Fuller House,” which ran from 2016 to 2020. He has done voice work for numerous animated TV shows, including “Robot Chicken” and “American Dad!.”
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Coulier turned to Instagram in January to express his grief at the death of Bob Saget, who played the lead role of Danny Tanner on “Full House.”
“I met Bob when I was 18 years old,” wrote Coulier in a caption to a number of photos through the years of him and Saget. “I didn’t know then that two, struggling standup comics would end up being brothers forever.”
During a 2020 episode of his podcast “Bob Saget’s Here For You,” Saget talked to Coulier about their first meeting as young comics at a Ferndale club named Delta Lady.
Coulier, who was an 18-year-old newcomer at the time, said meeting Saget and watching him perform was a pivotal moment in his life. Saget gave Coulier his phone number and told him to call if he went to Los Angeles.
Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.