John Stamos explains why he hasn’t shaved his head to support his longtime friend and Full House costar Dave Coulier, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
The Emmy-nominated actor, 61, spoke with TMZ On Thursday, he was criticized for wearing a bald cap in images posted on social media opposite Coulier, 65, who has shaved his head while he undergoes chemotherapy amid his battle with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The Cypress, California native told the outlet, “I have to work next week — I’m doing a new show,” as he made his way from a terminal to a parking garage at LAX.
Stamos spoke about the topic two days after a source told Ny Breaking.com that Stamos is “currently working on ‘Palm Royale, an Apple TV drama’ for which he needs hair… otherwise he would shave off his hair in a heartbeat.” ‘
Stamos played Jesse Katsopolis and Coulier played Joey Gladstone on the ABC series Full House from 1987 to 1995, and on the Netflix reboot Fuller House from 2016 to 2020.
Following Coulier’s recent diagnosis, Stamos traveled to Detroit to support him after a chemotherapy session.
John Stamos, 61, has explained why he hasn’t shaved his head in support of longtime friend and Full House costar Dave Coulier, 65, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Pictured in NYC in July
The Emmy-nominated actor spoke to TMZ on Thursday after he was criticized for wearing a bald cap in images posted to social media opposite Coulier.
Stamos said that while on his way to visit Coulier, he learned that his childhood friend Mike Owen had suffered a fatal heart attack.
“What happened…I flew across the country to be with my brother,” Stamos said. ‘While I’m on the plane, I get a text: my best friend of 11 years old is dying of a heart attack. But I’m not going to show that to Dave, I told him, but I said it was done, and I cried silently.”
Stamos said he was aware that Coulier “wanted me to come and shave his head” and since he couldn’t shave his for business reasons, he still tried to show a show of solidarity with his friend.
“I already knew it, so I brought the bald cap from the studio,” Stamos said.
Stamos said he was “shocked” and “embarrassed” when he heard of the backlash online over images of him in the bald cap opposite Coulier.
“I couldn’t figure it out, I’m still not 100 percent sure,” Stamos said. “God bless everyone, I don’t watch things – I swear, usually I don’t – but this one really hurt me, mainly because I didn’t understand it.
“The thing is, I’m just ashamed of people for wasting time on this when all I did was cheer up a friend.”
Stamos said that instead of focusing their energy on him, they should focus on maintaining their health, which has been “Dave’s message” all along.
Stamos said he was aware that Coulier “wanted me to come and shave his head” and since he couldn’t shave his for business reasons, he still tried to show a show of solidarity with his friend.
Some fans were put off by the gesture Stamos made, but he refused to apologize for it and told them to refocus their energy on health awareness, which was Coulier’s message.
“What they should do instead of making crazy videos or making comments, they should call their doctors and make an appointment,” Stamos said.
Stamos would not apologize for the gesture after it rubbed some the wrong way.
“I started saying I’m sorry — I’m not sorry,” Stamos said. “I’m sorry I got sucked into the cancer culture, you know.”
Stamos said he had an “incredible” time supporting Coulier, adding: “We laughed and cried, watched old movies and told stories – it was a beautiful thing.”
Coulier said last week that he used a group text to tell his Full House colleagues that he was battling cancer. He told it People On Wednesday, he received an “immediate” response after telling his fellow players about his cancer diagnosis.
The St. Clair Shores, Michigan-born actor told the publication, “I didn’t want them to hear it from anyone else, so I texted them.”
Coulier said the group text is composed of show creator Jeff Franklin and costars Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber and Scott Weinger.
“It was just this outpouring of, ‘I’ll be there.’ Just name the time and I know you’ll be in good hands [wife Melissa Bring] but what can we do?” he said.
Coulier discussed his diagnosis with Hoda Kotb on the Today Show on November 13
Coulier sent a group text to a thread that included (L-R) Candace Cameron Bure, Andrea Barber, Jodie Sweetin, Lori Loughlin and John Stamos. Pictured on Stamos’ Instagram in 2019
Coulier, who has also worked on hit shows like Robot Chicken, How I Met Your Mother and It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, said of the show’s inner circle: “It’s really overwhelming the love we have for each other.
“We’ve been there for each other for so many years and it’s pretty remarkable.”
Coulier said the cast’s bonds have been strong in the nearly three years since Bob Saget’s death in January 2022 at age 65.
“I think we value not only our lives together, but our lives together,” he said. “We appreciate those good times and the positive moments we were able to share. And I think that rubs off on other people, and it’s just positive.
“There’s not a lot of negatives when I’m with that group of people. It’s really just laughter and positivity, and appreciating so much what we have in our lives and the people around us.”
Coulier told the outlet that Stamos visited him after undergoing chemotherapy: “I can’t wait for him to come visit, November 15th, I’m getting chemo treatment,” Coulier said. “November 16th, John will be here.”
He said of Stamos, “He says, ‘If you just want to sleep, I’ll just sit with you or if you want to listen to music or just talk, whatever.’ And I’m like, ‘Wow. That’s like a brother. That’s really a brother.'”
Coulier, who discussed his diagnosis with Hoda Kotb on the Today Show on November 13, told the publication that he was diagnosed last month after dealing with an upper respiratory infection.
The series’ cast, including the late Bob Saget, was photographed in LA in January 2017
“I went from, I got a little cold and got cancer, and it was pretty overwhelming,” Coulier told the outlet. “This has really been a fast roller coaster ride of a journey.”
Coulier, father of son Luc, 34, with ex-wife Jayne Modean, said he had fun making his Full House Rewind podcast as he “never watched” the show during its initial run.
‘I understand. I understand,” Coulier said. “I understand why kids loved it so much, why families loved it so much and why it has become so cross-generational. It has really wonderful elements for children and families.”
He said the show’s overwhelming message of love, respect and strong effort resonates throughout the episodes.
“I didn’t really understand that when we did the show because it was so intense to make 192 episodes, but I get it now,” Coulier said. ‘I can actually be so much more objective when I have a son experiencing family moments, raising a child. It just all makes sense to me.
“Now I think, ‘Oh, now I see what was in the Kool-Aid. I get it.’