Dave Coulier's 'Full House' Character's Last Name Originated from a Stoner Joke

Dave Coulier, the actor behind Joey Gladstone in 'Full House,' revealed the origin of his character's last name in a recent podcast episode. Brace yourself for a laugh-out-loud story!

Dave Coulier, the beloved actor who played Joey Gladstone in the hit sitcom 'Full House,' recently shared a hilarious tale about how his character's unique last name came to be. On an episode of his podcast, "Full House Rewind," Coulier explained that he was given the freedom to choose his character's last name.

"I got to pick my own last name. Did you know that?" he told guest Debra Stipe, who appeared in several episodes of 'Full House' as Cindy.

Serendipity struck when series creator Jeff Franklin expressed his struggle to find a suitable last name for Joey. Without hesitation, Coulier suggested "Gladstone," eliciting a hearty laugh from Franklin, who immediately gave his approval.

Stipe's curiosity was piqued, and she inquired about the meaning behind the peculiar name. Coulier's response was a testament to his comedic nature: "I always thought it was a funny name. It was almost like, ‘I’m glad that I’m stoned.’ You know, I’m a comedian, so that was what I thought."

Franklin's amusement sealed the deal, and the name "Gladstone" became synonymous with Joey's character.

Coulier's journey to sobriety has been inspiring. In 2022, he took to Instagram to celebrate two years of sobriety, sharing a poignant throwback photo of himself bruised and bloodied from a drunken night.

"I was a drunk. Yes. An alcoholic," Coulier confessed in a heartfelt caption. "I’ve been alcohol-free since January 1, 2020."

Despite his past struggles, Coulier remains grateful for the love and support of his family and friends. He acknowledges the challenges of withdrawal, both mentally and physically, but emphasizes the profound impact his decision to embrace sobriety has had on his well-being.

The original 'Full House' sitcom, which aired from 1987 to 1995, featured an ensemble cast that included Coulier, the late Bob Saget, John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodi Sweetin, Andrea Barber, and the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley.

Despite its initial critical reception, the show gained immense popularity as it progressed. Coulier recalls the early negative reviews but acknowledges the critics' subsequent change of heart.

"When you start a show, you are just kind of doing the best show possible, and you are trying to please people," Coulier shared with Fox News Digital. "You are trying to make them laugh and tell a story. Where we got panned by critics our first season, The Washington Post's Tom Shales hated us. He said it was a ‘Three Men and a Baby’ rip-off. And then those people later on took it back."

In March, Coulier expressed his desire to reboot the show in honor of Saget, whose untimely death in January 2023 left a profound void in the 'Full House' family.

"I would love to do ‘Fullest House,’ where maybe it's like all of us as adults, and we're kind of like the ‘Friends’ cast where we sit around and talk. And we share moments. And we keep Bob's legacy alive," Coulier said.

The proposed reboot would not only pay tribute to Saget but also provide a heartwarming reunion for the beloved cast and their loyal fans.