John Stamos

John Phillip Stamos (pronounced /ˈsteɪmoʊs/ STAY-mohs; born August 19, 1963) is an American actor best known for his work in television, especially as Uncle Jesse on the ABC sitcom Full House. Since the cancellation of that show in 1995, Stamos has appeared in numerous television films and series. From 2006 to 2009, Stamos had a starring role on the NBC medical drama ER. In September 2009, he began playing the role of Albert in the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie.

Early life and career

Stamos was born in Cypress, California, the son of Loretta (née Phillips), a model, and Bill Stamos, a fast food restauranteur. Stamos began his acting career with a role on the television show General Hospital as Blackie Parrish, for which he received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1984. Then General Hospital casting director Gary Price noted that Stamos did not read for any particular parts.[citation needed] His stint on General Hospital got him noticed with daytime viewers, but by 1984 Stamos decided to move on when he auditioned for, and got the lead role, in a short-lived CBS sitcom called Dreams, in which he played an aspiring American musician.

Full House

Stamos backstage at the Emmy Awards, 1990

This section requires expansion.

ABC's Full House gradually became a hit, and the show solidified Stamos's career. In the first season, his character's full name was credited as Jesse Cochran. During the second season he then changed his character's last name to Katsopolis to highlight his Greek heritage, according to Jeff Franklin. He played Jesse who lived with his brother in-law Danny (Bob Saget), whose deceased wife was Jesse's sister. He helped raise his young nieces DJ, Michelle, and Stephanie. He was known to be the "bad boy" at first, until he fell in love with and married Rebecca Donaldson-Katsopolis and had twin boys Nicholas and Alexander, better known as Nicky and Alex. Although the series was canceled after eight seasons, he still maintains a close relationship with his costars, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

Post Full House

Since the show's cancellation, Stamos has appeared in numerous made-for-television films, stage productions, television series and commercials. He had starring roles in the television series Thieves (2001), and Jake in Progress (2005). Both shows ran for several episodes before cancellation. In 2003, Stamos guest-starred in Friends. He appeared in the episode The One with the Donor, playing Zach, a friend that Chandler brings home to use as a potential sperm donor. John Stamos played a handsome man that went to Chandler and Monica's apartment for dinner, little did he know he was being interviewed to be a sperm donor.

In the controversial A&E television movie Wedding Wars (2006), he starred as Shel, a gay wedding planner. He stated that his performance reflected his support for same-sex marriages. He has made several voice acting appearances such as in the MTV animated series Clone High in the episode, Changes: The Big Prom: The Sex Romp: The Season Finale, where he played himself, and as the What's Global Warming Penguin in Bob Saget's parody film Farce of the Penguins.

In 2006, Stamos guest starred in 2 episodes in season 12 of ER as paramedic-turned-intern Tony Gates. In 2006, at the start of ER's thirteenth season, he joined the cast of ER as a series regular. Executive producer John Wells reported how he wanted him earlier the season before but Stamos was contracted with Jake in Progress. Shortly after that show was canceled, Stamos was brought aboard as a series regular.

In February 2008, Stamos appeared in the television adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun. In August 2008, Stamos was announced as Roastmaster of The Roast of Bob Saget on Comedy Central.

His most current work is Broadway's Bye Bye Birdie.

Music and theater

Stamos also has an active music career, having appeared on Broadway as the Emcee in Cabaret, and also in Nine and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. He is also proficient at the drums, keyboards, guitar, bass and various percussion instruments. In 1990, he played drums and recorded with The Beach Boys on the title track of the comedy Problem Child. Stamos had appeared in the music video for The Beach Boys's 1988 hit "Kokomo", playing the conga. He later appeared singing lead vocals on the song "Forever" (written by Dennis Wilson) on their 1992 album Summer in Paradise. Stamos also played in the band The Signals. He continues to tour with The Beach Boys (usually as a drummer), appearing with them on the March 30, 2010 episode of ABC's Dancing With The Stars. In that appearance, Stamos played drums, congos, and guitar. Stamos toured with the Beach Boys in the spring of 2010, including an appearance at Fort Meyers, Florida.

Stamos performed the Billy Joel song "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" on the 2006 charity album Unexpected Dreams – Songs From the Stars.

On March 30, 2009, he announced that he would participate in the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie.[8] Stamos won the 2009-2010 Golden Icon Award for best actor in a musical for his performance in the 2009 Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie.

Personal life

During his appearance on General Hospital, he dated actress Tracie Childs. Stamos then dated singer and choreographer Paula Abdul before citing the media's interference as the reason for their separation. In 1994, he met Rebecca Romijn at a Victoria's Secret fashion show, where she was modeling. Two months later, the pair began dating. On September 19, 1998, the couple married. The couple separated in April 2004 and divorced on March 1, 2005.

In 2007, Stamos arrived in Australia for a promotional tour. He appeared on a sketch on The Nation and an interview on Mornings with Kerri-Anne during which his behavior was erratic, once referring to a reporter's bad review of his acting as a direct outpouring of the reporter's insecurities around his tiny wiener. A spokesperson for the network initially told reporters that it was due to jet-lag, but Stamos later states that it was in fact due to Ambien, a prescription sleeping medication.In an interview with Brandon Voss of The Advocate in October 2009, Stamos finally admitted that he had been "plastered" during the Mornings with Kerri-Anne interview, blaming his previous excuses on publicists.

Stamos was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 16, 2009.

On November 28th, 2009 Stamos was the target in an extortion plot by Marquette, Michigan residents Allison Lenore Coss and Scott Edward Sippola.According to an FBI affidavit, Coss had photos from 2004 of Stamos at a party in Florida that Sippola claimed would severely injure his reputation. The blackmailers then demanded Stamos purchase the pictures for $680,000 or they would sell them to the tabloids. FBI agent Leslie Hahn, acting as a friend of Stamos agreed to meet with the extorters, who identified themselves as "Brian L," arrested the two on December 7th, 2009 at a money drop location at K.I. Sawyer International Airport. They obtained the three photographs and a piece of paper with Stamos's cell phone number, and the names and numbers of three tabloids. Sippola is the owner of the nightclub The Matrix and the adjoining Skyboxx, where Coss also worked.

Stamos also frequently drums for The Beach Boys when they tour during the summer. He usually gets to sing Dennis Wilson's "Forever" during the set. "Forever" was also featured on Full House as a video in which Stamos also sings with his band and to his twins on the show, Becky and his wedding, and at the hotel when he was ignoring them

His family's last name was originally Stamotopoulos (Greek: Σταμοτόπουλος) but his grandparents shortened the name to Stamos after they moved to the United States from Greece.

Music

Forever The music was made for the Stamos character in the TV series, Full House. John performed the song in the episode where Jesse Katsopolis, his character, demonstrates the video clip of the song to the family.

Stamos performed with John Fogerty on April 24, 2010 during one of the Tampa Bay Rays Post-Game Concerts.

Filmography

Year Title Role Other notes

1986 Never Too Young to Die Lance Stargrove

1991 Born to Ride Cpl. Grady Westfall

1997 Private Parts Himself Cameo appearance

2000 Dropping Out Ronny

2001 My Best Friend's Wife Steve Richards

2002 Femme Fatale Cheesy Agent Cameo appearance

2003 Party Monster Talk Show Host

2004 I Am Stamos Himself Short film

Knots Cal Scoppa

2007 Farce of the Penguins What's Global Warming Penguin Voice role

Direct-to-DVD release

2010 Father of Invention post-production

Television

Year Title Role Other notes

1982 General Hospital Blackie Parrish 1982–1984

1984 Dreams Gino Minnelli 12 episodes

1985 Alice in Wonderland Messenger TV movie

1986 You Again? Matt Willows 26 episodes

1987 Full House Jesse Katsopolis 192 episodes, 1987–1995

1989 The New Mickey Mouse Club 1 episode: "Guest Day"

1990 Daughter of the Streets Joey TV movie

1991 Captive Robert Knott TV movie

1992 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Jesse Katsopolis 1 episode: "Hangin' with Michelle"

1993 The Disappearance of Christina Joe Seldon TV movie

Tales from the Crypt Johnny 1 episode: "Till Death Do We Part"

1994 Fatal Vows: The Alexandra O'Hara Story Nick Pagan TV movie

1997 Tracey Takes On... Rob Trasca 1 episode: "Movies"

A Match Made in Heaven Tom Rosner TV movie

1998 The Marriage Fool Robert Walsh TV movie

1999 Sealed with a Kiss Bennett Blake TV movie

2000 Fortunate Son Unsold TV pilot

The Beach Boys: An American Family Drummer TV miniseries

Uncredited role/Executive producer

Emmy Award nomination - "Outstanding Miniseries"

How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale Tom Nathan TV movie

2001 Thieves Johnny 10 episodes

2003 Friends Zach 1 episode: "The One With the Donor"

The Reagans John Sears TV movie

2005 The Andy Milonakis Show Himself 1 episode: Season 1, Episode 3

Jake in Progress Jake Phillips 21 episodes, 2005–2006

ER Dr. Tony Gates 65 episodes, 2005–2009

2006 Wedding Wars Shel Grandy TV movie

2008 A Raisin in the Sun Karl Lindner TV movie

The Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget Himself TV special

The Two Mr.Kissels Andrew Kissel TV movie

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards

1983: Nominated, "Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series" - General Hospital

Emmy Awards

2000: Nominated, "Outstanding Miniseries" - The Beach Boys: An American Family (shared w/producers)

Golden Icon Awards

2009-2010: Won, "Best Actor, Musical" - Bye Bye Birdie

Soapy Awards

1983: Won, "Most Exciting New Actor" - General Hospital

TV Land Awards

2004: Nominated, "Quintessential Non-Traditional Family" - Full House (shared w/castmembers)

2007: Won, "Favorite Elvis Impersonation" - Full House

Young Artist Awards

1983: Nominated, "Best Young Actor in a Daytime Series" - General Hospital

1984: Won, "Best Young Actor in a Daytime Series" - General Hospital