Bob Sagetepitomized the definition of a family man when he playedDanny TanneronFull House— and that fatherly role also carried into his real-life relationships with the cast, according to his college friend.
Bruce Hamilton, who attended Temple University in Philadelphia with Saget, tells PEOPLE that the beloved actor — whodied Sunday at the age of 65— never hesitated when it came to prioritizing his loved ones.
“He was a family guy,” says Hamilton, who currently works as a news anchor for WJXT, a news station in Jacksonville, Florida. “He put his family first.”
Hamilton says the late actor also valued his relationships with his on-screen children, including hisFull Housedaughters,Candace Cameron Bure,Jodie SweetinandMary-KateandAshley Olsen.
Saget’s college friend continues, “He helped raise them, and some of the other people on the show, as well. He didn’t have an ego. He wasn’t Hollywood. He was very grounded.”
Bob Saget with Bruce Hamilton.News4Jax
Just days before Saget’s death, Hamilton had reconnected with Saget foran interview on WJXT, during which they chatted about their college days and what ended up being the comedian’s final show in Ponte Vedra Beach, outside of Jacksonville.
Hamilton says he and Saget previously wanted to get together, but were unable to due to Saget’s “quick turnaround” and the news anchor’s plans for his daughter’s 17th birthday.
Before ending their interview, the friends vowed to make “definitive plans to get together” later this month when the comedian had scheduled shows in West Palm Beach.
“I was just shocked beyond belief,” he adds. “Even right now, I don’t want to believe it. I know that he was so happy to be back on the road, so happy to be doing stand up, so happy to be testing his material because he had a comedy special in the works. And he’d been doing a podcast, but hadn’t been on the road because of COVID realities. So it was his dream to be back in front of a live audience. And to have that cut short is just devastating.”
Saget wasfound deadin his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando on Sunday, just one day after performing stand-up at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.
“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,” the family statement read. “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.”
In the wake of the news, the cast ofFull House— including Cameron Bure, Sweetin, the Olsens,John Stamos,Dave Coulier,Lori Loughlin,Andrea Barber,Scott Weingerand series creator Jeff Franklin — paid tribute to Saget ina joint statementpostedon Instagram.
The cast of Full House.Dave Coulier/Instagram
The group’s statement continued, “He was a brother to us guys, a father to us girls and a friend to all of us. Bob, we love you dearly. We ask in Bob’s honor, hug the people you love. No one gave better hugs than Bob.”
Saget’sFuller Housecostars alsopaid tribute, calling the late actor “the true patriarch of Fuller House.”
“He was such a wonderful and kind man,“Elias Harger, who played Danny Tanner’s grandson Max, wrote in his post, in part. “Even though I was new to the Full House/Fuller House family, he welcomed me and the other kids with open arms.”
“He will always be my Grandpa Danny,” he continued. “I will miss him a lot. I’m literally in shock.”
Devan Stuart Lesley
source: people.com
