Jodie Leanne Sweetin was born an only child on Jan. 19, 1982 in Los Angeles, CA, beginning her show business career at only four years old when she appeared in an Oscar Mayer hot dog commercial. A subsequent guest spot on “The Hogan Family” (NBC/CBS, 1986-1991) introduced her to members of the creative team that would soon pitch a show called “Full House.”
Sweetin’s character of Stephanie Tanner was the second-born of three sisters, including Candace Cameron, sister of 80’s heartthrob Kirk Cameron, playing Stephanie’s older sister D.J, while youngest sister Michelle was played jointly by the Olsen twins. Although an undeniably central character, many viewers of the show considered the attention-starved Stephanie – who became known for the catchphrase “how rude!” – to be anywhere from precocious and/or spoiled to outright annoying. In its later years, the show seemed to purposefully shift its focus away from Stephanie and on to other members of the household.
After “Full House” wrapped in 1995, Sweetin made the decision to immediately return to a “normal life.” Her first steps included graduating from Los Alamitos High School in 1999, and subsequently receiving an academic scholarship to Chapman University, also in California. She graduated in 2003 with a degree in elementary school teaching. Although she occasionally appeared on television shows – including an arc on “Party of Five,” (FOX, 1994-2000) and guest spots on “Brotherly Love,” (1995-1997) and “Yes Dear,” (CBS, 2000-2006) – Sweetin continued to focus more on her personal life. Nevertheless, her “Full House” connections remained strong with the cast, who effectively became a second family to one another. Much of the show’s cast was in attendance at her 2002 marriage to police officer Shaun Holguin (the two later filed for divorce), and they would become instrumental in the next stage of her personal growth.
In 2004, due to what she called a mixture of “boredom and unemployment,” Sweetin began experimenting with methamphetamines and eventually became addicted to the powerful, destructive drug. According to rumors, after partaking in an extended meth “bender,” Sweetin found herself on the receiving end of an intervention from her former TV family, including her “sisters” the Olsen twins, “father” Bob Saget, and “uncle” John Stamos. After a year-long struggle, Sweetin gave up meth in March, 2005, spending six weeks of intensive rehab at the Promises rehab clinic. In early 2006, she went public with her addiction, granting interviews to numerous media outlets. Being back in the public eye, however, even for such tragic reasons, may have actually proven beneficial for Sweetin.
Although she had previously stated that she did not wish a return to acting full-time, the combination of beating her personal and chemical demons – as well as the positive reaction she received from everyone – changed her mind. Fuse TV network chose her to host Fuse’s “Pants-Off Dance-Off” (2006- ), a music-centered show where contestants earn cash by stripping to their favorite music. Sweetin also signed on for another Fuse series, “Get Malled” (2006- ). Rumors of a “Full House” reunion had been put forth and refuted for years. However, Sweetin did join “Full House” alums Coulier, Stamos and Saget in providing voice work for the next best thing – “Farce of the Penguins” (2006), a spoof of “March of the Penguins” (2005), written and directed by her second father, Saget.