If you grew up in the late 80s or 90s, you knew her as the responsible, denim-clad oldest sister of the Tanner clan. You probably remember her navigating the high-stakes drama of junior high, dealing with Kimmy Gibbler’s stinky feet, and trying to keep her younger sisters, Stephanie and Michelle, in line. Candace Cameron Bure is the actress who played DJ Tanner in Full House, and honestly, she didn’t just play the role—she basically grew up in front of a live studio audience. It’s wild to think about now, but she started that show when she was just ten years old and didn’t hang up the oversized sweaters until she was nearly twenty.
She wasn't just some random child actor. She was part of a TV dynasty. Her brother, Kirk Cameron, was already a massive heartthrob on Growing Pains, so the Cameron family was basically the blueprint for sitcom success back then. But while Kirk was the rebel, Candace’s portrayal of Donna Jo "D.J." Tanner was grounded. She felt like a real kid. She wasn't overly polished. She had those awkward teen phases we all had, which is probably why people still care so much about her today.
Why Candace Cameron Bure Was the Perfect D.J. Tanner
Casting a lead for a long-running sitcom is a total gamble. You never know if a ten-year-old is going to actually be good at acting five years later. But Candace had this natural, girl-next-door vibe that felt authentic. When people ask who played DJ Tanner in Full House, they aren't just looking for a name; they’re looking for the person who made those "very special episodes" feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation. Remember the episode where she tries to starve herself to lose weight for a pool party? Or the one where she’s pressured to drink at a party? Those were heavy topics for a 90s sitcom, and Candace handled them with a vulnerability that stuck with viewers.
It wasn't all serious, though. Far from it.
Most of the time, she was the "straight man" to the chaos of John Stamos (Uncle Jesse), Bob Saget (Danny Tanner), and Dave Coulier (Uncle Joey). Think about the comedic timing required to hold your own against three professional comedians and a pair of toddlers (the Olsen twins). She held the center of that house. Without D.J. as the anchor, the show might have just been a bunch of guys doing Popeye impressions and obsessing over their hair.
The Evolution of the Character
From 1987 to 1995, we saw a literal human transformation.
D.J. went from a fifth-grader with a side ponytail to a high school graduate heading off to college.
The fashion changed—a lot.
The hair got bigger, then smaller, then more layered.
But the core of the character remained this fierce protector of her family.
She was the one who had to grow up the fastest after their mother died, a backstory that often gets overlooked because the show was so bright and cheery. Candace played that underlying responsibility perfectly.
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Life After the Original Full House
After the show wrapped in '95, Candace didn't just fade into the background like a lot of child stars do. She didn't have a "wild child" phase. She didn't end up in the tabloids for the wrong reasons. Instead, she took a massive break.
She got married to Valeri Bure, a professional NHL player, in 1996. They were actually introduced by her co-star Dave Coulier at a charity hockey game. It’s kinda poetic that her TV "Uncle Joey" helped her find her real-life husband. For a long time, she shifted her focus to being a mom and raising her three kids: Natasha, Lev, and Maksim. She wasn't chasing the Hollywood limelight for a solid decade, which is almost unheard of for someone who was on one of the biggest shows in the world.
When she did come back, she leaned heavily into a specific niche.
She became the "Queen of Christmas" on the Hallmark Channel.
She starred in dozens of those cozy, small-town movies.
Then, she made a controversial jump to Great American Family (GAF) to take on a bigger executive role.
People have strong opinions about her personal views and her move to GAF, but you can’t deny her work ethic. She knows her audience. She knows that the people who watched her as D.J. Tanner are now the people who want to watch wholesome holiday movies while they wrap presents.
The Fuller House Revival on Netflix
In 2016, the world got a dose of nostalgia when Netflix launched Fuller House.
Candace stepped back into the shoes of D.J. Tanner, but this time, the roles were reversed. She was the widowed mother of three boys, living in the same iconic San Francisco row house.
It was surreal.
Seeing her back in that kitchen with Andrea Barber (Kimmy) and Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie) felt like a time warp.
Fuller House ran for five seasons.
It wasn't high art, and it didn't try to be.
It was comfort food.
It proved that the chemistry between the original cast wasn't just a fluke of the 80s; they actually liked each other. Candace has often said that the cast is like a real family, and they’ve stuck together through some really hard times, including the passing of Bob Saget in 2022. That loss hit the "Full House" family—and the fans—incredibly hard.
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Addressing the Critics and the Public Persona
You can't talk about Candace Cameron Bure without mentioning that she’s a polarizing figure today.
She’s very vocal about her Christian faith.
She’s written several books.
She was a co-host on The View for a while, which is basically a trial by fire for anyone with conservative leanings.
She’s been at the center of several "cancel culture" debates, particularly regarding her comments on "traditional marriage."
But regardless of where you stand on her politics or her religious views, her impact on television history is solidified. When you look at the landscape of child stars, she’s one of the few who managed to transition into a successful adult career on her own terms. She didn't let the industry break her, and she didn't let the "D.J. Tanner" label prevent her from building a brand that includes clothing lines, books, and production credits.
Common Questions About D.J. Tanner and Candace
People often confuse her with other actresses from that era, or they wonder if she’s related to certain people because of her last name.
- Is she related to Kirk Cameron? Yes, he’s her older brother.
- Did she really date Steve (Scott Weinger) in real life? They are best friends, but they never dated. Interestingly, Scott Weinger was also the voice of Aladdin in the Disney movie, which blew everyone's minds back in the day.
- How old was she when she started Full House? She was 10 during the pilot and 18 when the original series ended.
The Legacy of a Sitcom Icon
The question of who played DJ Tanner in Full House usually leads people down a rabbit hole of nostalgia. It leads to late-night YouTube clips of the "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" lip-sync or the episode where the family goes to Disney World.
D.J. was the girl who taught us that it’s okay to be a bit of a nerd.
She taught us that being the oldest sibling is a grueling, thankless job.
She showed us that you can survive your awkward years and come out the other side just fine.
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Candace Cameron Bure has stayed busy. Between her lifestyle brand and her roles at GAF, she’s constantly working. But to a huge segment of the population, she will always be D.J. She seems to embrace that. She doesn't run away from the legacy of the show that made her famous. She’s leaning into it, even decades later.
If you're looking to revisit her work, you've got options.
You can stream the original Full House on Max (formerly HBO Max).
You can catch Fuller House on Netflix.
Or, if it’s anywhere near December, you can probably find her on TV in a snowy town, falling in love with a guy who owns a Christmas tree farm.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to dig deeper into the world of the Tanners, check out the "Full House Rewind" podcast hosted by Dave Coulier. He often has the original cast members on to talk about what was happening behind the scenes. It's a great way to hear first-hand accounts of what it was like on that set during the height of the show's popularity. Also, keep an eye on Candace's social media; she’s remarkably active and often shares throwbacks that any 90s kid would appreciate. If you're interested in her current projects, her "Candace Cameron Bure Podcast" covers everything from her faith to her business ventures, giving a much fuller picture of who she is today versus the girl in the Tanner house.
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