St. Johns County

Bob Saget said he was ‘happily addicted’ to stand-up comedy after final gig in Florida

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The night before he died, comedian and beloved sitcom star Bob Saget performed for an “appreciative audience” on Saturday in Northeast Florida.

After his show at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in Ponte Vedra Beach, Saget tweeted he “loved” the show and was once again “happily addicted” to stand-up comedy.

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“The show was awesome,” said Murray Beard, who was sitting in the third row at the show, and shared his condolences on Twitter along with a picture of the stage moments before Saget took over.

“His comedy style is conversational, so he didn’t have specific skits that he was doing,” Beard explained. “And then he actually brought in a guitar and he had some funny written songs that he played for about the last 30 minutes of the show.”

Beard also pointed out how genuinely joyful Saget seemed. “He was really happy and excited about being in front of an audience, and kept reiterating to us how much fun he was having,” Beard said.

On Sunday, Saget, who played “America’s Dad” Danny Tanner on the TV shows “Full House” and “Fuller House,” was found dead in a hotel room in Orlando.

“We have no information on cause of death, and detectives have found no signs of foul play or drug use in this case,” the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.

On Friday, Saget performed a show in Orlando at the Hard Rock Live.

Saget’s cause and manner of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office, according to the statement.

The comedian launched a nationwide stand-up tour in September 2021 that was slated to run through June, Variety reported.

His next gig was going to be another Florida stop, with two performances scheduled at the Palm Beach Improv on Friday, Jan. 28 and Saturday, Jan. 29.

These shows would’ve contributed to Saget’s long-standing and successful career as a stand-up comic.

Action News Jax Jessica Barreto met Saget in 2017 while he was promoting an upcoming show at the Palm Beach Improv, and shared this tribute:

Even though Saget won’t have the opportunity to perform anymore, Beard says his final show in Ponte Vedra captured how he would’ve wanted people to remember him.

“There are some comedians, they’re intentional about wanting to get in your face and elicit a reaction,” Beard said. “But [Saget] is not like that at all. He just kept coming back to the fact that, ‘My goal in life is just to make people laugh.’”

Numa Saisselin, President of the Florida Theatre Performing Arts Center, Inc., released the following statement about Saget’s death:

“The Florida Theatre is sad to learn of the passing of Bob Saget on Sunday. We had a terrific show with him Saturday night at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, and we’re heartbroken by this news. His family are in our thoughts today.

“We were honored to present Bob twice in the last year, last July at the Florida Theatre, and again just last night at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. It’s unusual to bring a performer back to the market that quick, but he needed a tie in date with another performance, and we thought going to Ponte Vedra would be an interesting change of venue. Of course, he was terrific in both the large venue Florida Theatre, and the small hall Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, and last night’s show was virtually sold out.

“Bob was a super nice guy who was terrific to work with. He was excited to talk with us backstage about his upcoming projects, and we’re heartbroken by this sudden news.”

The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall released the following statement about Saget:

“Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is deeply saddened to learn the news of Bob Saget’s passing yesterday. As he did for decades, Bob provided our community with an abundance of laughter and wit this past Saturday night, and it was a privilege to have hosted him. He was a true talent who brightened our spirits on television, film, and stage for many years, and his family and friends our in our thoughts as we face this truly unfortunate news. He is already sorely missed.”

PHOTOS: Bob Saget through the years

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