Candace Cameron Bure

The little sister of 1980s teen heartthrob Kirk Cameron, child star Candace Cameron booked small movie roles in "Some Kind of Wonderful" (1987) and "Punchline" (1988) before becoming famous playing eldest daughter D.J. Tanner on the long-running sitcom "Full House" (ABC, 1987-1995). Although the family-friendly staple's earnest wholesomeness proved polarizing, the series and its stars - especially twin toddlers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - became beloved parts of TV history, living forever in syndication all around the world.

After the series ended, the actress married hockey player Valeri Bure and took his last name. After a self-imposed work hiatus while she started a family, the publicly devout Christian eased back into the public eye after her husband's retirement with a role on "Make It or Break It" (ABC Family, 2009-12) and by publishing a faith-based, inspirational memoir in 2011. Although she chose family and religion over scaling the heights of stardom, Candace Cameron Bure transitioned from a likable child star into a mature and grounded adult role model. Alongside a short-lived stint as one of the co-hosts of morning talk staple "The View" (ABC 1997- ), she returned to the role that made her famous as the star of the reboot "Fuller House" (Netflix 2016- ), to the delight of generations of fans.

Born April 6, 1976 in Panorama City, CA, Candace Helaine Cameron literally grew up on television. The younger sister of actor Kirk Cameron, who skyrocketed to teen idol superstardom on the sitcom "Growing Pains" (ABC, 1985-1992), she followed in his footsteps, booking television kiddie roles on everything from "St. Elsewhere" (NBC, 1982-88) to "Punky Brewster" (NBC, 1984-86; syndicated, 1987-88) to an especially memorable episode of "Who's the Boss?" (ABC, 1984-1992), in which she appeared as a young version of sexy grandma Mona (Katherine Helmond).

Cameron also made brief big screen appearances as Eric Stoltz's sister in "Some Kind of Wonderful" (1987) and as Sally Field's daughter in the feature comedy/drama, "Punchline" (1988). Cameron earned her breakthrough role on the long-running, family-friendly sitcom "Full House" (ABC, 1987-1995), a series that followed a San Francisco widower (Bob Saget) raising his three precocious daughters (Cameron, Jodie Sweetin, Mary-Kate/Ashley Olsen) with the help of their two uncles (John Stamos and Dave Coulier). Cameron played eldest daughter, Donna Jo "D.J." Tanner, who struggled with growing up without a mother or major female figure in her life and with the combined irritation and adoration of her two younger sisters. Wise beyond her years but willing to learn from her mistakes, D.J. served as an excellent big-sister role model for younger viewers.

The immensely popular series had more than its share of critics, with many slamming what they perceived as its excess of overly broad sitcom humor and sickly sweet morality. The show's gentle comedy, kid-power appeal and core values of love and family won over legions of viewers and it became one of the era's generational touchstones, syndicated around the world years later. The true stars of "Full House" and the key to its megawatt appeal were the three daughters, with Jodi Sweetin and then the Olsen Twins reigning supreme as its catchphrase-spouting, pint-size dynamos. Cameron's role proved less showy, and over time, the always mature D.J. evolved into more of a straight woman.

Cameron handled the transition with aplomb, growing into a wholesome and lovely young woman. Never overweight, the actress had always maintained a natural, girl-next-door figure, but was often regarded as the heavier sister when standing next to her reed-thin co-stars. The series began when D.J. Tanner was 10 and ended when she was 18 and about to graduate high school. Many fans of the series grew up right alongside the Tanner daughters, maintaining a lifelong nostalgic affection for "Full House" and its cast members. Although the show was never a critical darling, Cameron earned a slew of Young Artist nominations and hosted the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award twice, winning a 1994 Blimp Award for Favorite TV Actress.

During her "Full House" run, Cameron appeared in several kid-friendly projects, including the lightweight-but-fun "Camp Cucamonga" (NBC, 1990) and "Monster Mash: The Movie" (1995). After the show ended, Cameron tackled a series of made-for-television films in the woman-in-peril vein, including "She Cried No" (NBC, 1996) and "No One Would Tell" (NBC, 1996), as well as guested on "Cybill" (CBS, 1995-98) and "Boy Meets World" (ABC, 1993-2000). At a hockey game, her "Full House" co-star Dave Coulier coordinated a meeting between Cameron and Russian NHL player Valeri Bure. The two fell in love and married on June 22, 1996.

Known personally and professionally from then on as Candace Cameron Bure, the actress took a self-imposed work hiatus to move to Canada with her husband and to start a family, giving birth to three children. Always very religious, Cameron Bure again followed in her brother's footsteps. As Kirk Cameron became an outspoken Christian evangelist and actor, Cameron Bure also became more public with her faith, writing for Christian websites, speaking at churches, and endorsing Christian organizations, businesses and charities. While she contributed talking-head commentary to several nostalgia-themed programs on VH1 and E!, it was not until 2007 that she returned to mainstream pop culture with a guest spot on the tween sitcom "That's So Raven" (Disney Channel, 2003-07).

Boasting a slimmed-down physique and an adult confidence, Cameron Bure appeared in the Randy Travis religious-themed film "The Wager" (2007) and starred alongside Tom Arnold in the uplifting Christmas tale "Moonlight & Mistletoe" (NBC, 2008). Due to the unpredictability of a professional athlete's career, the Bure family had moved around Canada and the United States before Valeri retired. The family resettled in California when Cameron Bure earned a supporting role in the aspiring gymnasts drama "Make It or Break It" (ABC Family, 2009-12) as Summer Van Horne, the Christian manager of The Rock, the athletes' training center.

In January 2011, she co-authored Reshaping It All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness a memoir/self-help book intended as a motivational tool to help women embrace a healthier, faith-based lifestyle. While the tome's discussions of Cameron Bure's food addiction and Hollywood's expectations for actresses generated a few headlines, she downplayed any negativity, focusing instead on her message of Christian uplift and inspiration. In 2014, Cameron Bure appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC 2005- ), finishing in third place. After publishing two more books, Balancing It All: My Story of Juggling Priorities and Purpose (2014) and Dancing Through Life: Steps of Courage and Conviction (2015), Cameron Bure returned to the role that made her famous, starring as a widowed D.J. Tanner raising her three young sons in the reboot "Fuller House" (Netflix 2016- ).

In August 2015, Cameron Bure joined the hosts of "The View" (ABC 1997- ) for its 19th season. Although her contract was extended the following year, Cameron Bure announced on December 8, 2016 that she was leaving the daily talk show to spend more time with her family while filming the second season of "Fuller House."