Dave Coulier was born on September 21, 1959, in Detroit, Michigan. Coulier graduated in 1977 from Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Michigan. Coulier got his start at Notre Dame High School by doing stand-up during the lunch hours and impersonating the principal over the school PA system.

Coulier has been a member of Duck's Breath Mystery Theater touring comedy troupe (which he claims is clean comedy, but not quite as wholesome as "Full House"), as well as host of the series Animal Kidding. He also hosted America's Funniest People and Opportunity Knocks. In addition to starring as Joey on Full House, Coulier starred in the children's comedy series Out of Control, and appeared on George and Leo and Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher.

Coulier has done extensive voice work for shows including Extreme Ghostbusters, The Real Ghostbusters and Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters (taking over the character of Peter Venkman after Lorenzo Music's departure from the role), Muppet Babies (Baby Animal, Baby Bunsen, and Bean Bunny), Scooby and Scrappy-Doo, The Jetsons, Rude Dog and the Dweebs, Detention, and Teen Titans. He also appeared in The Even Stevens Movie (where he had a cameo as a game show host) and The Thirteenth Year. Additionally, he was also a voice actor in Yogi Bear and the Magical Flight of the Spruce Goose.

An avid fan of the Detroit Red Wings, Coulier was a member of the Celebrity All-Stars hockey squad, along with Jason Priestley, Matthew Perry, Alan Thicke, Michael J. Fox, Michael Keaton, and Richard Dean Anderson. He also was part of the 2002 NHL All-Star Celebrity Challenge. He also founded his own children's entertainment company, F3 Entertainment, in 2000.