Bob Saget
(Board Member, 2003-2022)
Actor, Comedian, Writer, Director, and Producer
In Memoriam
Bob Saget was an acclaimed actor, comedian, director, writer, and producer. He starred in many successful television shows, including two of the most beloved, family-friendly shows network TV has ever produced (“Full House” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos”).
For over forty years, Bob was also a stand-up comedian and earned a Grammy nomination in 2014 for his stand-up special, “That’s What I’m Talkin’ About.” Bob directed and starred in the independent film “Benjamin” and was the host, writer, and Executive Producer of the ABC series “Videos After Dark.” Most importantly, in 1996 he wrote and directed the film, “For Hope,” which chronicled his sister Gay’s struggles with scleroderma. It was the first—and still only—movie to tell a family’s story of what it’s like to live with scleroderma.
Bob joined the Scleroderma Research Foundation Board of Directors in 2003, but he began his involvement in 1991 through the SRF’s annual signature event, Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine—as an attendee, then the next year as a performer, and ultimately as a key figure in organizing and producing the event. Under his leadership with Co-Chair Susan Feniger, the event raised $25M for scleroderma research. Bob was a dedicated champion for the scleroderma community who tirelessly drove the mission of the SRF forward for 30 years.
Timeline of Bob Saget’s Scleroderma Advocacy
- June 6, 1991 – Bob attends Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine for the first time and learns about scleroderma.
- 1992 – Bob first performs at Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine. Later this year, his sister Gay Saget is diagnosed with scleroderma.
- 1993 – Bob becomes the Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine host, a role he would play for the rest of his life.
- 1994 – Gay passes away from scleroderma complications.
- 1996 – Bob releases For Hope, an ABC TV film he executive produced and directed, to honor Gay’s battle with Scleroderma. He also appears alongside SRF Founder Sharon Monsky & SRF Board Member Emeritus Dana Delany in front of Congress to advocate for scleroderma research funding.
- 2003 – Bob joins the SRF Board of Directors and becomes official chair of Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine.
- 2014 – Project Scleroderma’s Beneath the Surface, which Bob co-produced and narrated, is released to raise awareness of scleroderma.
- 2017 – The June Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine event is dedicated to Bob, in honor of his 25 years of service and raises over $1M.
- 2020 – Bob produces and co-hosts with SRF Board Member Susan Feniger the first-ever virtual Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine event, which is broadcast to a global audience.
- January 9, 2022 – The world mourns the loss of Bob, our beloved friend and scleroderma champion.
OUR SIGNATURE EVENT
Cool Comedy
Hot Cuisine, a tribute to Bob Saget
A special version of the SRF’s signature event, Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine took place September 21 in Los Angeles as a tribute to Bob—raising more than $1.2 Million for research.
