It told the story of Danny Tanner ( Bob Saget ) , a man whose wife has died and is left alone with his three daughters , DJ ( Candace Cameron ) , Stephanie ( Jodie Sweetin ) , and Michelle ( Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen ) . He recruits his best friend , Joey Gladstone ( Dave Coulier ) , a child-like stand-up comedian , and his brother-in-law ( and the girls ' uncle ) Jesse Katsopolis ( John Stamos ) , a struggling musican , to move in and help look after the girls . After Danny Tanner 's ( Bob Saget ) wife Pam is killed in a hit-and-run accident ( which later in the series is revealed to be caused by a drunk driver ) , Danny recruits his brother-in-law , Jesse Katsopolis ( John Stamos ) , a young and handsome musician , and his best friend , Joey Gladstone ( Dave Coulier ) , a quirky comedian , to help raise Danny 's three daughters , D.J. ( Candace Cameron ) , Stephanie ( Jodie Sweetin ) , and Michelle ( initially infants , played by twins Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen ) , in his San Francisco , California home .