John Stamos's Addiction Struggles, Hollywood Romances and More: Find Out the Biggest Bombshells from His Memoir

The actor and author of 'If You Would Have Told Me' (out now) shares with PEOPLE that he hoped to "tell a human story"

John Stamos is opening up like never before.

The actor's new memoir If You Would Have Told Me sees him candidly addressing his many highs and lows over the years because he knew it was necessary to share the good and the bad as equally essential parts of his story.

"I did set out to write a hero story, but then as I was doing it I was like, 'No, I'm going to tell a human story,'" Stamos, 60, tells PEOPLE. "Because with the hero story, that's bulls---. And unless I was a hundred percent forthcoming, what am I doing this for, right? But it was hard."

Still, the Full House alum regards the writing process as a "therapeutic" experience.

"I just hope people can take something. Now, you're going to ask me what, but take something from it and use it in their life," he continues. "It could be the stuff that I learned from Bob [Saget], which was, Tomorrow's not promised. Live every moment to the fullest and tell everybody that you care about them. Or the wisdom that I got from my parents, my dad, treating everybody the same. My mom, always looking for the best part of someone and that's what defines them. But I hope they can relate to me."

Here are the biggest bombshells from If You Would Have Told Me.

Related: John Stamos Reflects on His Playboy Image in Memoir Excerpt: 'Lonely, but Never Alone' (Exclusive)

Stamos's Alcohol Reliance Picked Up During His Time Working on Broadway

Looking back at his time starring in Cabaret on Broadway in 2002, Stamos reflected on how much his drinking habits increased. He would begin sipping a bottle of red wine while getting his makeup done "and figure out how to make it last the whole show."

"This is not a recommended acting method, but it does help me, especially early on, to drop my inhibitions and abandon any fear," he wrote. "I try to time it out so that my last swallow comes right before I walk out and hit my mark in f----me pumps and a satin dress to belt out my final torch song, 'I Don't Care Much.'"

Because the "emotional tenor of the show requires release after-hours," Stamos would continue drinking with his castmates past curtain call. "Alcoholism is genetic. Hereditary. My parents both enjoyed imbibing regularly. They functioned well and never considered stopping. Proclivities can lie dormant within for a while, but I’m pushing my luck, drinking a bottle of wine every performance (including matinees)," he shared, noting that it "feels like I might be awakening a sleeping monster."

Stamos then admitted this habit carried over to his role in Nine in 2003. "I'm practically having panic attacks in the first ten minutes of the show, so I turn to my old Cabaret trick: a bottle of red," he said, noting that he "can say farewell to Cabaret, but can't cut loose the cabernet chromosome."

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

During His ER Days, Stamos Went on an Entire Press Tour While Fully Drunk

Stamos had stopped drinking for "a while," but things changed when Warner Bros. asked him to embark on an Australian press tour ER. He had visited Greece right before and was feeling "sentimental" due to the European country being his late father's homeland, leading him to "lift a glass of ouzo to toast the most significant Greek" person he knew.

Although he had no plans to drink in Australia after doing so in Greece (and later Hong Kong), he arrived Down Under both jet-lagged and drunk. He partied it up upon arrival and only got 18 minutes of sleep before having to begin the press tour. He downed 17 shots of espresso alongside vodka before his first interview, when the reporter noticed he was drunk and indicated so in their coverage. He then appeared drunk in a live TV interview.

"Luckily, my career is fine. My publicist makes a 'John-was-on-Ambien' statement before I can weigh in," he wrote. "I want to say I was drunk, I was wrong, and I am sorry. I should take responsibility for my mistakes and show effort to improve. Not sure how long the goodwill I’ve accumulated in the business will hold up."

Stamos Recalls His Scary DUI Incident That Led to His Hospitalization — and, Eventually, Rehab

In the book's opening chapter, Stamos opened up about the scary moment in June 2015 when he was driving while under the influence of multiple substances on his way to dinner with Bob Saget. "I don't want to kill myself, but there’s a selfishness in death that I flirt with. I’m faded in my car. It’s okay if I die. Fine. I've done it all; crossed everything off my list. Got the fame, got the girls, got the sitcom, got to play with The Beach Boys. The end. I'm good to go, in the literal sense," he wrote.

Upon eventually pulling over, Stamos said the cops found him "blacked out, slumped in my seat like a scarecrow." He was then taken to a local hospital, where he woke up to Saget seated by his bedside after the comedian — along with Stamos's sisters — had attempted to track him down for hours.

"I've seen the TMZ video and pictures from that night. It makes me sick to my stomach. I’m spinning around the streets, out of my f---ing mind. I could have killed a kid, wiped out a family or a grandmother coming home from Bible study," he wrote. "I'm jeopardizing everything in my life: my career, reputation, and worst of all, the kid my parents raised, a guy I kind of like."

Stamos eventually entered rehab in July 2015.

Stamos Recalls the Heartbreaking Moment He Learned of Bob Saget's Death

Toward the book's end, Stamos opened up about the devastating way he found out that Saget had died suddenly on Jan. 9, 2022, at age 65. He had been driving home with his 5-year-old son Billy, whom he shares with wife Caitlin McHugh Stamos, when his publicist Matt Polk called asking if he had heard from Saget that day. As Polk noted how TMZ called him saying "several sources" have indicated Saget was dead, Stamos didn't believe it — especially after the outlet suspected the same of him weeks prior.

Stamos then texted Saget but grew worried upon not receiving a response. Saget's wife, Kelly Rizzo, was also not immediately responsive. The pair's Full House costar Candace Cameron Bure called him moments later about a "weird DM" she received from a local Floridian claiming the same, followed by Rizzo finally turning his call.

"When I switch callers over to Kelly, all I hear is a wailing scream. I hit the ground in the parking lot and my knees slam down on the asphalt. 'Nooooooooooooooooooooo,'" he wrote. "My son is still sound asleep in the backseat of my car. I pull myself together to drive home and start making calls. First to Caitlin, she’s in disbelief. She calls her parents to come watch Billy. Then to Dave [Coulier]. 'Dave, Bob Saget is dead.' ... I call Lori [Loughlin], who's on the eighth hole of Lake View Country Club golfing with her husband [Massimo Giannulli]. 'Bob is dead, Lori.' She tells me later she dropped to her knees like me. Billy wakes up. 'Daddy?' I love you, son."

Stamos later acknowledged, "I'm still not ready to accept that he's gone. Not sure I ever will be."

During a Cast Dinner for His 1986 Film Never Too Young to Die, Stamos Was Allegedly Sexually Assaulted by His Costar Vanity

Things escalated quickly between Stamos and Vanity — who was Prince's protégé — shortly after being cast in the 1986 film Never Too Young to Die. In his book, Stamos alleged that "mere moments after meeting Vanity [at a cast dinner] for the first time, she's giving me a hand job under the table."

"Not even sure how it starts. I'm making small talk as she rearranges a napkin in my lap and the next thing I know she's all in," he claimed of of the singer and actress, who died in February 2016. "It's exciting but nerve-racking. She maintains a slight smile and looks attentively at the director, who’s discussing the nuanced attraction between our characters, Stargrove and Danja. Nothing nuanced happening under the table."

Stamos said he believed that Vanity, born Denise Matthews, was "working out sex and violence issues," adding, "Looking back, I feel for her. Her dad abused her until he died. Then she was modeling at seventeen and molded into the sexpot image by influential men who wanted to make her their 'Nasty Girl.' She ping-ponged from freebasing cocaine to tripping on the stronger drug of evangelical religion. I imagine a lot was done to her and somehow doing a little something to a younger, inexperienced guy and waving machine guns around [between takes] gave her a feeling of reclaiming power."

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

As a Child, Stamos Was Allegedly Sexually Abused by His Babysitter

In his book, Stamos briefly recalled a traumatizing moment involving himself and his childhood babysitter, which occurred when he was around 10 years old. "When I was little, I had a babysitter who was around eighteen or nineteen. A lot of the time she’s kind of fun. We play, watch sitcoms, and laze around on the couch. But sometimes she gets weird, and it makes me feel weird, too. Uncomfortable," he recalled. "She does strange stuff I don’t understand."

Stamos then revealed that the unidentified person sexually abused him, and he would "just pretend to be sleeping" when she allegedly acted inappropriately.

"I feel trapped. Then it’s over, and when I 'wake up' it’s like nothing happened," he said. "I learn it's a phenomenon called the freeze response. Sounds like what it is. When a child is vulnerable or can’t escape, there can be a sort of playing possum effect. Don't move, don't speak, and just wait until things get normal again. It's something that I had packed away."

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Early into His Acting Career, Stamos Underwent Rhinoplasty — Twice

Growing up, the actor was nicknamed "Big Nose Stamos" by the kids who picked on him in school. Some time after settling into his breakout role on General Hospital, Stamos chose to seek out a plastic surgeon for a nose job.

"Everyone who gets a nose job tries to find some excuse other than vanity, but let’s call it what it was — vanity," he wrote.

Stamos had a few weeks off in between when he needed to return to the popular soap and when he was getting the procedure. However, upon returning to set, his costar Chris Robinson was the first to point out the change.

"I'm not all that happy with it. My nose looks kind of pushed up like Peter Pan or something. So on my next hiatus, I have it redone by Michael Jackson's plastic surgeon," he explained. "Who better to handle the delicate task of resculpting my nose than the man who created a whole new face for M.J.? I haven't even been on the show for a year and I've already graduated from the youthful newbie to the double-nose-job guy."

Stamos Claims Ex Teri Copley Cheated on Him with Tony Danza

Opening up about one of his earliest Hollywood relationships, Stamos noted that Teri Copley was "everything I'm looking for in a woman."

"She has an adorable daughter, Ashley, from a former relationship, and I love the idea of stepfatherhood. I'm starting to imagine our little family coming together," he recalled. "I'm dumbstruck and goofy in love. I could spend the rest of my life with her. Who knows if I'll ever find love again? Why not take a chance?"

But Stamos claimed things began to shift between them over time, saying, "I call her from the road, but the girl who breathlessly picked up the phone after one ring is now giving me busy signals and dial tones. When I get home, I call her throughout the day and into the evening. No response. Strange. We've gone from talking on the phone every few hours to silence."

When Stamos paid Copley a visit at her home, he allegedly discover she had taken up with someone else: Tony Danza. Stamos called the situation his "worst nightmare."

"The blinds are closed, but the door is slightly open," he wrote. "I take a peek inside and see four feet protruding from the shabby-chic, floral-print duvet that once kept me warm. My Tiny Dancer is in bed with Mr. Porsche Speedster. They are sleeping. I can't tell who he is, but I recognize Teri's ass barely covered by the sheets. It looks like her new poster."

Copley, 62, has since denied the affair allegations in a statement shared with PEOPLE.  "I wondered, 'What was John doing there?' because we had broken up," she said. "He just looked at me and shook his head, and walked away."

Stamos Details Brutal Divorce Attorneys Meeting After Split from Rebecca Romijn

The last time Stamos would see his first wife was at their joint meeting to discuss their 2005 divorce alongside their attorneys. At the time, Stamos — who also revealed the pair briefly split before later reconciling ahead of their divorce — requested that he be the one to file for divorce since "the press is already shading the split as 'Rebecca Romijn, movie star, superstar, has finally dumped the ex-teen idol.'"

"I don't really feel she owes me anything more than an apology. I guess I owe her one, too. But we don’t say a word. I walk over and give her a hug. We spill tears. We had promised each other that we would spend some time together after today, but we don't," he said. "This will be the last time I ever see her. We will not cross paths again, we will not run into each other at events. This is the end."

Stamos then admitted it took him a "long time" to move on from the separation because he was harboring "more and more blame and anger toward her." He then relied heavily on alcohol use, which eventually led to his DUI and rehab stay in Utah. While there, he worked on the 12 steps of recovery, which included writing out his "resentments" toward Romijn and the part he played in these resentments.

After Filming the Full House Pilot, Stamos Called His Agents and Demanded to Get Off the Show

From the start, Stamos was not a fan of a lot of aspects tied to Full House, including "scene-stealer" Jodie Sweetin and her "impeccable timing" proving to be a standout during the cast's first table read. With fears of being outshined by the "adorable child characters with their annoying catchphrases," he immediately wanted out of the show.

"The reading ends, thank God, and I head to the lobby as fast as I can, avoiding everyone babbling how great the reading went. I dig through my pockets for change. I jam a quarter into a pay phone, get my agent on the line, and gently suggest, 'Get me the f--- off this show!'" he recalled. "I'm dying to pull the rip cord on this family-friendly hell, but I’ll fulfill my contractual obligation to shoot the pilot. Keep it professional. The thing will crash and burn faster than my reputation, and I hope I can salvage some dignity with my next project."

Eventually, Stamos came around. "It's corny as hell but sentimental in a way that feels brave; a vulnerability that is almost retro," he added.

Stamos Would Host Parties and Sleepovers for the Full House Cast After Divorcing Rebecca Romijn

Following his 2005 divorce from Romijn, Stamos moved into "a bachelor beach house" in Malibu for the summer. But he had the Full House cast to accompany him during the trying period. At the time, Saget "rallies the Full House crew to come hang." The group would usually dine at Taverna Tony before heading over to Stamos's new pad, where they would sing and dance all night together before having a large cast sleepover.

"Afterward, we all head back to my pad down the street, hit the deck, and dance the night away under the stars. I have my baby grand Steinway piano delivered for some great sing-alongs," he shared. "...No one dares to drive home, so it always turns into one big slumber party, with everyone scrambling for a place to crash. There’s a master and one guest room. The girls grab the guest room, Dave hits the couch, and Bob? Now, it isn’t the first time Bob and I sleep in the same bed together (on and off TV). We never wake up in each other's arms but definitely know the smell of each other’s morning breath."

Stamos added, "In the morning, Bob sneaks one of the Olsen twins down to the beach and into a waiting car to avoid the paparazzi. He still feels like a father figure to the girls, no matter how old or rich they become. The rest of us wake up slowly, grab a coffee or a beer, and enjoy the last lazy days of summer."

Stamos's Mother Once Called CBS After an Executive Was Allegedly Aggressive Toward Him

While working on a half-hour comedy series titled Dreams, Stamos allegedly had a not-so-positive experience working alongside Jon Peters, who was once romantically linked to Pamela Anderson and Barbra Streisand.

"There's something off about him; a loose cannon. He wants me to sing [Elvis Presley's] 'Jailhouse Rock' on an episode, and I'm not feeling it," he claimed. "Instead of discussing alternatives with me (I mean, after all, there are a lot of songs out there), the dude erupts in anger, yelling, forcefully pinning me against a wall, practically knocking the wind out of me."

But this alleged incident prompted his mom to intervene. "Loretta Stamos is not pleased and immediately contacts CBS executives to let them know that any further physical aggression toward her son will not be tolerated. CBS assures her that they understand and that it would not happen again," he claimed. "It does not. But it's my initiation into the ugly side of Hollywood, the first time I understand how the big boys silence with violence."

PEOPLE has reached out to Peters for comment.

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If You Would Have Told Me is available wherever books are sold.

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