What is known about the death of Bob Saget 1:11
(CNN) -
Bob Saget channeled his pain to help others.
And now, in the face of his death, some of his most famous friends are doing the same.
The comedian who became known as the father of America after playing Danny Tanner on "Full House" died this Sunday at the age of 65.
Remembering Bob Saget: a "sweet guy" who became "hugely famous by accident"
The conclusion of the autopsy on the body of Bob Saget
But it was the death of his beloved sister Gay, after a battle with scleroderma, an autoimmune disease, that made him an avid advocate of raising funds to find a cure.
In fact, the star first became involved with the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) before her sister was diagnosed with the disease, which can lead to hardening and tightness of connective tissue and skin.
Saget told
NIH Medline Plus
magazine in 2019 that years earlier she received "a call from someone I didn't know and asked me to host a comedy fundraiser for a disease I knew very little about."
advertising
"I said yes and hosted the event, which was attended by Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O'Donnell and others," he said.
"I did not know that only a few years later, my sister would be diagnosed with the disease," he completed.
Bob Saget: My sister passed away just two years after diagnosis.
Saget shared that her sister was 44 years old and a teacher in the Philadelphia area when she was diagnosed.
They used medications like prednisone and cortisone to treat the disease, he said, but they only worked for his symptoms.
"He had to move to Los Angeles to live with my parents because he needed a lot of help," Saget said.
"She passed away only two years later."
The host of "America's Funniest Videos" served on the SRF board of directors for nearly two decades and organized its events for more than 25 years.
Remembering Bob Saget: a "sweet guy" who became "hugely famous by accident"
Following news of her death, fellow comedian Amy Schumer posted on her verified Instagram account that she would be making a donation to SRF in honor of Saget.
For its part, the organization published a tribute to its most famous defender.
"In loving memory of Bob Saget, a dear colleague, friend, and board member of the Scleroderma Research Foundation for over 20 years," read the message alongside a photo of Saget posted on SFR's Instagram account.
"Bob was a relentless advocate for scleroderma patients and SRF's mission: to find a cure for scleroderma. He will be greatly missed."
Bob saget