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Full House character guide

Who is Michelle Tanner in Full House?

The adorable youngest Tanner daughter, a baby when Full House begins, who grows into a sassy, scene-stealing grade schooler with a catchphrase for every situation and her uncles wrapped around her finger.

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Michelle Tanner's Sitcomdle clue card

The five clues the game shows when Michelle Tanner is the answer or a guess.

Show
Full House
Debut
1987
Network
ABC
Role
Main
Gender
Female

Michelle Tanner has not been a daily answer yet. Play today's Sitcomdle.

Show
Full House
Played by
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen
First episode
“Our Very First Show”Season 1, Episode 1, aired September 22, 1987
Role
Main cast
Network
ABC
Occupation
Youngest Tanner sister, kid
Show run
1987 to 1995

Michelle Tanner is the baby of the Tanner family and, for many viewers, the heart of Full House. Played by twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who shared the role, she grows up on screen from infant to grade schooler.

On Full House, Michelle Tanner's story runs through Danny Tanner (Father), Jesse Katsopolis (Uncle), Joey Gladstone (Honorary Uncle), D.J. Tanner (Sister), and Stephanie Tanner (Sister).

Michelle Tanner from Full House: Sitcomdle character card

Who is Michelle Tanner?

Michelle is the youngest child of Danny and Pam Tanner. She is still a baby when her mother dies, which is why Danny asks Jesse and Joey to move in, and the early comedy of the show comes from three grown men figuring out diapers, bottles, and bedtime.

As she grows, Michelle becomes the show's cutest scene stealer. Her bond with Uncle Jesse is one of the series' sweetest relationships. By the later seasons she is a confident grade schooler with friends, pets, and plenty of schemes of her own.

Personality and comedy

Michelle's comedy is pint-sized attitude. She delivers lines like "You got it, dude!" and "Oh, puh-lease!" with total confidence, and the studio audience reliably loved every one. Many episodes give her a simple kid problem, a lost pet, a bike without training wheels, a tiny crush, and let the whole family rally around it.

She can also be bossy and stubborn, especially as she gets older, and the show uses her to teach small lessons about honesty and sharing. Whatever trouble she causes, someone usually ends the episode by scooping her up in a hug.

Key storylines

Michelle's milestones are the show's milestones. She loses a goldfish, learns to ride a bike with Joey's help, has her birthday party interrupted when Aunt Becky goes into labor with the twins, and spends her lemonade money on a donkey. In season seven, she bonds with Jesse's grandfather Papouli shortly before he dies.

The two-part series finale centers on her. Michelle is thrown from a horse during a riding competition and wakes up with amnesia, unable to remember her family. Everyone tries to bring her memory back, and nothing works until, near the end, she finally remembers her family.

Behind the scenes and legacy

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen alternated as Michelle starting when they were babies, and from season two through season seven they were credited jointly as "Mary Kate Ashley Olsen," so viewers would not know two girls played the part. The role launched them into a hugely successful career in their own movies, videos, and fashion.

The Olsens declined to return for the Netflix sequel Fuller House, so Michelle does not appear. Characters explain she is in New York running a fashion company, a fourth-wall-breaking wink at the twins' real careers.

Key Michelle Tanner episodes

  1. “A Fish Called Martin”Season 4, Episode 17Michelle's goldfish dies after a bubble bath mishap, and she is afraid to try again.
  2. “Happy Birthday, Babies”Season 5, Episode 9Michelle's fifth birthday party is interrupted when Becky goes into labor.
  3. “Easy Rider”Season 5, Episode 13Joey teaches Michelle to ride a bike without training wheels.
  4. “The Last Dance”Season 7, Episode 17Michelle bonds with Jesse's grandfather Papouli during his final visit.
  5. “You Pet It, You Bought It”Season 8, Episode 6Michelle spends her lemonade money on a donkey named Shorty.
  6. “Michelle Rides Again”Season 8, Episode 23In the series finale, Michelle is thrown from a horse and loses her memory.

Season and episode numbers follow the original broadcast order.

Michelle Tanner's catchphrases

  • “You got it, dude!”
  • “Oh, puh-lease!”

More lines fans still quote: famous sitcom catchphrases and who said them.

Michelle Tanner: frequently asked questions

Who played Michelle Tanner in Full House?

Identical twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen shared the role of Michelle, alternating in scenes, for all eight seasons.

Is Michelle in Fuller House?

No. The Olsen twins declined to reprise the role, and Fuller House explains that Michelle is busy in New York running a fashion company.

What happens to Michelle in the Full House finale?

In "Michelle Rides Again," she falls from a horse and gets amnesia. The family helps her recover her memory by the end of the episode.

What is Michelle Tanner's catchphrase?

Michelle's best-known catchphrase is "You got it, dude!" She also says "Oh, puh-lease!"

Is Michelle Tanner main cast in Full House?

Yes. Michelle appears from the first episode, and the Olsen twins are credited as recurring in season one and as main cast from season two through season eight.

Test yourself: Michelle Tanner quiz

5 questions about Michelle Tanner. Think of your answer, then open the reveal to check it.

  1. Question 1

    Which Tanner girl is known for saying "You got it, dude!"?

    1. Stephanie
    2. D.J.
    3. Kimmy
    4. Michelle
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. Michelle

    Michelle has a stack of catchphrases, including "You're in big trouble, mister!" She is closest to Uncle Jesse, who calls her munchkin and rugrat.

    See question 2 in the full quiz

  2. Question 2

    Who shared the role of baby Michelle Tanner?

    1. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
    2. Tia and Tamera Mowry
    3. Dylan and Cole Sprouse
    4. Brittany and Cynthia Daniel
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

    The Olsen twins took turns playing Michelle during tapings, and for most of the run they shared a single credit as Mary Kate Ashley Olsen. Michelle does not appear in Fuller House.

    See question 6 in the full quiz

  3. Question 3

    In the series finale, what happens to Michelle after she falls off a horse?

    1. She gets amnesia
    2. She breaks her arm
    3. She loses her voice
    4. She needs glasses
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. She gets amnesia

    In "Michelle Rides Again," Michelle hits her head and cannot remember her family. Her memory returns by the end, just in time for a happy goodbye.

    See question 19 in the full quiz

  4. Question 4

    Who plays Michelle Tanner in Full House?

    1. Ron Howard
    2. Zach Braff
    3. Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen
    4. Rob McElhenney
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen

    Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen play Michelle Tanner.

  5. Question 5

    In what year did Michelle Tanner first appear on Full House?

    1. 1989
    2. 1983
    3. 1987
    4. 1990
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. 1987

    Michelle Tanner debuted in 1987, in "Our Very First Show" (Season 1, Episode 1). That year is the Debut clue in the game.

Take the full Full House quiz (20 questions)

Sources and corrections

Reference pages used for this guide, including character, cast, and episode details.

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