- Candace Cameron married Valerie Bure in 1996 after two years of dating.
- The couple has three children: Natasha, 20; Lev, 19; and Maksim, 17.
- Both sons play hockey and Natasha appeared in her first feature film, Faith, Hope & Love, in March 2019.
- On Sunday, December 1, Candace's new Hallmark Christmas movie Christmas Town is set to air for the first time. The actress recently just wrapped up filming the fifth and final season of Fuller House.
Most of us feel like we've grown up with Candace Cameron Bure — or shall we say, DJ Tanner. But while many of us were catching up on Full House reruns, the actress was busy creating a family with husband and former professional hockey player Valerie (Val) Bure. After stepping away from the Hollywood scene to raise her kids, the 43-year-old is back and better than ever, and soon, her kids might even become household names, too.
June 1996: Candace and Val get married.
Two years before they said "I do," the couple met at a charity hockey game. Even more fitting, Candace's TV uncle played a part in setting them up."Dave Coulier, who played Joey on Full House is a big hockey fan, was at a celebrity charity game playing and he invited the cast down. He pulled me over to the side and said, 'I met this really cute Russian hockey player and I want to introduce you,'" Candace told Today. The teenagers had an instant connection: "Val had just come from Moscow, Russia and it turned out he would watch Full House to learn english."
Although they were young, both already had successful careers. At this point, Candace had just wrapped eight seasons of Full House and Val was playing professionally for the Montreal Canadiens. But their busy careers wouldn't get in the way of romance: They went out the day after meeting, were engaged within a year, and married a year after that on June 22, 1996.
Ahead of their 23rd wedding anniversary, the actress shared the simple (yet sweet) thing that makes their marriage work: faith. "The reality is, the glue for us is Jesus,” she told People in 2018. “It’s the Bible. You know, when there are arguments or we’re compromising, it’s always like, ‘Well, let’s just go back to the Bible.’ It’s the foundation for us. So it’s not about winning or losing, but doing this journey together.”
August 1998: Candace gives birth to their first child.
Natasha Bure was born on August 15, 1998. Now 21 years old, Natasha is often mistaken as her mom's twin (you see it, don't you?). Since Val is more private, Natasha often joins her mom at award shows and other red carpet events. The pair even hosted the MovieGuide Awards together earlier this year. When she's not glamming up for red carpets, she's busy modeling, singing, and filming YouTube videos. Natasha has a growing YouTube channel where she shares a sneak peek at her family life in Malibu. Her #1 costar? Mom, of course.
You might also recognize her from a previous season of The Voice. Although she didn't make it far, Adam Levine picked her to be on his team and well, Candace's reaction was incredible. Proud mom alert!
The 21-year-old has already joined her mom in Hallmark movies like The Heart of Christmas and Switched for Christmas, and made her big screen debut in Faith, Hope & Love. What's more, Natasha is expected to star in the TV movie The Farmer and the Belle: Saving Santaland in 2020 and upcoming flick Home Sweet Home.
Judging by Natasha's Instagrams, she and her mom are super close. Recently, Natasha shared a screenshot on her page poking fun at an OK! article that quoted her mom telling Us Weekly that "no one is good enough" for Natasha when it comes to dating. In reply, Candace wrote, "OK! magazine just made me worst mom of the year 🙈😩." Meanwhile, Natasha joked in her Instagram caption, "You heard it here first. 'No one’s good enough.'”
February 2000: Son Lev is born.
Lev Valerievich Bure, born on February 20, 2000, clearly got his father's genes: The 19-year-old just started off his hockey career with the Odessa Jackalope, a junior hockey team based in Texas.
In 2018, Lev was in a very public relationship with Bella Robertson, the daughter of Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty, and a close friend of his sister Natasha.
January 2002: Candace gives birth to her youngest son.
And one more makes five! On January 20, 2002, the Bure family expanded with the addition of Maksim Valerievich Bure. Since he's the only kid still left at home (don't even get Candace started about being an empty nester.), the actress often refers to him as her "baby." Just like his dad and brother, he also plays hockey.
Today: The family is happy, healthy, and busy.
After 12 years of playing professional hockey, Val retired in 2004 to spend more time with his family. Around this time, Candace also stepped away from the spotlight for similar reasons. However, that didn't last long. Eventually, Val, who has a passion for food, opened his own own winery in California, Bure Family Wines. Candace — as many of us know — has kept busy lately wrapping up Fuller House and embarking on new Hallmark projects ... not to mention her bestselling books, multiple endorsements, and cookware line.
But no matter how busy these two get, they will always make time for each other and their family.
Want More Candace? Read Her (and Her Daughter's) Books!
Kindness Starts Here: A 52 Week Journal
Candace Center Stage
Dancing Through Life
For can't-miss news, expert beauty advice, genius home solutions, delicious recipes, and lots more, sign up for the Good Housekeeping newsletter.
