Candace Cameron Bure Husband: Meet Former NHL Star Valeri Bure
Candace Cameron Bure, the American actress best known for playing D.J. Tanner on Full House and Fuller House, has been married to former professional ice hockey player Valeri “Val” Bure since June 22, 1996. The couple met in 1994 after being introduced by her Full House co-star Dave Coulier at a charity hockey game. Their marriage has lasted more than three decades, and they share three adult children, Natasha, Lev, and Maksim. The couple have also entered a new chapter of family life as grandparents.
Bure, who became a household name through her childhood television career, married Valeri when she was just 20 years old. At the time, he was building his professional hockey career in the National Hockey League, while she was transitioning from her early success on Full House into adulthood.
Their relationship has attracted renewed attention as Candace continues discussing marriage, family, and personal challenges in interviews and television appearances. Beyond their entertainment and sporting careers, the couple have also worked together in business, including establishing a wine venture in California’s Napa Valley.
Who Is Valeri Bure? His Hockey Career and Marriage to Candace Cameron Bure
Valeri Bure was born on June 13, 1974, in Moscow, then part of the Soviet Union. He grew up in a family with strong sporting connections and eventually followed his older brother, Pavel Bure, into professional ice hockey.
Pavel became one of the NHL’s most recognisable players, earning the nickname Russian Rocket for his exceptional speed. Valeri developed his own career as a right winger, establishing himself as a skilled offensive player with international experience.
Valeri moved to North America during his teenage years and continued developing his hockey abilities. He played junior hockey with the Spokane Chiefs before beginning his professional career with the Montreal Canadiens.
He made his NHL debut in 1995 and went on to play for several franchises, including the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Dallas Stars. His professional career extended across more than a decade, although injuries eventually affected his ability to continue playing.
One of his strongest NHL seasons came with the Calgary Flames, where he established himself as a productive scorer. His performances demonstrated his offensive abilities and helped him build a reputation beyond his famous family name.
Valeri also represented Russia in international competition. He won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano and a bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
His Olympic achievements remain among the most significant accomplishments of his hockey career. Competing internationally also placed him among a generation of Russian players who became prominent figures in North American professional hockey.
Valeri’s personal life changed in 1994 when he met Candace Cameron at a charity hockey game. The actress attended the event with her Full House co-star Dave Coulier, who helped introduce the pair.
At the time, Candace was already well known for her role as D.J. Tanner on the popular ABC sitcom. Valeri was pursuing his hockey career, and their relationship brought together two people working in very different professional environments.
The couple began dating after their introduction and developed a serious relationship over the following two years. They married on June 22, 1996, when Candace was 20 and Valeri was 22.
Their wedding took place shortly after Full House completed its original television run. The timing marked an important transition for Candace, who was moving from childhood fame into married life.
During the early years of their marriage, Valeri continued travelling extensively for hockey. His schedule involved training, regular-season games, and frequent moves associated with professional sports.
Candace has spoken publicly about the importance of communication, commitment, and shared values in maintaining their relationship. She has also acknowledged that marriage requires effort and that long-term relationships experience difficult periods.
Valeri retired from professional hockey in 2005 after injuries affected his career. His retirement allowed him to explore business opportunities and spend more time with his family.
Candace Cameron Bure and Valeri Bure’s relationship began through a chance introduction at a hockey game and developed into one of Hollywood’s longer-lasting marriages. Their shared commitment to family has remained central to their relationship despite demanding careers in entertainment and professional sports.
Their marriage has continued through major career changes, raising children, and the transition into a new stage of family life.
Candace Cameron Bure and Valeri Bure’s Children, Business and Family Life
Candace Cameron Bure and Valeri Bure have three children together: Natasha, Lev, and Maksim. Their eldest daughter, Natasha, was born in 1998, followed by their sons Lev in 2000 and Maksim in 2002.
The couple welcomed their children while Valeri was still playing professional hockey. During those years, Candace reduced some of her acting commitments to focus on raising their family.
Natasha Bure has followed her mother into the entertainment industry, pursuing opportunities in acting, music, and social media. She has appeared in television and film projects while developing her own public identity.
Their son Lev has generally maintained a more private life, although his personal milestones have occasionally attracted attention because of his parents’ public profiles. Maksim, the couple’s youngest child, has also largely remained outside the entertainment spotlight.
Candace has frequently discussed the experience of raising three children while maintaining a marriage and working in television. Her comments often focus on family relationships, parenting, and the changes that come as children become adults.
The actress and her husband have also celebrated becoming grandparents, marking another important stage in their family life. Candace has spoken warmly about the experience and the excitement of welcoming a new generation into the family.
Outside parenting, the couple have pursued business interests together. After leaving professional hockey, Valeri developed an interest in winemaking and became involved in California’s wine industry.
He and Candace established Bure Family Wines in Napa Valley, combining their family name with Valeri’s interest in wine production. The business became an important part of his professional life after hockey.
Valeri’s transition from professional athlete to entrepreneur represented a significant career change. Rather than remaining involved exclusively in sports, he pursued a business that required knowledge of vineyards, wine production, and the competitive California wine market.
Candace continued developing her entertainment career during the same period. She returned to widespread television attention through Fuller House, the Netflix continuation of the original sitcom.
The series reunited several members of the original cast and introduced the Tanner family to a new generation of viewers. Candace reprised her role as D.J. Tanner-Fuller, becoming one of the show’s central characters.
She has also appeared in numerous television films, particularly family dramas and holiday productions. Her career has included work with Hallmark before she moved into a prominent role with Great American Family.
Throughout these professional changes, Valeri has remained a significant presence in her personal life. Although he occasionally appears alongside Candace in public photographs and social media posts, he generally maintains a lower profile than his wife.
Their marriage has also attracted attention because Candace regularly discusses her Christian faith and its influence on family relationships. She has described shared beliefs as an important part of the foundation of their marriage.
However, Candace has not presented their relationship as being free from challenges. She has acknowledged that maintaining a marriage over several decades involves disagreements, personal growth, and a willingness to work through difficult situations.
Recent television appearances have brought additional attention to her relationship with Valeri. While discussing the physical and emotional demands of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, Candace became emotional when reflecting on her husband’s support and their family connection.
Her comments offered another glimpse into a marriage that has continued through nearly every stage of her adult life. Valeri has remained part of her journey from young television actress to mother, entrepreneur, and established entertainment personality.
The couple celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in June 2026, an important milestone for a relationship that began when both were in their early twenties. Their anniversary also highlighted how much their lives have changed since their first meeting in 1994.
Candace and Valeri Bure have built a family with three adult children while pursuing successful careers in entertainment, professional sports, and business. Their marriage has remained a central part of Candace’s public story, particularly as they celebrate major family milestones and embrace grandparenthood.
Although their careers have taken different directions, they continue to share a long personal history that began well before Candace’s later television success and Valeri’s retirement from hockey.
Candace Cameron Bure’s husband, Valeri Bure, is a former NHL player and Olympic medalist who married the actress in June 1996. From their first meeting at a charity hockey game to raising three children and establishing a family business, the couple have shared several decades of important milestones. Their marriage remains one of the most enduring relationships associated with the former Full House star.
