Family Matters, Grown Ups, Dancing With the Stars
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"If you go to talk to Disney about anything related to Mickey Mouse, if you can even get the meeting, you're going to get 50 people in that room. That is the crown jewel of their brand, and so they protect it. And so for better or worse, the crown jewel of my legacy still remains Steve Urkel and Stefan Urquelle." While that might be Jaleel White's legacy, at least in the eyes and minds of a lot of people, he understands that there are many other roles he's been in and doesn't feel completely defined by that role on Family Matters. But how did White get his start, and what's he going to do next now that he's playing much more than just one character? Here's what you need to know about the talented and versatile actor. Read on to discover much more.
Growing Up in California and the Early Years
White was born in Culver City, California to a dentist and a homemaker. Later, his mom became his manager. He went to high school in South Pasadena and then attended UCLA, where he graduated in 2001. But all through his school career he was also focused on acting. His preschool teacher suggested it, and so White started acting as a child. At just three years old, White got his start in TV commercials. One of his most notable commercials was for Jell-O pudding pops, when he appeared along with Bill Cosby. From that small commercial, White began getting other roles offered to him. That got his career off to a good start, and one that he didn't expect to see at such a young age. But the very best of the roles that would launch his career was yet to come.
In 1984, White was cast on The Jeffersons for a small guest role. Then he was supposed to be in The Cosby Show, but the role went to a different person when it was changed to a female. He was in a few other things as he grew up, but nothing that really caught on with fans and critics. Then when he was 12 years old, he was cast in the role that would define him in the eyes of many people going forward: Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. Originally the role was only supposed to be a one-time thing, but the character was so popular that he was written into several other episodes. As more fans started to enjoy his antics, Urkel became a recurring character on the show and stayed with it until it ended in 1998.
Family Matters and Career Highlights
About his work ethic even when he was a child, he has said, "I learned to be on time because, otherwise, you could miss a major opportunity. Also, it's important to live a balanced life, stay healthy, and not waste your money on things like $8 lattes." In addition to playing Steve Urkel, he also played Steve's alter ego and a few members of Urkel's family. There was a doll and a cereal marketed after him, and he wrote several episodes of the show. Unfortunately, after the show ended White was 22 and completed defined by his character on the series. He had trouble finding other roles, simply because he was seen as only being able to play that character. That would fade, but it took some time before White could work in other capacities.
White also did voice-over work in 1993, providing the voice for Sonic the Hedgehog in the original animated series. He voiced several of the other characters, as well. In 1999, he starred in a UPN series called Grown Ups, which was based around a young man becoming an adult and striking out on his own in the world. Critics didn't care for the show, but it did well enough in the ratings to debut in second place when it premeried. After the first season it was canceled, because those ratings had dropped. White has never had another hit like his role as Urkel, but he's continued acting and lending his voice to animated productions. White has a daughter who was born in 2009.
It's likely that fans will see more of White, who's still acting and taking on small roles and guest appearances. When asked about whether he would ever reprise the role of Urkel, White was insistent that he would never say never, but that it was unclear how he could do so in a way that would work for him and the audience. Still, fans can expect to see White in other roles in the future, as he continues to work in the industry. He's still most widely known for his Family Matters role, but has also made it clear through the years since the show ended that his character on that sitcom no longer defines him.
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