Jaleel White Bio - Jaleel White Biography

Jaleel White: Biography

Jaleel White spent nine years as the ever annoying and lovable Steve Urkel for Warner Brother's hit series Family Matters. The role of Steve Urkel started out as a guest spot for the 1989 episode "Laura's First Date". The reaction to Steve was overwhelming and it was decided that Steve would stay on the show. Since then Steve Urkel has become one of America's favorite icons of the 1990s. Steve Urkel's image has been made into a talking doll (1991), a cereal called Urkel O's (1992), and spoofed by many television shows. Steve's popularity sent Family Matters into the television history books: The show was one of 21 shows to reach 200 episodes (Cheers, The Simpsons, Married With Children, MASH, and Murphy Brown are a few of the others) and was a hit overseas in Spain and France.

Jaleel started acting in commercials for Jack In The Box and other companies at the age of 3. His first television role was on CBS's The Jeffersons in 1985. He then landed the role of Robert Richmond on CBS's Charlie and Company from 1985-86, which also starred Flip Wilson and Gladys Knight. He did three TV movies prior to Family Matters. They were Silence of the Heart (1984) as Henry, the movie also featured Chad Lowe, Charile Sheen, Alexandra Powers, and the late Dana Hill, Kids Don't Tell (1985) and Leftovers (1986) as Jake. This movie featured Pamela Segall of King of the Hill. Then came the role of Steve on Family Matters in 1989. He then played Dennis Brooks in the TV movie: Camp Cucamonga in 1990. He joined many stars in Magic Johnson's AIDS Awareness video in 1991 and appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show many times.

In 1992, ABC allowed Jaleel to do his own TV Special called: Urkel's Other Side: Jaleel White Special. He wrote starred and directed the entire 1 hour special. It featured Steve, Tatyanna Ali, Bumper Robinson, and others. In 1993, Jaleel did the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog for 3 animated series based on Sonic.

He was featured in the UPN series, Grown Ups as J(aleel) Calvin Frazier. The role was originally written for a white male, but the show creators decided to give the role to him. The series was canceled after one season with an unresolved cliffhanger.

When Jaleel first did Steve, he was 13 and 5' 10. He now stands at 6'0. He lives in a condo in California and enjoys basketball, writing, the NBA, and does not sound like Steve Urkel in real life. He loves New York and does not worry about being typecast as Urkel.

Jaleel: I've never really been an attention hound. I just like doing my job, period.(edit)
Jaleel: (talking about the rumor of him being dead) I don't even know what to say about that darned thing. As much as you try to live your life your right, you're gonna get sucker-punched now and then.(edit)
Jaleel: (on never wanting to play an Urkel-like character again) If you ever see me doing that character again, put a bullet in my head and take me out of my misery.(edit)
Jaleel: Being famous is just a part of my life. It's been that way since I was 12 years old. It doesn't matter. If I'm passing through airport security or whatever, people are always going to recognize me. For me, I appreciate the recognition. Sometimes it comes at inconvenient times or sometimes you'll get somebody that doesn't necessarily handle it with as much class as the next person. But for me, it's really all about work. It's really all about work. I did my job well as a young man. I'm proud of the job I did as a young man and I will continue doing more work. The legacy will just take its own shape. It'll just do what it's going to do.(edit)
Jaleel: I have one rule when it comes to dealing with comedy. Is it funny? So just because people know me for the work that I've done in the past, doesn't necessarily mean that's specifically my sensibility. If it's funny, I'm all for it.(edit)
Jaleel: As much as I try, sometimes I get thrust into the spotlight whether I like it or not.(edit)
Jaleel: Nerds rule the world!(edit)

While filming the last season of Family Matters, Jaleel made $180,000 an episode.(edit)
Jaleel is African American.(edit)
Jaleel hit puberty during the third season of Family Matters, which required him to put a lot more effort into the high pitched voice.(edit)
Jaleel won three Image Awards for his role on Family Matters. He also won a Young Artist Award for the same show.(edit)
Jaleel's favorite sport is basketball and has too many favorite teams to choose from.(edit)
In school Jaleel was an honor student.(edit)
Jaleel is an only child.(edit)
Jaleel is a sucker for Jazz music in real life. (edit)
Jaleel White's favorite food is: Chicken Sat� from Mr. Chow's (edit)
Steve Urkel, Jaleel's well known and well loved character from Family Matters, was named number 98 in 'Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters'.(edit)
Jaleel's parents Michael and Gail are a regular family. His dad is a dentist and his mom is a housewife.(edit)
Jaleel is anti alcohol and anti drug use. He is active in playing a role to help kids who are addicted.(edit)
When Jaleel was trying out for the part of Steve Urkel he wanted to wear a pair of black nerd glasses but couldn�t find a pair so his dad gave him a pair of ones he kept for his occupation. The crew loved the look and the glasses stayed as well as Jaleel. (edit)
One of Jaleel's other favorite hobbies is writing short stories and cartoon drawing.(edit)
Jaleel has many hobbies but one of his is making home made ice-cream. He considered doing it professionally when he was a teen.(edit)
Jaleel played the Tenant #2 in the movie Easier, Softer Way.(edit)
Jaleel went to South Pasadena High School in South Pasadena, California and Henry E Huntington Middle School in San Marino, California.(edit)
Jaleel graduated from UCLA Film School in 2001, with a B.A. in Theatre, Film and Television.(edit)
Jaleel played basketball on a regular basis with fellow actor George Clooney as their TV set�s stage were next to each other.(edit)
Jaleel appeared in the TV special Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You.(edit)
Jaleel played Michael in the movie Who Made the Potato Salad which came out in 2005.(edit)
Jaleel is in post production of the movie Easier, Softer Way as Tenant #2, due out in 2006.(edit)
Jaleel was considered for a main character role during the casting of Screech Powers Saved By The Bell which went to Dustin Diamond.(edit)
After shooting his first scene as Steve Urkel, fifty frat boys in the audience started chanting "Urkel! Urkel! Urkel!" It was then that the producers realized how gifted Jaleel was.(edit)
When auditioning for Family Matters, Jaleel came into the office dressed up as and acted like the Steve Urkel we know from the show.(edit)
Jaleel loves to play basketball.(edit)
Jaleel wasn't allowed to date until he was sixteen.(edit)
Jaleel's role as Steve Urkel is his most known character. People reconize him not as Jaleel but as Steve Urkel!(edit)
Jaleel stands at an even 6' 0".(edit)
Jaleel's role was meant to be a guest shot and not a regular role.(edit)
Jaleel was not allowed to grow facial hair while playing Urkel on Family Matters.(edit)