Celebrity Nooz: Jaleel White

Jaleel White (Actor) as Steve Urkel - Family Matters

Updated: 6/20/12

Name: Jaleel White

Born: November 27, 1976, Pasadena, California

Claim To Fame: He is best known for his role as Steve Urkel in Family Matters.

Family Life: He has a daughter with actress Bridget Hardy.

Info: At the age of three, White began appearing in TV commercials, most notably for Jell-o pudding pops with Bill Cosby. His first television role was playing the son of Flip Wilson and Gladys Knight on the CBS series Charlie and Company. Next, he appeared on the CBS comedy series The Jeffersons, and then in the pilot episode for Good Morning, Miss Bliss in 1987.

In 1990, he appeared in the 1990 television movie Camp Cucamonga, which was packed with child stars at the time, including Chad Allen (My Two Dads), Candace Cameron (Full House), Danica McKellar and Josh Saviano (The Wonder Years).

His big role as Steve Urkel on Family Matters came at the age of 12. It was originally only supposed to be a guest appearance, but soon Urkel became so popular that White was offered a full-time starring role. He also played several other members of the Urkel family, including his alter ego Stefan Urquelle and Myrtle Urkel. Write wrote several of the episodes, and one of them turned out to be the series' highest rated for that year.

The series was cancelled in 1998 after a nine-year run, and White found he had a hard time getting away from his Urkel image and into other roles. He stated in one interview, "If you ever see me do that character again, take me out and put a bullet in my head and put me out of my misery."

Trivia: Is the voice of the famed video game character Sonic the Hedgehog in all of the American produced TV shows: Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Sonic Underground (he also voiced Sonic's brother and sister, Manic and Sonia, respectively), as well as a Christmas special.

Provided the voice for a teenaged Martin Luther King, Jr., in Our Friend, Martin (1999).

Attended Henry E. Huntington Middle School in San Marino, California.

Enjoys making homemade ice cream and even considered doing it professionally when he was a teenager.

Likes writing short stories and drawing cartoons.

Attended South Pasadena High School in South Pasadena, California.

Ranked #37 in VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars"

Was considered for a main character role during the casting of "Saved by the Bell" (1989).

Where Are They Now: In 2001, White received his degree in film and television from UCLA. He has continued to act over the years. Some of his credits include the comedy Who Made the Potatoe Salad? in 2006, a guest role on the CW series The Game, and in the ABC legal drama Boston Legal.

He appeared in the web series Road to the Altar in 2009, appearing as a 30-something black man marrying a young Jewish girl named Rochelle. He also appeared on the USA Network series Psych as the college singing buddy of the character Gus.

In 2011, he guest starred on the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet?, appeared in the season 8 premiere of House, and starred in Cee-Lo Green's music video for his song "Cry Baby".

In March 2012, White began appearing as a contestant in season 14 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with two-time dance champion Kym Johnson.

White also hosts the game show Total Blackout which premiered on the Syfy channel on April 25, 2012.

Write To Jaleel White:
Jaleel White
c/o Diverse Talent Group
9911 W. Pico Blvd, suite 350W
Los Angeles, CA 90035

Official Website: http://www.jaleelwhite.com/

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