Jaleel White
| Jaleel H. White | |
|---|---|
 White in December 2010 |
|
| Born | Jaleel Ahmad White November 27, 1977 Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, Screenwriter |
| Years active | 1984 — present |
Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27, 1977) is an American actor and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Steven Urkel from Family Matters[1] and voicing the character of Sonic the Hedgehog and other characters for Sonic the Hedgehog media.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Early life
White was born in Pasadena, California, the son of Michael White, a dentist, and Gail, a manager.[2] White got his start on TV commercials at age three with Kellogg's after his preschool teacher persuaded his reluctant parents to take him to auditions.
[edit] Career
White landed his first television role as the son of Flip Wilson and Gladys Knight on the CBS series Charlie and Company. He next appeared on another CBS comedy series, The Jeffersons. White also appeared in the pilot episode for Good Morning, Miss Bliss in 1987, and had a role in the 1990 television movie Camp Cucamonga, which also featured Chad Allen (My Two Dads), Candace Cameron (Full House), Danica McKellar and Josh Saviano (The Wonder Years), Breckin Meyer and Jennifer Aniston.
[edit] Family Matters
At the age of 12, shortly after starring in a TV commercial for the Atari Lynx portable video game system, White originated his most famous role, Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. The role was initially conceived as a one-time guest appearance, but the character proved to be popular and White was given a full-time starring role. He also played several other members of the Urkel family, including his alter ego Stefan Urquelle and Myrtle Urkel. During the height of Family Matters' popularity, the character of Urkel was marketed with breakfast cereal (Urkel-Os) and a doll.[3] In addition to starring in the series, White also wrote several episodes, including one, at age 19, that was the series' highest rated for that year.[2][4]
When the series was cancelled in 1998 after nine years, White had grown tired of the role. Shortly after the series' cancellation, he stated in an 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."[5] Due to the character's popularity, White was so tightly defined by his Urkel character that it became hard for him to get other roles.
[edit] Post-Family Matters career
In 1999, White returned to television in the UPN sitcom Grown Ups. The series was based around White as a young man striking out into adulthood. He also co-produced and wrote episodes for the show, in which he starred as "J", a college graduate struggling to establish his role in life as an adult. The pilot episode featured another former child actor, Soleil Moon Frye, known for her role as Punky Brewster, as the girl whom he chose as a roommate.[6] The series failed to attract viewers and was canceled after one season.
White's acting roles have not been restricted to sitcoms, however; he has done voice work for several animated projects including the 1998 film Quest for Camelot. In 1999, he provided the voice for a teenaged Martin Luther King, Jr., in Our Friend, Martin.
He was also 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.
In 2001, White graduated from UCLA with a degree in film and television.[7] He has continued acting and has had small parts in the films Big Fat Liar and Dreamgirls, and was featured as the lead role in the comedy Who Made the Potatoe Salad? in 2006. In 2007, he guest-starred on the CW series The Game, followed by a role as a law school graduate interviewing for a job at Crane, Poole and Schmidt in the ABC legal drama Boston Legal.
In June 2009, White began appearing in the web series Road to the Altar.[8] In the series, White stars as Simon, a 30-something black man marrying a young Jewish girl named Rochelle. In September 2009, White guest starred on the USA Network series Psych, as an estranged college singing buddy of the character Gus.
In June 2010, White starred in the web series Fake It Till You Make It. He also serves as writer and producer of the series.[9] The series follows the exploits of a former child star (White) turned image consultant and his three protégés as they hustle to navigate Hollywood.[10]
In March 2011, White guest starred on the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet?, which reunited him with fellow Family Matters cast member Telma Hopkins. Later that same year, White appeared as the star in Cee-Lo Green's music video for his song "Cry Baby".
White also appeared in the season 8 premiere of House, titled "Twenty Vicodin", where he appears as a well-connected inmate, occasionally helping Hugh Laurie's character Gregory House to sneak contraband into the prison.[11]
White appears in episode 13 of season 9 of NCIS as a young man looking to purchase a building or area of a building.
White will appear in season 14 of Dancing with the Stars where he will be partnered with two-time dance champ Kym Johnson.[12]
[edit] Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Jeffersons | Van Van Morris | Episode: "Ebony and Ivory" |
| 1984 | Silence of the Heart | Hanry | Television movie Uncredited |
| 1985 | Charlie & Co. | Robert Richmond | 18 episodes |
| 1986 | The Leftovers | Jake | Television movie |
| 1987 | Mr. Belvedere | Ernie Masters | Episode: "Jobless" |
| 1987 | Good Morning, Miss Bliss | Bobby Wilson | Episode: Pilot |
| 1989–1998 | Family Matters | Steve Urkel Stefan Urquelle Myrtle Urkel Bruce Lee Urkel |
204 episodes |
| 1990 | Camp Cucamonga | Dennis Brooks | Television movie |
| 1991 | Full House | Steve Urkel | Episode: "Stephanie Gets Framed" |
| 1993 | Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog (voice) | 65 episodes |
| 1993–1994 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog (voice) | 26 episodes |
| 1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Derek | Episode: "Not with My Cousin You Don't" |
| 1997 | Meego | Steve Urkel | Episode: "Love and Money" |
| 1998 | Quest for Camelot | Bladebeak | |
| 1999–2000 | Grown Ups | J. Calvin Frazier | 22 episodes |
| 1999–2000 | Sonic Underground | Sonic, Manic, & Sonia (voices) | 40 episodes |
| 2002 | Big Fat Liar | Himself | Uncredited |
| 2005 | Half & Half | Hershel | Episode: "The Big State of the Reunion Episode" |
| 2006 | Miracle Dogs Too | Leo | |
| 2006 | Puff, Puff, Pass | Tenant #2 | Uncredited |
| 2006 | Who Made the Potatoe Salad? | Michael | |
| 2006 | Dreamgirls | Talent Booker | |
| 2007 | The Game | Chris | Episode: "The Big Chill" |
| 2007 | Boston Legal | Kevin Givens | Episode: "Guise 'n Dolls" |
| 2008 | Kissing Cousins | Antwone | |
| 2008 | Green Flash | Jason Bootie | Direct-to-DVD release Alternative title: Beach Kings |
| 2009 | Call of the Wild | Dr. Spencer | |
| 2009 | Psych | Tony | Episode: "High Top Fade Out" |
| 2010 | Fake It Till You Make It | Reggie Culkin | 10 episodes |
| 2010 | Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus | Dr. McCormick | |
| 2011 | The Problem Solverz | K-999 (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Are We There Yet? | Ray Savage | Episode: "The Nick Gets Jealous Episode" |
| 2011 | Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer | Mr. Todd | |
| 2011 | House | Portland | Episode: "Twenty Vicodin" |
| 2012 | Guardians of Luna | Kahn (voice) | Direct-to-DVD release Filming |
| 2012 | NCIS | Martin | Episode: "A Desperate Man" |
[edit] Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actor - Guest in a Television Series | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
| 1986 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Supporting Actor in a New Television Series | Charlie & Co. | Nominated |
| 1991 | Young Artist Award | Outstanding Young Comedian in a Television Series | Family Matters | Won |
| 1994 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress | Family Matters | Won |
| 1995 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress | Family Matters | Won |
| 1996 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Family Matters | Nominated |
| 1997 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Family Matters | Won |
| 1996 | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Television Actor | Family Matters | Nominated |
[edit] References
- ^ Braxton, Greg (2010-06-18). "Jaleel White fondly recalls playing Urkel on 'Family Matters'". LA Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/18/entertainment/la-et-urkel-20100618. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ a b Jaleel White Biography (1977)
- ^ "Family Matters: 1989-1998". People. 2000-06-26. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20131627,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
- ^ Rhudy, Ben (2006-11-12). "M&C Exclusive Interview: Jaleel White talks "Who Made the Potatoe Salad?"". monstersandcritics.com. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/dvd/features/article_1221104.php/M&C_Exclusive_Interview_Jaleel_White_talks_%93Who_Made_the_Potatoe_Salad%94. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
- ^ Noxon, Christopher (1999-08-22). "Jaleel White ('Don't Call Me Urkel') Grows Up". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E3D61739F931A1575BC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (1999-09-10). "Mo' and More". ew.com. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,270659,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
- ^ "Star Graduate". Jet. 2001-07-09. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_4_100/ai_76513102?tag=content;col1. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
- ^ "Jaleel White: From Urkel to the 'Altar'!". etonline.com. 2009-06-19. http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/06/73336/index.html. Retrieved 2009-07-02.[dead link]
- ^ Tambay. "Steve Urkel Returns With A Web Series Called "Fake It Till You Make It!"". http://www.shadowandact.com/?p=25053. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ^ "New Web-series Fake It Til You Make It From Jaleel White". http://www.nerdsociety.com/2010/06/01/new-web-series-fake-it-til-you-make-it-from-jaleel-white/. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ^ "House Goes to Jail with Steve Urkel". Running Lip. Mersion Media. http://runninglip.com/tv/2011/09/dr-house-goes-to-jail-with-steve-urkel/. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ "Dancing with the Stars Cast Announced". http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20574087,00.html. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jaleel White |
|
|||||
- Actors from California
- African American film actors
- African American television actors
- African American child actors
- American child actors
- American screenwriters
- American voice actors
- African American voice actors
- Living people
- People from Pasadena, California
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni
- 1976 births
- Young Artist Award winners
