Jaleel White Says His Life Really Started the Day ‘Family Matters’ Ended

In case you missed it: Unforgettable Legacy: A Tam Fam DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE featuring ’90s TV star Jaleel White. In his new memoir Growing Up Urkel, Jaleel reflects on his iconic role as Steve Urkel on Family Matters and the lasting impact it’s had on his career. He also shares insights into his life with his new wife and daughter. Originally aired in November 2024, this special was re-broadcast yesterday on the Tamron Hall show.

Before becoming famous as Steve Urkel on Family Matters, Jaleel White had guest spots on several other TV shows, including The Jeffersons and Full House. The iconic “Did I do that?” line wasn’t originally scripted. Jaleel improvised it, and it quickly became one of TV’s most memorable catchphrases.

Outside of acting, Jaleel has voiced several characters, including Sonic the Hedgehog in the animated series Sonic the Hedgehog (1993-1994), showcasing his talent for voice acting. Jaleel is a skilled musician and plays the piano, which he sometimes incorporates into his personal life and performances.

After Family Matters ended, Jaleel attended UCLA, where he graduated with a degree in film and television production, showing his interest in behind-the-scenes work in the industry.

Jaleel was an accomplished athlete in high school, excelling in track and field and even setting records in certain events. Jaleel has also worked behind the camera as a producer, directing and producing various TV projects, including the show Road to the Altar.

Jaleel began acting at a very young age, making his first appearance on The Jeffersons when he was just 3 years old! Initially, Steve Urkel was meant to be a recurring character on Family Matters, but his popularity with viewers led to him becoming the central character.

Jaleel is passionate about sports, particularly basketball, and is a loyal supporter of the Los Angeles Lakers. After Family Matters, Jaleel faced challenges with being typecast as Steve Urkel, but he worked hard to break out of that mold, taking on different roles in film and TV.

Jaleel White hosts the new game show The Flip Side which premiered on CBS stations in the fall of 2024. The show is a trivia game where two teams compete against each other to see who has the best intuition about how different groups of people feel about an issue.

In 2024, Jaleel released his memoir Growing Up Urkel, which gives fans a deeper look into his life, his time on Family Matters, and his journey to finding himself beyond his famous character. See more photos and video clip inside…