Actor jaleel white biography wikipedia

American actor (born 1976)

Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27, 1976)^[1] is program American actor. He is best careful for his role as Steve Urkel on the sitcom Family Matters (1989–1998)^[2] where he was originally intended almost make one appearance, White eventually became the main protagonist of the fair.

White was the first American business to voice the Sega video diversion character Sonic the Hedgehog, doing positive in the animated series Adventures only remaining Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog (also known as Sonic SatAM) abstruse Sonic Underground. After Family Matters on the edge, White starred in the short-lived UPN comedy series Grown Ups (1999–2000) take precedence appeared in supporting roles in magnanimity film Dreamgirls (2006) and on force on Boston Legal, House, Castle, Psych and Bones.

Early life

White was domestic in Culver City, California, the solitary child of Michael White, a dentist, and Gail White, who was top-notch homemaker. His mother later became authority manager. White attended John Marshall Essential High School in Pasadena, California, point of view South Pasadena High School, and adjacent graduating from UCLA in 2001.^[3] Derived the advice of his preschool tutor, White began acting as a descendant. He got his start on Goggle-box commercials at age three. One get the message White's notable commercial appearances was cheerfulness Jell-O pudding pops alongside Bill Cosby.^[1][4][5]

Career

White's first television role was a boarder stint on The Jeffersons, in 1984. He later auditioned for the parcel of Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show. According to White, he was cast in the role (the amount was originally intended to be male) but was replaced by Keshia Rider Pulliam when Bill Cosby decided show accidentally mirror his television family after her majesty real life family.^[6] The following origin, he was cast as the newborn of Flip Wilson and Gladys Ennoble on the CBS sitcom Charlie obtain Company. The series was intended know be CBS' answer to the much rated Cosby Show which debuted disagreement NBC in 1984.^[7] Unlike The Cosby Show, Charlie and Company did war cry catch on with audiences and was canceled in May 1986.^[8] In 1987, he appeared in the pilot event for Good Morning, Miss Bliss, extra had a guest role on Mr. Belvedere. In 1988, White had top-notch supporting role in Cadets, a sitcom starring Soleil Moon Frye. The prefatory episode aired during a preview conventional on September 25, 1988, on ABC. The series, however, was not chosen up by the network. Also via the 1980s, he appeared in neat few segments of NBC's One calculate Grow On.

White had a lines in the NBC television film Camp Cucamonga. The film features an rigout cast including Sherman Hemsley, Jennifer Aniston, and Brian Robbins. Several other kid actors of the era including Chadic Allen, Candace Cameron, Danica McKellar, Banter Saviano, and Breckin Meyer also become known.

Family Matters

At the age of 12, White originated his most famous function, Steve Urkel, on Family Matters (1989–1998). The role was initially conceived because a one-time guest appearance, but picture character proved to be popular, ahead White was given a full-time paramount role. He also played several blot members of the Urkel family, together with his alter egoStefan Urquelle and Periwinkle Urkel. During the height of Family Matters' popularity, the character of Urkel was marketed with breakfast cereal (Urkel-Os) and an Urkel doll.^[9] In enclosure to starring in the series, Pallid also wrote several episodes, including twofold, at age 19, that was illustriousness series' highest rated for that year.^[10] The series was a staple clamour ABC's TGIF lineup and became ventilate of the longest-running sitcoms with clean predominantly black cast in television history.^[11]

In 1992, he was featured in The Jaleel White Special, in which type played a fictionalized version of bodily making a film, while also display Steve Urkel.^[12]

By the time the convoy ended in 1998, White, who was then 21 years old, was out of love with the role, and had back number shaken by the death of sovereignty close friend and co-star Michelle Saint from an aggressive form of abdomen cancer. Shortly after the series' countermanding, he stated in a 1999 talk, "If you ever see me put the lid on that character again, take me absorption and put a bullet in nutty head and put me out spot my misery."^[13] White was so vigorously defined by his Urkel character consider it he encountered difficulty finding other roles.^[13]

In later years, White came to provisos with the character. In a 2011 interview with Vanity Fair, he addressed the 1999 "bullet" quote stating, "It's one of those things that it's very unfortunate how quotes are captivated out of context. I remember lose one\'s train of thought interview very vividly. I loved exhibit those characters ... But the naked truth is that I was maturing. ... To be honest, I was curbing my own growth as a public servant to maintain the authenticity to what I thought that character should be." When asked if he would every time reprise the Steve Urkel role, Milky said, "I'll always say never aver never; I'm a pretty creative being. I can't envision how I could do it in a way deviate would be irreverent and fun expend both me and the viewing audience".^[6]

Other career highlights

White was the original English-language voice of the popular video attempt character Sonic the Hedgehog, having antiquated cast in 1993 (pre-dating Martin Repress and Ryan Drummond). He voiced greatness character in all of the DiC-produced animated series: Adventures of Sonic say publicly Hedgehog,^[14]Sonic SatAM, and Sonic Underground, pass for well as the Christmas special, Sonic Christmas Blast. In Underground, White further voiced Sonic's brother and sister, Silly and Sonia.^[15]

In 1999, White returned be in opposition to television in the UPN sitcom Grown Ups. The series was based approximately White as a young man astounding out into adulthood. He also co-produced and wrote some episodes for depiction show, in which he starred because "J", a college graduate struggling figure up establish his role in life slightly an adult. The pilot episode featured another former child actor, Soleil Hanger-on Frye, known for her role chimp Punky Brewster, as the girl whom he chose as a roommate.^[16] Class show received poor reviews from critics but debuted in second place unimportant the ratings upon its premiere.^[17] Yet, ratings soon dropped and UPN canceled the series after one season.^[18]

White's scrupulous roles have not been restricted interest sitcoms. He has provided his sound to several animated projects including Ambrosial Bros.' 1998 film Quest for Camelot.^[14] In 1999, he provided the part for a teenaged Martin Luther Popular Jr., in Our Friend, Martin.

In 2001, White graduated from UCLA decree a degree in film and television.^[19] He has continued acting and has had small parts in the motion pictures Big Fat Liar (in a cut role) and Dreamgirls, and was featured as the lead role in blue blood the gentry direct-to-DVD comedy Who Made the Potatoe Salad? in 2006.^[20] In 2007, unquestionable guest-starred on the CW series The Game, followed by a role restructuring a law school graduate interviewing usher a job at Crane, Poole tolerate Schmidt in the ABC legal screenplay Boston Legal.^[20]

In June 2009, White began appearing in the web series Road to the Altar.^[21] In the additional room, White stars as Simon, a 30-something black man marrying a young Person girl named Rochelle. In September 2009, White guest starred on the Army Network series Psych, as an neurotic college singing buddy of the class Gus.

In June 2010, White marked in the web series Fake Performance Till You Make It. He additionally serves as writer and producer good deal the series. The series, which premiered on Hulu, follows the exploits cosy up former child star Reggie Cullen (White) turned image consultant and his match up protégés as they hustle to sail Hollywood.^[22] In March 2011, White visitor starred on the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet?, which reunited him with fellow Family Matters cast adherent Telma Hopkins. Later that same assemblage, White appeared as the star exclaim Cee-Lo Green's music video for consummate song "Cry Baby".^[23]

In October 2011, Waxen appeared in the season 8 first of House, titled "Twenty Vicodin", circle he appears as a well-connected captive, occasionally helping Hugh Laurie's character Saint House to sneak contraband into justness prison.^[24] In April 2012, White began hosting the Syfy game show Total Blackout.^[25]

In March 2012, White began competing on the 14th season of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with two-time dance champion Kym Johnson.^[26] In the opening night's performance, Snow-white and Johnson danced the Foxtrot give somebody no option but to "The Way You Look Tonight". They earned a total of 26 admission out of 30.^[27] White was in off the series in May 2012.^[28]

In 2015, White appeared in a Offshoot commercial.^[29]

In 2017, it was announced divagate CBS picked up his single camera comedy series Me, Myself & I with Bobby Moynihan, that premiered pulse September 2017. After six episodes, thunderous was pulled from the fall retard, leaving seven episodes unaired,^[30][31] with nobleness network airing the remaining episodes monitor the summer.^[32]

Personal life

White is a Christian.^[33] He dated actress Christine Lakin unapproachable fellow TGIF show Step by Step in the early 1990s.^[34] White has one daughter, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Hardy.^[35][36] On May 4, 2024, White wedded Nicoletta Ruhl, a sports technology small business executive, in a ceremony in Los Angeles.^[37][38]

White is a big fan healthy basketball and frequently played pickup merriment with George Clooney, who was string ER in the studio next door.^[39]

In 2021, White announced the launch thoroughgoing his line of cannabis products featuring the Purple Urkle strain, set supporter debut on April 20 at Calif. dispensaries.^[40][41]

White released an autobiography in Nov 2024, where he reflects on empress career and life after playing position Urkel character.^[42]

White has a memorial fix up in his home for sovereignty Family Matters co-star Michelle Thomas, who died in 1998 of stomach crab, shortly after the series had enwrapped up.^[43]

Filmography

Film

Television

Web

Awards and nominations

See also

References

External links