Jaleel White facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jaleel White
White at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024
Born	Jaleel Ahmad White (1976-11-27) November 27, 1976 (age 48) Culver City, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1984–present
Spouse(s)	Nicoletta Ruhl ​ (m. 2024)​
Children	1

Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27, 1976) is an American actor. He is famous for playing Steve Urkel on the TV show Family Matters. This show ran from 1989 to 1998. Steve Urkel was only supposed to be in one episode, but he became so popular that Jaleel White became the main star!

Jaleel White was also the first American actor to voice Sonic the Hedgehog. He voiced Sonic in several animated TV shows. These included Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog (also called Sonic SatAM), and Sonic Underground. After Family Matters ended, White continued acting in movies and TV shows.

Early Life and First Roles

Jaleel White was born in Culver City, California. He was the only child of Michael and Gail White. His dad was a dentist, and his mom later became his manager. Jaleel went to high school in Pasadena and South Pasadena. He later graduated from UCLA in 2001.

Jaleel started acting when he was just three years old. His preschool teacher suggested it! He first appeared in TV commercials. One of his most famous commercials was for Jell-O pudding pops with Bill Cosby.

His first TV show role was a guest appearance on The Jeffersons in 1984. He also tried out for the role of Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Jaleel was chosen for the part, which was originally for a boy. But then Bill Cosby decided to make the character a girl, and Keshia Knight Pulliam got the role instead.

In 1985, Jaleel starred as the son of Flip Wilson and Gladys Knight in the sitcom Charlie and Company. This show didn't become as popular as The Cosby Show and was canceled in 1986. Jaleel also appeared in other shows like Mr. Belvedere and the pilot for Good Morning, Miss Bliss. In 1990, he was in the TV movie Camp Cucamonga with many other young actors.

Starring in Family Matters

When Jaleel White was 12, he got his most famous role: Steve Urkel on Family Matters. The character was only meant to be in one episode. But Steve Urkel was so funny and unique that viewers loved him! So, Jaleel became a full-time star on the show.

He didn't just play Steve Urkel. He also played other members of the Urkel family. These included Steve's cool alter ego, Stefan Urquelle, and his cousin, Myrtle Urkel. Because Steve Urkel was so popular, there were even special products like "Urkel-Os" breakfast cereal and an Urkel doll! Jaleel also helped write some episodes of the show. One episode he wrote, when he was 19, was the most watched episode that year. Family Matters was a very popular show and one of the longest-running sitcoms with a mostly Black cast.

After Family Matters ended in 1998, Jaleel was 21 years old. He felt ready to move on from the Urkel character. He also felt sad because his friend and co-star, Michelle Thomas, passed away from cancer around that time. For a while, it was hard for Jaleel to find other acting roles because everyone knew him as Urkel. This is called typecasting.

However, over time, Jaleel became more comfortable with his famous role. He said that he loved playing the characters, but he was also growing up. He realized that he needed to grow as a person and an actor. He has said that he would "never say never" to playing Steve Urkel again if the idea was creative and fun.

Other Career Highlights

White in December 2010

Jaleel White was the first English voice for the famous video game character Sonic the Hedgehog. He started voicing Sonic in 1993. He voiced Sonic in all the DiC animated series. These included Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic SatAM, and Sonic Underground. He also voiced Sonic in the Christmas special, Sonic Christmas Blast. In Sonic Underground, he even voiced Sonic's brother, Manic, and sister, Sonia!

In 1999, Jaleel returned to TV in the sitcom Grown Ups. He played a young man named "J" who was starting his adult life after college. Jaleel also helped produce and write some episodes for this show. Even though it started with good ratings, the show was canceled after one season.

Jaleel White has done many different types of acting. He has voiced characters in animated movies like Quest for Camelot (1998). In 1999, he voiced a teenage Martin Luther King Jr. in Our Friend, Martin.

After graduating from UCLA in 2001 with a degree in film and television, he continued acting. He had small roles in movies like Big Fat Liar and Dreamgirls. He also starred in the comedy film Who Made the Potatoe Salad? in 2006.

Jaleel has appeared in many popular TV shows. These include The Game, Boston Legal, Psych, Are We There Yet?, House, NCIS, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Hawaii Five-0, Castle, and Bones.

In 2012, Jaleel White competed on the 14th season of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with professional dancer Kym Johnson. They performed well and earned good scores. He also hosted the Syfy game show Total Blackout.

More recently, Jaleel starred in the comedy series Me, Myself & I (2017-2018). He has also appeared in Fresh Off the Boat, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? (voicing Steve Urkel again!), Raven's Home, and The Big Show Show. He continues to do voice work for shows like Teen Titans Go! and DuckTales. In 2023, he voiced Steve Urkel again in the animated movie Urkel Saves Santa: The Movie.

Personal Life

Jaleel White is a Christian. He has one daughter with his ex-girlfriend Bridget Hardy. On May 4, 2024, Jaleel married Nicoletta Ruhl in Los Angeles. She works in sports technology.

Jaleel is a big fan of basketball. He used to play pickup games with actor George Clooney. Clooney was filming his show ER in the studio next door.

In November 2024, Jaleel White released his autobiography. In the book, he shares his thoughts on his acting career and his life after playing Steve Urkel. He also has a special memorial in his home for his Family Matters co-star Michelle Thomas, who passed away in 1998.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

Jaleel White has won and been nominated for several awards for his acting.

Images for kids

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  Jaleel White at GalaxyCon in 2024

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  Jaleel White in December 2010

See also

In Spanish: Jaleel White para niños