Jaleel White is an American actor famous for his role as Steve Urkel in the television show “Family Matters“. White’s portrayal of Urkel became an instant hit with audiences, and he went on to be a regular cast member for the show’s entire run of nine seasons. He also reprised his role as Urkel in 2019 for the series “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?” White is also known for being the first actor to voice Sonic the Hedgehog in animated media for “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog”, “Sonic SatAM”, and “Sonic Underground”.
After “Family Matters” ended, White took a brief break from acting to attend UCLA, where he earned a degree in film and television. He returned to acting and took on supporting roles in films such as Dreamgirls and made cameo appearances on TV shows like “Boston Legal”, “House”, “Castle”, and “Psych”. White also participated in season 14 of “Dancing with the Stars” and hosted the Syfy game show “Total Blackout”. In 2020, he had a recurring role in the one-season Netflix series “The Big Show Show”.
What is Jaleel White’s Ethnicity?
Jaleel White, whose birth name is Jaleel Ahmead White, was born on November 27, 1976, in Culver City, California, in the United States. He is the only child of his father, Michael White, who was a dentist, and his mother, Gail White, a homemaker who later became his manager. White identifies as African-American ethnicity and holds American nationality. He is currently 46 years old, as of 2022. His birth sign is Sagittarius and he follows Christianity religion.
White began acting as a child, on the advice of his preschool teacher. He attended John Marshall Fundamental High School and South Pasadena High School before eventually graduating from UCLA in 2001. White’s acting career started with TV commercials at the age of three. He became known for his notable commercial appearance for Jell-O pudding pops with Bill Cosby.
How was the Career of Jaleel White?
- Jaleel White began his acting career at the age of three and landed his first TV role on “The Jeffersons” in 1984. He auditioned for the part of Rudy Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” but was replaced by Keshia Knight Pulliam. In 1985, he played the son of Flip Wilson and Gladys Knight on the CBS sitcom “Charlie and Company”, but the show was canceled in 1986. He also appeared in a few segments of NBC’s “One to Grow On” and had a supporting role in Cadets, a sitcom that wasn’t picked up by the network. White appeared in the pilot episode of “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” and had a guest role on “Mr. Belvedere”. In 1989, he had a role in the NBC TV film “Camp Cucamonga”, which featured an ensemble cast of child actors including Jennifer Aniston and Breckin Meyer.
- At age 12, Jaleel landed his most famous role as Steve Urkel on the TV show “Family Matters”. Initially intended as a one-time guest appearance, the character proved so popular that White was given a full-time starring role and even wrote several episodes. During the show’s heyday, the character was marketed with Urkel-Os cereal and an Urkel doll. However, by the end of the show’s run in 1998, White was disillusioned with the role and struggled to find other work due to being so closely associated with the character. In later years, White came to terms with the role, acknowledging that it was a significant part of his career and life. He even stated that he would consider reprising the character if he could find a way to make it fun for both himself and the audience.
- Whit was also the original English voice actor for Sonic the Hedgehog in the DiC-produced animated series “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog”, “Sonic SatAM”, and “Sonic Underground”, as well as the Christmas special “Sonic Christmas Blast”. In addition to his voice-over work, White returned to television in the UPN sitcom “Grown Ups” in 1999, which he also co-produced and wrote some episodes for. The show was based on White as a college graduate trying to establish his role in life as an adult and debuted in second place in the ratings, but was canceled after one season due to declining ratings. White has also provided his voice for animated films like Warner Bros.’ “Quest for Camelot” and portrayed a teenaged Martin Luther King Jr. in the animated film “Our Friend, Martin” in 1999.
- Jaleel graduated from UCLA in 2001 with a degree in film and television. He continued acting, with small roles in films such as “Big Fat Liar” and “Dreamgirls”, and a lead role in the direct-to-DVD comedy “Who Made the Potatoe Salad?” in 2006. White also appeared in several TV shows, including a guest role on “The Game” and as a law school graduate interviewing for a job at Crane, Poole, and Schmidt in “Boston Legal”. He starred in the web series “Road to the Altar” as well as “Fake It Till You Make It”, which he also wrote and produced. White guest starred on the TBS sitcom “Are We There Yet?”, reuniting with his “Family Matters” castmate Telma Hopkins, and appeared in Cee-Lo Green’s music video for “Cry Baby”.
- In 2011, he made a guest appearance in the season 8 premiere of “House”. White also hosted the Syfy game show “Total Blackout” in 2012 and competed on the 14th season of “Dancing with the Stars”. He was partnered with Kym Johnson and was voted off the series in May 2012. White appeared in a Scion commercial in 2015. In 2017, CBS picked up his single-camera comedy series “Me, Myself & I” with Bobby Moynihan. However, the series was pulled from the fall schedule after six episodes and the remaining seven episodes were aired in the summer.
- Jaleel White has appeared in several films and TV shows over the years. In 2018, he had a recurring role as Atticus Ditto Jr. in season 2 of Trial & Error and played Calvin in two episodes of Fresh Off the Boat. He also provided the voice for Steve Urkel and Urkel Bot in an episode of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? and played Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali in two episodes of Historical Roasts. In addition, White starred in the television film Staging Christmas as Mr. Lexington and made three appearances as Chris Springlakes in Raven’s Home. He played Terence “Terry” Malick III in five episodes of The Big Show Show, and provided the voice for Miner in an episode of Teen Titans Go!. In 2020, he hosted and produced Ever After with Jaleel White, and voiced Gene the Genie in three episodes of DuckTales. In 2021, he made a guest appearance as Eric in one episode of Family Reunion. White will lend his voice and serve as producer for the upcoming television film, Did I Do That to the Holidays? A Steve Urkel Story, and is set to appear in the post-production film, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
Jaleel White Awards and Achievements
- 1985 Young Artist Award: Best Young Actor – Guest in a Television Series for “The Jeffersons” (Nominated)
- 1986 Young Artist Award: Best Young Supporting Actor in a New Television Series for “Charlie & Co.” (Nominated)
- 1991 Outstanding Young Comedian in a Television Series for “Family Matters” (Won)
- 1994 NAACP Image Awards: Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress for “Family Matters” (Won)
- 1995 NAACP Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Family Matters” (Won)
- 1996 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards: Favorite Television Actor for “Family Matters” (Nominated)
- 1996 NAACP Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Family Matters” (Nominated)
- 1997 NAACP Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Family Matters” (Won)
How much is Jaleel White’s net worth?
Jaleel White is a successful American actor and screenwriter who has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry. He has a net worth of $8 million, which is primarily earned from his work on various television shows and movies. His breakthrough role came in 1989 when he played Steve Urkel in the popular sitcom Family Matters. His performance as Steve Urkel and Steffan Urquelle, along with several other characters, won the hearts of many fans and helped him earn a considerable amount of money. According to reports, he made an estimated $250,000 per season, and by the end of the show, he earned a whopping $180,000 per episode, making him one of the highest-paid actors on television. Jaleel has been featured in TV commercials for various brands including Toys R Us, Oreo, Pepsi, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti-O’s, Apple Jacks, Urkel-Os, and Jell-O Pudding Pops.
Apart from Family Matters, Jaleel has appeared in numerous other film and television projects. He has worked on over 100 different projects, which have helped him amass millions of dollars over the years. He has also written several screenplays, which have been well-received by critics and audiences alike. With his impressive acting skills and creative talent, Jaleel White has proven himself to be a versatile and valuable asset in the entertainment industry, and he continues to be an influential figure in Hollywood today.
Who is Jaleel White’s girlfriend?
Jaleel White is unmarried and he is currently single. He has a daughter named Samaya White with his ex-girlfriend Bridget Hardy. He maintains a close relationship with his daughter, sharing glimpses of their moments together on his Instagram account. Bridget, who accused Jaleel of domestic violence and verbal harassment, is an actress, though she has only appeared in a few movies. Jaleel and Bridget started each other in 2006 and parted ways in 2012. In interviews, Jaleel denied Bridget’s allegations, stating that she made them up to gain money and custody of their daughter. Jaleel has no history of violence and has never been arrested, and their problems quickly fizzled out after Jaleel got custody of Samaya. Jaleel and Bridget continue to co-parent their daughter without any arguments or trouble.
While Jaleel has been known to keep his personal life low-key, he has spoken up to clarify the situation and refute the allegations of domestic violence made against him. His relationship with his daughter is heartwarming, and he continues to focus on his career while maintaining a positive co-parenting relationship with Bridget.
How tall is Jaleel White?
Jaleel White is a talented and athletic actor with a height of 5 ft 11 in or 180.5 cm and a weight of 79 kg or 174 lbs. He has an impressive physique, which is toned and well-maintained. Along with his athletic build, Jaleel has several distinctive features, including his flattop haircut, high-pitched voice, trimmed goatee, and a mole on his left cheek.
Jaleel’s black hair and dark brown eyes further complement his striking features, making him a handsome and recognizable actor in the entertainment industry. With his good looks and talent, Jaleel has managed to establish himself as a successful actor with an impressive list of TV and film credits. His charming personality and distinctive looks have made him a fan favorite, and he continues to be a popular figure in Hollywood today.
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