Jaleel White was one of the biggest Black child stars in TV history. He played the iconic role of ‘Steve Urkel’ on the classic sitcom Family Matters from 1989 to 1998, leaving us with laughs and memories we won’t ever forget. Nearly three decades later, White is ready to speak on his experience as a child star in his new memoir “Growing Up Urkel.” The book released on Nov. 19, and there are a ton of interesting moments to address, but today we’ll dive deeper into these four.
4. His college hated him
One of the funnier revelations came from actress Gabrielle Union. She and White went to UCLA together back in the day, and Union recognized the “Family Matters” star. White spoke about years later when Union was established as a Hollywood star that she confessed to him “everybody on campus hated” him. Apparently, White didn’t try to blend in at all and that caught the ire of his classmates. “‘We couldn’t stand you, Jaleel. The rest of us couldn’t afford Top Ramen, could barely afford our books. We’re working in a shitty bookstore, and you walked in there and made us price out a display bear for $500,” Union told White. “We hated you and your Range Rover, always driving around, playing loud music.”
3. Lots of L’s with the ladies
White spoke on how hard it was for him to find love after he became a celebrity star. He was used for “clout” by a lot of women. He mentioned going on a date with a 16-year old Bianca Lawson, who would later become a famous actress herself. He said she seemed uninterested the entire date until they visited an arcade and she needed money. The relationship didn’t go anywhere but White later realized that same girl from the date was cast on “Saved By The Bell: The New Class,” which was pretty coincidental. There was another situation with a young Rashida Jones where he wrote his number on a piece of paper for her and after giving her the number, she raised the slip in the air and told everybody he was trying to talk to her.
2. The ‘bulge’
White started playing the role of Urkel at 12 years old and kept playing him into his manhood at 21. Obviously, during that time puberty takes place and teenager bodies start to change. Once the producers of the show noticed Urkel noticeably growing in certain areas, which his pulled up and super tight pants accentuated, they didn’t hold back in telling him. “It was decided that I would no longer wear jeans, because they just looked just too tight,” White said on SiriusXM’s “The D.A. Show With Babchick” while promoting his new book, “Growing Up Urkel. “And if you’ll notice, on the final season of Family Matters, Steve only wears khakis.”
1. Basketball Drama
One of White’s favorite pastimes was playing ball and he had the opportunity to meet many of his favorite hoopers. Two he mentioned were Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Jordan once pulled up to a live episode of “Family Matters” and White claims they couldn’t even finish the show until MJ left due to everybody showing so much love for MJ at every possible break. When he met Johnson, he spoke about seeing him “exposed” inside the locker room. He claimed Johnson was barely holding onto a towel as Johnson gave him a signed pair of shoes.
