Jaleel White played the obnoxious nerd, Steve Urkel for eight or nine years. When the show finished he was in his prime. Do you think having played such a noticeable character made a future in showbizz inevitable? Do you think Jaleel White would have any regrets about portraying the charachter? I think so.

I think it did kill his career. He was then-on and will-be typecast as a nerd for life. have you seen him in any other TV or movie roles lately?

I think that he did kill his career because everytime I see him I do not see Jaleel I see Urkel. I'm glad that he did come along because Family Matters probably would not have as long as it did.

The fact is he wouldn't have had a career anyway if he wasn't for Urkel.

I think that he did kill his career because everytime I see him I do not see Jaleel I see Urkel. I'm glad that he did come along because Family Matters probably would not have as long as it did.


Why? Jaleel doesn;t wear glasses and doesn't have a high pitched voice.

I think it did kill his career. He was then-on and will-be typecast as a nerd for life. have you seen him in any other TV or movie roles lately?
:yeahthat

The fact is he wouldn't have had a career anyway if he wasn't for Urkel.
This is so true. It's not like he was famous before he was Steve, even though he did some comercials. And I think he was in a movie only last year.

Why? Jaleel doesn;t wear glasses and doesn't have a high pitched voice.
He still looks like Steve to me. I guess it's just me or maybe I should say he looks like Stefan :)

He still looks like Steve to me. I guess it's just me or maybe I should say he looks like Stefan :)
Stefan was boring. Maybe that's why he isn't doing so well. Nobody liked him as normal.

At least Jaleel White seems to have a good head on his shoulders and a sense of pride - unlike the other well-known TV geek of the time, Dustin Diamond. puke: Last I saw or heard anything of Jaleel White, it was the ABC 50th Anniversary Special - back in 2003!!

But as hard as it still seems for him to get away from his time as Steve Urkel, Jaleel has done many other things. Because he was the voice of the cartoon character Sonic the hedgehog, and he was one of Ashley's boyfriends on "Fresh Prince in Bel Air", and rather recently, he was in that movie "Who brought the potatoe sallad?"

Jaleel was in Dreamgirls for about 10 seconds in the opening sequence, he worked at the Apollo-like club at the start. That movie had a number of classic sitcom cameos in it tho, like Carmine from Laverne And Shirley and Marla Gibbs.

But as hard as it still seems for him to get away from his time as Steve Urkel, Jaleel has done many other things. Because he was the voice of the cartoon character Sonic the hedgehog, and he was one of Ashley's boyfriends on "Fresh Prince in Bel Air", and rather recently, he was in that movie "Who brought the potatoe sallad?"
"Who brought the potato salad?" WTF??? I know that wasn't an Oscar nominated movie now. ;)

He will always be known as Urkel, bottom line. No one will remember him for some movie with potato salad in the title. :lol:

I haven't seen this movie. I assume it didn't even come over here to Sweden. But it was a romantic comedy, where Jaleel's character meets his girlfriend's parents for the first time. Even if it's not Oscar material, I don't think it's all about potatoe sallad either. :lol:

Haha, no it's not. :lol: Jaleel said in an interview that it's like "Meet The Parents"

Jaleel has been in a number of television projects since his Urkel days. I believe he said that he was grateful for the role as Urkel but doesn't want to play Urkel-like characters anymore.

Didn't he mention that he would like to pursue another career and maybe direct as well.

Yes, many people remember him as Urkel but the show was successful and it was just a role he played just like many other actors play different roles. Urkel brought him fame so you'd think the studios would remember him as well being such a talented actor.

My experience has shown that it's more important for actors to have good agents to find new projects for their clients. Maybe Jaleel has decided that any big movie project is not that important to him at this time. We don't know.

Jaleel has been in a number of television projects since his Urkel days. I believe he said that he was grateful for the role as Urkel but doesn't want to play Urkel-like characters anymore.

Didn't he mention that he would like to pursue another career and maybe direct as well.

Yes, many people remember him as Urkel but the show was successful and it was just a role he played just like many other actors play different roles. Urkel brought him fame so you'd think the studios would remember him as well being such a talented actor.

My experience has shown that it's more important for actors to have good agents to find new projects for their clients. Maybe Jaleel has decided that any big movie project is not that important to him at this time. We don't know.

You're right! Jaleel is very proud and grateful that he played Urkel. I read an interview with him and he said "I love him". But he does not want to play it again. I think it's because he played him for almost 10 years. Jaleel's career ain't killed at all (My opinion). He's still young, and looking forward to write scripts and direct, plus acting.

I once heard that Jaleel doesn't want to do Steve Urkel anymore because of Michelle Thomas, the late actress, who played Steve's girlfriend Myra. Jaleel supposedly was devestated by her premature death in stomach cancer, so much that the doesn't want to do Steve anymore, because he reminds her of Michelle and her death.

Anyway, it's nice to know that Jaleel is still working in show business somewhere. He should be, because he was actually very talented.

Oh yes, that's great he's still working. I've also heard about that he didn't want to play him cause of Myra. I can understand it's hard. He also said in the interview that the cast knew something was going to happen.

Steve Urkel ruined what career?? If it wasn't for that character, Jaleel White probably wouldn't have been as famous as he was. I've seen shows he starred and guest starred in and every character he plays is dull and boring as rocks besides the Urkel character. I'm sorry but that's my personal opinion.. I don't think he wouldn't have gotten far without Family Matters personally.

That's what I'm saying. Steve Urkel did not killed it. It's because of Steve Jaleel has a career, wish not is killed. And as I said, he is still young and working.

I agree too. If he hadn't been Steve Urkel, he maybe wouldn't have been famous at all.

No. The only thing he did before Family Matters was a few guest appearnces and in commercials.

"Who brought the potato salad?" WTF??? I know that wasn't an Oscar nominated movie now. ;)

He will always be known as Urkel, bottom line. No one will remember him for some movie with potato salad in the title. :lol:

:lol:

Haha, true.

That's what I'm saying. Steve Urkel did not killed it. It's because of Steve Jaleel has a career, wish not is killed. And as I said, he is still young and working.
It's like a catch 22. It might have hert his career but it also helped his career at first and he became famous.

Steve Urkel certainly helped propel Jaleel White's career. As happens with most any role like that, it probably did typecast him some as an actor- but he has done a number of other things too. And he is still getting acting work. The "Family Matters" role has helped him along in his career more than held him back, I would say.