Jaleel White Embraces His "Urkel" Past - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-17-2009, 01:04 AM

TWoP: You were worried people would compare him to Urkel?

White: Yeah, because it's a character, you know? The whole thing about my life and my career is that it's a trajectory. I'm 33 years old, and I'll share one of my favorite stories with you, that should really tell you how I feel about my own character. I was at a party one time, and Laurence Fishburne came up to me. We connected instantly; great guy, cool actor, man. And he said, "You know, I did a movie when I was younger called 'Cornbread and Earl,' and everywhere I went people would call me 'Cornbread.' A few years passed me by, and I did another movie called 'The Matrix.' Now I can't get on a subway or get in a taxi cab without somebody calling me 'Morpheus.'" And he patted me on the shoulder and said, "You just keep doing what you're doing." I've never really shared that story with anybody else before now, but when people ask me, "How do you feel about your past?" I always jump back to that. It's a journey. Morpheus used to be on "Pee-Wee's Playhouse." It's a journey.

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/urkels-back...tcom-icon--408

80sTrivia · 06-17-2009, 04:48 AM

Great anecdote... I'm glad Jaleel can come to terms with forever being called "Urkel".

Jessica · 06-17-2009, 10:31 AM

Jaleel is a great guy! After playing Steve Urkel for 10 years so of course he will always be known for that.

browneyes106 · 06-18-2009, 08:51 PM

Jaleel will be on Entertainment Tonight tomorrow.

Jessica · 06-18-2009, 09:24 PM

Wow! But of course that will be on American TV. I'd like to watch it.

Furienna · 07-10-2009, 07:54 PM

It's a bit sad though, that he hasn't had much of a career since "Family Matters" ended, since he was such a great actor.

Jessica · 07-10-2009, 09:23 PM

Yes, he'll always be known as Steve, but that's what happen when you're in a show for I long time. He is currently doing a short show called "Road To The Altar" where he plays a character named Simon. It's in 10 episodes, and thre are 4 episodes out at the moment. Each episode is about 5 minutes long, and it's shown on youtube and on myspace.

andress_jade · 07-21-2009, 01:48 AM

Jaleel did play on an episode of Fresh Prince as Ashley's boyfriend. His character was leaving town to go to college and wanted he and Ashley to have sex for the first time before he left. Ashley thought about it and decided she wasn't ready, he understood and that was that. It was a really good episode and it was a nice change from his "Urkel" persona. He always played a good guy.

andress_jade · 07-21-2009, 01:57 AM

Jaleel played on an episode of Fresh Prince as Ashley's boyfriend. His character, Derek wanted he and Ashley to have sex for the first time since he was leaving for college. Ashley thought about it and decided she wasn't ready. Derek understood and that was that. It was a really good episode. He always played a good guy.

Schmoopie · 07-21-2009, 02:10 AM

That's great advice that he got from Lawrence Fishburn of all people! How cool is that?! Jaleel has nothing to be ashamed of in being forever remembered as Steve Urkel. That will definitely be his legacy. I would like to see him in some other shows, now that he's all "grown up".

Andrea

Furienna · 07-21-2009, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andress_jade

Jaleel played on an episode of Fresh Prince as Ashley's boyfriend. His character, Derek wanted he and Ashley to have sex for the first time since he was leaving for college. Ashley thought about it and decided she wasn't ready. Derek understood and that was that. It was a really good episode. He always played a good guy.

I remember that episode.

Jaleel was also Sonic on "Sonic the hedgehog".

Jessica · 07-21-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furienna

I remember that episode.

Jaleel was also Sonic on "Sonic the hedgehog".

Yes. He was a good voice actor.

06-17-2009, 01:04 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Jaleel White Embraces His "Urkel" Past TWoP: You were worried people would compare him to Urkel? White: Yeah, because it's a character, you know? The whole thing about my life and my career is that it's a trajectory. I'm 33 years old, and I'll share one of my favorite stories with you, that should really tell you how I feel about my own character. I was at a party one time, and Laurence Fishburne came up to me. We connected instantly; great guy, cool actor, man. And he said, "You know, I did a movie when I was younger called 'Cornbread and Earl,' and everywhere I went people would call me 'Cornbread.' A few years passed me by, and I did another movie called 'The Matrix.' Now I can't get on a subway or get in a taxi cab without somebody calling me 'Morpheus.'" And he patted me on the shoulder and said, "You just keep doing what you're doing." I've never really shared that story with anybody else before now, but when people ask me, "How do you feel about your past?" I always jump back to that. It's a journey. Morpheus used to be on "Pee-Wee's Playhouse." It's a journey. http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/urkels-back...tcom-icon--408
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06-17-2009, 04:48 AM	#2
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	Great anecdote... I'm glad Jaleel can come to terms with forever being called "Urkel".
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07-21-2009, 01:48 AM	#8
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	Jaleel did play on an episode of Fresh Prince as Ashley's boyfriend. His character was leaving town to go to college and wanted he and Ashley to have sex for the first time before he left. Ashley thought about it and decided she wasn't ready, he understood and that was that. It was a really good episode and it was a nice change from his "Urkel" persona. He always played a good guy.
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07-21-2009, 02:10 AM	#10
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	That's great advice that he got from Lawrence Fishburn of all people! How cool is that?! Jaleel has nothing to be ashamed of in being forever remembered as Steve Urkel. That will definitely be his legacy. I would like to see him in some other shows, now that he's all "grown up". Andrea
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06-17-2009, 10:31 AM	#3
Jessica Retro fan Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 9,034	Jaleel is a great guy! After playing Steve Urkel for 10 years so of course he will always be known for that.

06-18-2009, 08:51 PM	#4
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	Jaleel will be on Entertainment Tonight tomorrow.

06-18-2009, 09:24 PM	#5
Jessica Retro fan Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 9,034	Wow! But of course that will be on American TV. I'd like to watch it.

07-10-2009, 07:54 PM	#6
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	It's a bit sad though, that he hasn't had much of a career since "Family Matters" ended, since he was such a great actor.

07-10-2009, 09:23 PM	#7
Jessica Retro fan Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 9,034	Yes, he'll always be known as Steve, but that's what happen when you're in a show for I long time. He is currently doing a short show called "Road To The Altar" where he plays a character named Simon. It's in 10 episodes, and thre are 4 episodes out at the moment. Each episode is about 5 minutes long, and it's shown on youtube and on myspace.

07-21-2009, 01:57 AM	#9
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	Jaleel played on an episode of Fresh Prince as Ashley's boyfriend. His character, Derek wanted he and Ashley to have sex for the first time since he was leaving for college. Ashley thought about it and decided she wasn't ready. Derek understood and that was that. It was a really good episode. He always played a good guy.