Jaleel White

Infobox Actor
name = Jaleel White

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imagesize =
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birthname = Jaleel Ahmad White
birthdate = birth date and age|1976|11|27|
birthplace = Pasadena, California, U.S.A.
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation = Actor
yearsactive = 1984 - present

Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27, 1976) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Steve Urkel/Stefan Urquelle on the TV series "Family Matters" from 1989 to 1998, and Sonic the Hedgehog on "Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog", "Sonic the Hedgehog" and "Sonic Underground".

Biography

Personal life

White was born in Pasadena, California, the son of Gail, a manager, and Michael White, a dentist. [http://www.filmreference.com/film/4/Jaleel-White.html Jaleel White Biography (1976-present)] ] White attended Huntington Middle School in San Marino, California and part of high school at John Marshall Fundamental Secondary School in Pasadena, California. As a high school senior, he attended South Pasadena High School where he would graduate.

Early career

White got his start on TV commercials at age three with Kellogg's after his preschool teacher persuaded his reluctant parents to take him to auditions. He landed his first television role as Flip Wilson and Gladys Knight's son on the CBS series "Charlie and Company". He next appeared on another CBS comedy series, "The Jeffersons". White also appeared in the pilot episode for "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" in 1987, and had a role in the 1990 television movie "Camp Cucamonga" that also featured Candace Cameron ("Full House"), Danica McKellar and Josh Saviano ("The Wonder Years"), Breckin Meyer, and Jennifer Aniston.

"Family Matters"

At the age of 12, White originated his most famous role, Steve Urkel, on "Family Matters". The role was initially conceived as a one-time guest appearance, but the character proved to be popular and White was given a full-time starring role. He also played several other members of the Urkel family, including his alter ego Stefan Urquelle and Myrtle Urkel. During the height of "Family Matter"'s popularity, the character of Urkel was marketed as breakfast cereal (Urkel-Os) and a doll. [cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20131627,00.html|title=Family Matters: 1989-1998 |date=2000-06-26|publisher="People"|accessdate=2008-10-11] In addition to starring in the series, White also wrote several episodes including one that was the series highest rated at age 19. [cite web|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/dvd/features/article_1221104.php/M&C_Exclusive_Interview_Jaleel_White_talks_%93Who_Made_the_Potatoe_Salad%94|title=M&C Exclusive Interview: Jaleel White talks “Who Made the Potatoe Salad?”|last=Rhudy|first=Ben |date=2006-11-12|publisher=monstersandcritics.com|accessdate=2008-10-11]

After the series ended its nine year run in 1997, White had grown tired of the role. Shortly after the series wrapped, he stated in an interview, "If you ever see me do that character again, take me out and put a bullet in my head and put me out of my misery." [cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E3D61739F931A1575BC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=Jaleel White ('Don't Call Me Urkel') Grows Up |last=Noxon|first=Christopher|date=1999-08-22|publisher="The New York Times"|accessdate=2008-10-11] Due to the character's popularity, White was so tightly defined by his Urkel character that it became hard for him to get other roles.

Post "Family Matters"

In 1999, White returned to television in the UPN sitcom "Grown Ups". The series was based around White as a young man striking out into adulthood. He also co-produced and wrote episodes for the show, in which he starred as "J", a college graduate struggling to establish his role in life as an adult. The pilot episode featured another former child actor, Soleil Moon Frye famous for her role as Punky Brewster, as the girl whom he chose as a roommate. [cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,270659,00.html|title=Mo' and More |last=Tucker|first=Ken|date=1999-09-10|publisher=ew.com|accessdate=2008-10-11] The writing and comedy was bland and dissimilar from other sitcoms, and Frye was even removed from the series after the pilot. It was cancelled after one season.

White's acting roles have not been restricted to sitcoms however; he has done voice work for several animated projects including the 1998 film "Quest for Camelot". In 1999, he provided the voice for Martin Luther King, Jr. in "Our Friend, Martin". He was also the voice of the famed video game character Sonic the Hedgehog in most of the American TV shows - "Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog", "Sonic the Hedgehog", and "Sonic Underground", as well as a Christmas special.

In 2001, White graduated from UCLA with a degree with film and television. [cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_4_100/ai_76513102?tag=content;col1|title=Star Graduate|date=2001-07-09|publisher="Jet"|accessdate=2008-10-11] White has continued acting and has had small parts in the films "Big Fat Liar" and "Dreamgirls", and was featured in lead role in the 2006 comedy "Who Made the Potatoe Salad?". In 2007, he guest starred on the CW series "The Game", followed by a role as a law school graduate interviewing for a job at Crane, Pool and Schmidt in the ABC legal drama "Boston Legal".

uicide hoax

In June 2006, an internet rumor was spread via email that White had committed suicide. The email contained a fake Associated Press report stating that White was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment after shooting himself. The report, which contained fake quotes from former co-stars and associates, also claimed that White left behind a suicide note that contained Steve Urkel's popular catch phrase, "Did I do that?". No legitimate news outlets ever picked up the story. [cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/jaleel.asp|title=Did I Do That?|last=Mikkelson|first=Barbara |publisher=snopes.com|accessdate=2008-10-11] Five months after the hoax, White addressed the rumor stating, "I don’t even know what to say about that darned thing. As much as you try to live your life your right, you’re gonna get sucker-punched now and then. That was my sucker punch back in June". [cite web|url=http://www.premiumhollywood.com/2006/11/05/a-chat-with-jaleel-white/|title=A Chat with Jaleel White|last=Harris|first=Will |date=2006-11-05|publisher=premiumhollywood.com|accessdate=2008-10-11]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* [http://www.jaleelwhite.com/ Official site]
*imdb name|id=0924918|name=Jaleel White
*tv.com person|id=6408|name=Jaleel White
* [http://www.nba.com/blog/blog22.html Jaleel White's NBA blog]
* [http://www.foxstore.com/detail.html?item=2588 Website for Who Made the Potato Salad?]

Persondata
NAME= White, Jaleel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= White, Jaleel Ahmad
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= November 27, 1976
PLACE OF BIRTH= Pasadena, California, United States
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=