[{"id":7180183,"date":"2026-08-27T15:08:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T19:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalgrind.com\/?p=7180183"},"modified":"2026-08-27T16:22:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T20:22:54","slug":"jaleel-white-now-and-then","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalgrind.com\/7180183\/jaleel-white-now-and-then\/","title":{"rendered":"Jaleel White Now And Then: See How Steve Urkel Has Changed Over The Years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Jaleel
Source: Photos by Noam Galai\/Fotos International\/Getty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Few television characters have made an entrance quite like Steve Urkel. With oversized glasses, high-water pants, suspenders, a nasal voice and the unforgettable cry of \u201cDid I do that?\u201d, the nerdy next-door neighbor became one of the defining faces of 1990s television. Behind the suspenders was Jaleel White, a talented young actor whose unexpected success on Family Matters would shape his career and pop culture for decades. Let\u2019s take a look at how Jaleel White has transformed over the years. Here is his now and then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaleel White Now And Then: From Steve Urkel to HGTV Star. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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White was already a working child actor<\/a> when he joined Family Matters<\/em> in 1989 at the age of 13, according to the Atlantic City Weekly.<\/em> Notably, the Hollywood star revealed he had begun acting at the age of 3<\/a> during an appearance on The Breakfast Club<\/em> in 2025. Steve Urkel was originally written as a one-time guest character. But audiences loved the awkward, accident-prone teenager, and White\u2019s performance was so memorable that Urkel quickly became a central character. Eventually, the show increasingly revolved around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White turned Urkel into far more than a collection of nerdy mannerisms. His physical comedy was extraordinary: the stiff posture, wild facial expressions, distinctive walk and trademark laugh made Urkel instantly recognizable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jaleel
Source: ABC Photo Archives \/ Getty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

White said he knew Urkel\u2019s role on Family Matters<\/em> was \u201csomething special\u201d when the cast filmed an episode called \u201cThe Big Fix\u201d where he was captured taking Laura Winslow (Kellie Shanygne Williams) out on a date to a French restaurant. It was in that moment that he knew his hard work practicing on and off set had begun to kick in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI took Laura out to a French restaurant and I leveled that French restaurant,\u201d White told Tamron Hall during a 2024 interview. \u201cI knew, if I do this, they laugh this much, if I do that, they laugh that much, and that is when y\u2019all became a joy stick for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read more about Jaleel White’s transformation from then until now, after the flip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Jaleel White Now And Then: From Steve Urkel to HGTV Star. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"Jaleel
Source: Mario Ruiz \/ Getty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As Jaleel White grew up, so did Steve Urkel, with the character navigating many of the same teenage milestones as the actor himself. White recalled on The Breakfast Club<\/em> last year that he had his first kiss while filming Family Matters<\/em>, an experience that was memorable for all the wrong reasons. His scene partner gave him a French kiss, leaving the young actor in tears because the experience felt strange and uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, White’s parents were on set and quickly reassured him that everything was okay. The show’s supportive cast and crew also helped lighten the moment, giving him high-fives after the scene. Looking back, White can laugh about the awkward encounter, joking that he quickly realized this was apparently something he would have to get used to as he grew older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As he put it, \u201cIt was very clear to me all the signals that I was getting was that [it] might have been yucky the way it went down, but apparently I’m going to get a lot more of that, so my machismo says, \u2018Yeah, okay, all right, go with the flow.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That maturity transitioned into the show. Over the years, Urkel slowly transformed into his smooth alter ego, Stefan Urquelle, allowing White to demonstrate a completely different side of his acting ability. By drinking a special potion, Urkel turned into Stefan, a charming ladies’ man<\/a>. He also played additional members of the Urkel family, including Steve\u2019s cousin Myrtle Urkel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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White has said that Urkel’s comic DNA was influenced partly by performers such as Martin Short’s Ed Grimley and Pee-wee Herman, combined with his own interpretation. The character’s originality helped make him a phenomenon, with his distinctive style becoming part of the visual language of 1990s pop culture. He also studied a few other greats of the comedy world to nail the character’s unique persona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI put a lot of work into what I did,\u201d he told The Atlantic City Weekly<\/em><\/a> in 2012. \u201cI did a lot of studying. I studied The Honeymooners<\/em> and the relationship between [Ed] Norton and [Ralph] Kramden. I really got academic about creating [Urkel]. It kind of became my obsession.\u201d\u2029<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Family Matters<\/em> ran for nine seasons, first on ABC’s famous TGIF lineup before moving to CBS for its final season. For White, those years meant growing up in front of millions of viewers while simultaneously becoming one of television’s most recognizable young stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But White’s story didn’t end when Urkel left the screen in 1998. He continued acting in television and film, appearing on shows including Boston Legal<\/em>, House<\/em>, Castle<\/em> and Psych<\/em>. He also competed on Dancing with the Stars<\/em> and expanded into hosting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where is Jaleel White now?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, White published Growing Up Urkel: A Memoir<\/a><\/em>, reflecting on childhood fame, Hollywood and the complicated experience of growing up alongside a character who became bigger than himself. Despite the ups and downs, White said he was forever grateful for his time on Family Matters.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI lived experiences that, quite frankly, most people would be blown away by,\u201d he added during his 2012 interview with The Atlantic City Weekly<\/em>. \u201cPrivate planes with Denzel Washington, and Michael Jordan visiting me on the set with his family, and filming in Paris. I would never take any of those experiences for granted.\u201d\u2029<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Urkel legacy remains especially powerful because the character has never really disappeared. Syndication introduced Family Matters<\/em> to generations who weren’t even born when it originally aired, while White has increasingly embraced the nostalgia surrounding the role. In 2026, he became host of HGTV’s Totally ’90s House<\/em>, reconnecting with the decade that made him famous. The new HGTV home renovation series follows White as he joins some of the biggest stars of that decade on a search for homes that have been frozen in time and their mission to give them a modern-day upgrade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to TODAY<\/em> on Aug. 25, White said there were certain states in particular that had more \u2018\u201c90s-looking homes than others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPennsylvania [and] New Jersey provided a nice hunting ground. But it was really cool seeing all of these old fixtures and there’s a lot of cherry oak, those entertainment centers that were built in, a lot of brass fixtures,\u201d he shared, before joking, \u201ca lot of questionable carpets in the bathroom, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jaleel White may have spent nine years asking, \u201cDid I do that?\u201d The answer, in terms of television history, is pretty clear: yes, and he did it memorably. Steve Urkel became a cultural icon, but White’s greater legacy is the skill, energy and individuality he brought to a role that was never supposed to last more than one episode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED CONTENT:<\/strong> Face Mask Fine: Jaleel White Gives Stefan Urquelle Looks Reminding Us To Stay Safe [Photos]<\/strong><\/a>
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Steve Urkel became a cultural icon, but White’s greater legacy is the skill, energy and individuality he brought to a role that was never supposed to last more than one episode.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197566417,"featured_media":7180186,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","video-thumbnail":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-08-27T19:08:57Z","apple_news_api_id":"8522dfe2-346f-45c2-ab23-3fad54a7d2d4","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-08-27T19:08:57Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AhSLf4jRvRcKrIz-tVKfS1A","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"lead":"Jaleel White, the beloved actor who brought Steve Urkel to life on 'Family Matters', has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. Explore how White's iconic character evolved inside.","_custom_mobile_title_text_key":"Jaleel White Now And Then: See How Steve Urkel Has Changed Over The Years","_ione_primary_category":"469936855","ione__content_flag":"","_do_not_crosspost":false,"_crossposted_guid":"","_crossposted_keep_in_sync":false,"ione__display_category":469923788,"ione__excerpt_suggestions__key_points":["Jaleel White's acting career expanded beyond Family Matters, including hosting a 90s-themed home renovation show.","Despite the ups and downs, Jaleel White remains grateful for his Urkel experience and its lasting impact on pop culture.",""],"exp_expiration_date":"","exp_pending_expiration":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[469936855,469923788],"tags":[5320,2013561,2154202,109373,469942746],"ione_nlp_tags":[469929280,469930411],"class_list":["post-7180183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity","category-celebrity-news","tag-family-matters","tag-jaleel-white","tag-steve-urkel","tag-then-and-now","tag-trending-desk","ione_nlp_tags-jaleel-white","ione_nlp_tags-steve-urkel","primary-category__celebrity"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/globalgrind.com\/7180183\/jaleel-white-now-and-then\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Jaleel White Now And Then: See How Steve Urkel Has Changed Over The Years","url":"http:\/\/globalgrind.com\/7180183\/jaleel-white-now-and-then\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/globalgrind.com\/7180183\/jaleel-white-now-and-then\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/globalgrind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2026\/08\/image-collage.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=150&crop=0,0,100,150px","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/globalgrind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2026\/08\/image-collage.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=1680&crop=0,0,100,960px"},"articleSection":"Celebrity","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Shannon Dawson"}],"creator":["Shannon Dawson"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Global Grind","logo":""},"keywords":["family matters","jaleel white","steve urkel","then and now","trending desk"],"dateCreated":"2026-08-27T19:08:28Z","datePublished":"2026-08-27T19:08:28Z","dateModified":"2026-08-27T20:22:54Z"},"rendered":"