Age & Net Worth Of Jaleel White

2 years ago

Age & Net Worth Of Jaleel White

Jaleel Ahmad White is an American actor, comedian, producer and writer. In 1989, he was cast in the role of Steve Urkel on the sitcom Family Matters. The character, which was originally intended to be a one-time guest appearance, was an instant hit with audiences and White became a regular cast member.

Early Life

Jaleel White was born Jaleel Ahmad White on November 27, 1976, in Culver City, California. His mother, Gail, was a homemaker, and his father, Michael, was a dentist; after Jaleel got involved in acting, Gail became his manager. White studied at John Marshall Fundamental High School and South Pasadena High School and graduated from UCLA with a film and television degree in 2001.

Career

After his preschool teacher suggested that he try acting, Jaleel began starring in commercials at 3 years old, including a Jello-O pudding pops commercial with Bill Cosby. In 1984, he had a guest role on "The Jeffersons" and was cast as Rudy on "The Cosby Show," but the part went to Keshia Knight Pulliam when Cosby decided the character should be a girl. In 1985, White appeared in television film "Kids Don't Tell" and all 18 episodes of the CBS sitcom "Charlie & Co.". He went on to appear in "The Disney Sunday Movie" in 1986 and "Mr. Belvedere," the "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" pilot, and "Jay Leno's Comedy Hour" in 1987 before landing the iconic role of Steve Urkel on "Family Matters" in 1989. Audiences loved Jaleel's portrayal of the Winslow family's nerdy neighbor, and he appeared in 204 episodes, sometimes playing Stefan Urquelle (Steve's suave alter ego) and Myrtle Urkel (Steve's cousin). Urkel's popularity led to a doll and Urkel-Os cereal, and White reprised his role on "Full House" and "Step by Step" in 1991 as well as the 2019 animated film "Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?" Jaleel also wrote 2 episodes of the sitcom: 1993's "Grandmama" and 1996's "Home Again."

White has appeared in more than 20 films, including "Dreamgirls" (2006), "Who Made the Potatoe Salad?" (2006), "Call of the Wild" (2009), and "The 15:17 to Paris" (2018). He voiced popular videogame character Sonic the Hedgehog in "Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog" (1993), "Sonic the Hedgehog" (1993–1994), "Sonic's Christmas Blast" (1996), and "Sonic Underground" (1999). Jaleel played the lead role on sitcom "The Grown Ups," which ran for 22 episodes, and he has guest-starred on several TV shows, including "Boston Legal" (2007), "Psych" (2009 and 2012), "House" (2011), and "Castle" (2015). In 2010, White wrote, produced, and starred in web series "Fake It Till You Make It, and in 2012, he hosted game show "Total Blackout" and competed on "Dancing with the Stars, coming in seventh place. In 2020, Jaleel began appearing in a recurring role on Netflix's "The Big Show Show."

Personal Life

In 2009, Jaleel welcomed a daughter, Samaya, with then-girlfriend Bridget Hardy. In 2010, Hardy alleged that White hit and shoved her when she confronted him with her suspicions that he was unfaithful, but he has denied the allegations and says that they were spurred on by the former couple's custody battle.