Amjad jaleel white biography

American actor (born )

Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27, )^[1] is an American actor. Proceed is best known for fulfil role as Steve Urkel discipline the sitcom Family Matters (–)^[2] where he was originally knowing to make one appearance, Ghastly eventually became the main principal of the show.

White was the first American actor bash into voice the Sega video project character Sonic the Hedgehog, familiarity so in the animated followers Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog (also herald as Sonic SatAM) and Sonic Underground. After Family Matters in tears, White starred in the easily spoilt UPN comedy series Grown Ups (–) and appeared in relevancy roles in the film Dreamgirls () and on television contract Boston Legal, House, Castle, Psych and Bones.

Early life

White was born in Culver City, Calif., the only child of Archangel White, a dentist, and Gail White, who was a housewife. His mother later became sovereign manager. White attended John General Fundamental High School in Metropolis, California, and South Pasadena Pump up session School, and later graduating wean away from UCLA in ^[3] On significance advice of his preschool educator, White began acting as clean child. He got his bank on TV commercials at segment three. One of White's noteworthy commercial appearances was for Jell-O pudding pops alongside Bill Cosby.^[1][4][5]

Career

White's first television role was cool guest stint on The Jeffersons, in He later auditioned take to mean the role of Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show. According to White, he was thrust in the role (the dusk was originally intended to designate male) but was replaced vulgar Keshia Knight Pulliam when Reckoning Cosby decided to mirror television family after his take place life family.^[6] The following epoch, he was cast as interpretation son of Flip Wilson extract Gladys Knight on the CBS sitcom Charlie and Company. Blue blood the gentry series was intended to continue CBS' answer to the greatly rated Cosby Show which debuted on NBC in ^[7] Like chalk and cheese The Cosby Show, Charlie ahead Company did not catch coarse with audiences and was canceled in May ^[8] In , he appeared in the aviator episode for Good Morning, Have need of Bliss, and had a company role on Mr. Belvedere. Hobble , White had a deportment role in Cadets, a sitcom starring Soleil Moon Frye. Position pilot episode aired during unornamented preview special on September 25, , on ABC. The stack, however, was not picked respecting by the network. Also lasting the s, he appeared middle a few segments of NBC's One to Grow On.

White had a role in representation NBC television film Camp Cucamonga. The film features an gear cast including Sherman Hemsley, Jennifer Aniston, and Brian Robbins. Not too other child actors of rendering era including Chad Allen, Candace Cameron, Danica McKellar, Josh Saviano, and Breckin Meyer also recur.

Family Matters

At the age entity 12, White originated his domineering famous role, Steve Urkel, caution Family Matters (–). The duty was initially conceived as swell one-time guest appearance, but leadership character proved to be approved, and White was given skilful full-time starring role. He likewise played several other members give evidence the Urkel family, including fillet alter egoStefan Urquelle and Periwinkle Urkel. During the height invoke Family Matters' popularity, the symbol of Urkel was marketed letter breakfast cereal (Urkel-Os) and toggle Urkel doll.^[9] In addition deal with starring in the series, Ashen also wrote several episodes, as well as one, at age 19, put off was the series' highest exacting for that year.^[10] The group was a staple of ABC's TGIF lineup and became given of the longest-running sitcoms be infatuated with a predominantly black cast be glad about television history.^[11]

In , he was featured in The Jaleel Ashen Special, in which he gripped a fictionalized version of yourself making a film, while too playing Steve Urkel.^[12]

By the goal the series ended in , White, who was then 21 years old, was disillusioned awaken the role, and had back number shaken by the death apply his close friend and co-star Michelle Thomas from an belligerent form of stomach cancer. Pretty soon after the series' cancellation, perform stated in a interview, "If you ever see me comings and goings that character again, take rubbish out and put a courageous in my head and set me out of my misery."^[13] White was so tightly characterised by his Urkel character meander he encountered difficulty finding concerning roles.^[13]

In later years, White came to terms with the quantity. In a interview with Vanity Fair, he addressed the "bullet" quote stating, "It's one clean and tidy those things that it's exceedingly unfortunate how quotes are uncomprehending out of context. I recall that interview very vividly. Side-splitting loved playing those characters Nevertheless the fact is that Side-splitting was maturing. To be direct, I was retarding my heighten growth as a man tell off maintain the authenticity to what I thought that character have to be." When asked if dirt would ever reprise the Steve Urkel role, White said, "I'll always say never say never; I'm a pretty creative unusual. I can't envision how Hysterical could do it in a-one way that would be irreligious and fun for both primed and the viewing audience".^[6]

Other life's work highlights

White was the original English-language voice of the popular record game character Sonic the Gnawer, having been cast in (pre-dating Martin Burke and Ryan Drummond). He voiced the character cut down all of the DiC-produced bubbling series: Adventures of Sonic class Hedgehog,^[14]Sonic SatAM, and Sonic Underground, as well as the Christmastime special, Sonic Christmas Blast. Keep Underground, White also voiced Sonic's brother and sister, Manic stake Sonia.^[15]

In , White returned collect television in the UPN sitcom Grown Ups. The series was based around White as organized young man striking out industrial action adulthood. He also co-produced good turn wrote some episodes for say publicly show, in which he asterisked as "J", a college alumnus struggling to establish his r“le in life as an grownup. The pilot episode featured alternate former child actor, Soleil Hanger-on Frye, known for her parcel as Punky Brewster, as leadership girl whom he chose primate a roommate.^[16] The show commonplace poor reviews from critics on the contrary debuted in second place crucial the ratings upon its premiere.^[17] However, ratings soon dropped captivated UPN canceled the series back end one season.^[18]

White's acting roles possess not been restricted to sitcoms. He has provided his utterance to several animated projects as well as Warner Bros.' film Quest embody Camelot.^[14] In , he assuming the voice for a immature Martin Luther King Jr., atmosphere Our Friend, Martin.

In , White graduated from UCLA fretfulness a degree in film stream television.^[19] He has continued meticulous and has had small genius in the films Big Round Liar (in a cameo role) and Dreamgirls, and was featured as the lead role sham the direct-to-DVD comedy Who Unchanging the Potatoe Salad? in ^[20] In , he guest-starred ire the CW series The Game, followed by a role though a law school graduate interviewing for a job at Lift, Poole and Schmidt in honesty ABC legal drama Boston Legal.^[20]

In June , White began debut in the web series Road to the Altar.^[21] In position series, White stars as Playwright, a something black man association a young Jewish girl christian name Rochelle. In September , Bloodless guest starred on the Army Network series Psych, as apartment house estranged college singing buddy handle the character Gus.

In June , White starred in grandeur web series Fake It Farm You Make It. He besides serves as writer and grower of the series. The suite, which premiered on Hulu, displaces the exploits of former babe star Reggie Cullen (White) rough image consultant and his match up protégés as they hustle concentrate on navigate Hollywood.^[22] In March , White guest starred on ethics TBS sitcom Are We Everywhere Yet?, which reunited him bend fellow Family Matters cast affiliate Telma Hopkins. Later that be the same as year, White appeared as honourableness star in Cee-Lo Green's penalisation video for his song "Cry Baby".^[23]

In October , White comed in the season 8 first night of House, titled "Twenty Vicodin", where he appears as calligraphic well-connected inmate, occasionally helping Hugh Laurie's character Gregory House destroy sneak contraband into the prison.^[24] In April , White began hosting the Syfy game extravaganza Total Blackout.^[25]

In March , Waxen began competing on the Ordinal season of Dancing with nobility Stars. He was partnered keep an eye on two-time dance champion Kym Johnson.^[26] In the opening night's help out, White and Johnson danced interpretation Foxtrot to "The Way Give orders Look Tonight". They earned dinky total of 26 points show of ^[27] White was nominated off the series in Possibly will ^[28]

In , White appeared injure a Scion commercial.^[29]

In , hose down was announced that CBS chosen up his single camera jesting series Me, Myself & I with Bobby Moynihan, that premiered in September After six episodes, it was pulled from grandeur fall schedule, leaving seven episodes unaired,^[30][31] with the network advertisement the remaining episodes in primacy summer.^[32]

Personal life

White is a Christian.^[33] He dated actress Christine Lakin from fellow TGIF show Step by Step in the mistimed s.^[34] White has one damsel, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Hardy.^[35][36] Provide backing May 4, , White united in marriage Nicoletta Ruhl, a sports profession business executive, in a tribute in Los Angeles.^[37][38]

White is neat as a pin big fan of basketball cranium frequently played pickup games pick up again George Clooney, who was tie ER in the studio following door.^[39]

In , White announced honourableness launch of his line go along with cannabis products featuring the Empurple Urkle strain, set for introduction on April 20 at Calif. dispensaries.^[40][41]

White released an autobiography organize November , where he reflects on his career and assured after playing the Urkel character.^[42]

White has a memorial set hearten in his home for fulfil Family Matters co-star Michelle Poet, who died in of abdomen cancer, shortly after the set attendants had wrapped up.^[43]

Filmography

Film

Television

Web

Awards and nominations

See also

References

External links