Jaleel Ahmad White (born on November 27, 1976) is an African American actor, and voice actor.
In 1989, he was cast as Steve Urkel on the hit tv show comedy sitcom Family Matters. The character, was an instant hit with audiences and White became a cast member in season 2. The series aired for 9 seasons from 1989 to 1998. It was supposed to have a 10th season but the show got cancelled. White is also known as the first original voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic (Satam) & Sonic Underground. He did the role again in the fan film of the same name.
Films
Lead Roles are in bold
- 5th of July – Orlando
- The 15:17 to Paris – Garrett Walden
- The Bob Robinson Project – Himself (cameo)
- Big Fat Liar – Himself (cameo)
- Call of the Wild – Dr. Spencer
- The Choir Director – Deacon James Black
- Dead Men Tell No Tales – Juror 7
- Dreamgirls – the Talent Booker
- Dumbbells – The Leader
- Dumbbells Special Edition – Cult Leader
- Faithfully – Dwayne
- Green Flash – Jason Bootie
- Guardians of Luna – Kahn
- Hustle – Blake
- Jay Leno's Comedy Hour – Kid Eating Cake #5
- Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer – Mr. Todd
- Kids Don't Tell – Christofer
- Kissing Cousins – Antwone
- Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus – Dr. McCormick
- Miracle Dogs Too – Leo
- Mommy I Didn't Do It – Detective Hamer
- Our Friend, Martin – Martin at age 15
- Puff, Puff, Pass – Tenant #2
- Quest for Camelot – Bladebeak
- Rhymes with Banana – J
- Road to the Altar – Simon Fox
- Santa Con – Paul Greenberg
- Silence of the Heart – Hanry
- Sonic movie 1 – Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic movie 4 – Sonic the Hedgehog
- The Greatest Inheritance – Mr. Shepard
- The Preachers Son – James Back
- The Wrong Woman – Detective Hamer
- Urkel Saves Santa: The Movie – Steve Urkel
- When Vows Break – Dwayne
- Who Made the Potatoe Salad? – Michael
- ???
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TV Shows
Lead Roles are in bold
- Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog – Sonic the Hedgehog, Masonic (Episode: Robotnik's Pyramid Scheme) & Mummified Hedgehog (Episode: Robotnik's Pyramid Scheme)
- Atlanta – Himself (Episode: "Nobody Beats the Biebs")
- Are We There Yet? – Ray Savage (Episode: "The Nick Gets Jealous Episode")
- Boomerang – Jon Jon (Episode: There U Go)
- Bones – Officer Adams (Episode: "The Tutor in the Tussle")
- Boston Legal – Kevin Givens (Episode: "Guise 'n Dolls")
- Camp Cucamonga – Dennis Brooks
- Castle – Mickey Franks (Episode: "Dead in New York")
- Celebrity Family Feud – Himself (Season 2, Episode 7)
- Celebrities Undercover – Himself (Episode: "Joey Fatone & Jaleel White")
- Charlie & Co. – Robert Richmond
- Crime Scene Investigation – Kenny/Passenger (Episode: "Keep Calm & Carry On")
- Did I Do That to the Holidays? A Steve Urkel Story – Steve Urkel (voice)
- Drop Dead Diva – Bob/Game Show Host (Episode: "Guess Who's Coming?")
- Drunk History – Grandmaster Caz/Bass Reeves
- Duck Tales (2017 version) – Gene the Genie (Episode: Quack Pack & 2 Episodes)
- Fake It Till You Make It – Reggie Culkin
- Family Matters – Steve Urkel, Stefan Urquelle, Myrtle Urkel, Steve Winslow (1 Episode) & Cornelius Urkel aka OGD (1 Episode)
- Family Reunion – Eric
- Fresh Off the Boat – Calvin (Episode: "Fresh Off the RV")
- Full House – Steve Urkel (Episode: "Stephanie Gets Framed")
- Fuller House – Steve Urkel (Mention Episode: "Here Comes the Sun")
- Good Morning, Miss Bliss – Bobby Wilson (Episode: Pilot)
- Grown Ups – J. Calvin Frazier (main lead)
- Half & Half – Hershel (Episode: "The Big State of the Reunion Episode")
- Hawaii Five 0 – Nolan Fremont (Episode: "Ho'amoano")
- Hell's Kitchen – Himself (Episode: "11 Chefs Compete")
- Historical Roasts – Muhammad Ali & Nelson Mandela
- House Portland – Himself (Episode: "Twenty Vicodin")
- Legends of Chamberlain Heights – Class President
- Love That Girl! – Director (Episode: "Director's Cut")
- Meego – Steve Urkel (2 Episodes)
- Me, Myself & I – Darryl (Ep. 2 to 7)
- Mr. Belvedere – Ernie Masters (Episode: "Jobless")
- NCIS – Martin (Episode: "A Desperate Man")
- Psych – Tony
- The Regular Show – Cool Shade & Darryl (Episode: "TGI Tuesday")
- Raven's Home – Chris Spring-Lake
- Step by Step – Unnamed Crew Member & Steve Urkel (Episode: "A Star is Born")
- Scooby Doo and Guess Who? – Steve Urkel, Skinny Urkel Bot & Urkel Bot 2.0 (Episode: "1.8")
- Sonic the Hedgehog – Sonic the Hedgehog & Super Sonic (Final Episode)
- Sonic Underground – Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonia the Hedgehog, Manic the Hedgehog, Aman Rapi (Episode: "Mummy Dearest"), alternate dimension Sonic, alternate dimension Sonia & alternate dimension Manic (Episode: "Six is a Crowd")
- SuperF*ckers – Percy/Omnizod (Webseries)
- Survivor's Remorse – Derek (Episode: "The Photoshoot")
- Teen Titans Go Miner (voice: Episode: The Night Begins to Shine - Chapter One: Mission to Find the Lost Stems)
- The Big Big Show – Terry (5 Episodes)
- The Disney Sunday Movie – Jake (Episode: "The Leftovers")
- The Edge and Christian Show That Totally Reeks of Awesomeness – Himself (Episode: "The 90s")
- The Fresh Prince of Bel Air – Derek (Episode: "Not with My Cousin You Don't")
- The Game – Chris (Episode: "The Big Chill")
- The Jaleel White Special – Himself & Steve Urkel
- The Jeffersons – Van Van Morris (Episode: "Ebony and Ivory")
- The Problem Solverz – K 999 (2 Episodes only)
- Total Blackout – Host (22 Episodes)
- Trial & Error – Atticus Ditto, Jr. (Season 2)
- ???
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Video Games
- NBA 2K20 – Movie Director
- Sonic Generations – Classic Sonic (originally)
Quotes
- as Steve Urkel "Did I do that?"
- as Sonic the Hedgehog "Way Past Cool!"
- "The conventions of an almighty agency tapping you for greatness and signing you up and telling you this is going to be the next big thing; that has not been my career".
- "You need fans in high places, I always tell people. I don't care how talented you are".
- "You have to be respectful of pop culture, because people interpret it in the way they want".
- "Writing is still on my slate".
- "I've been in this business 31 years. I've never had a movie deal".
- (About his view on playing Steve Urkel) "It’s one of those things that it’s very unfortunate how quotes are taken out of context. I remember that interview very vividly. I loved playing those characters [...] But the fact is that I was maturing. [...] To be honest, I was retarding my own growth as a man in order to maintain the authenticity to what I thought that character should be. I’ll always say never say never; I’m a pretty creative person. I can’t envision how I could do it in a way that would be irreverent and fun for both me and the viewing audience...".
- (about reprising his role as Steve Urkel for Scooby Doo)"WAiT! ZOOM IN 😳 Scooby and Who?!? Yup. Walked in that booth after 20 years and voiced him like it was nuthin #SteveUrkel#UrkelBot @boomerangtoonsPremieres June 27 ~ Hanna Barbera once gifted me an animation cell I have til this day. To be ON screen with Scoob And Shaggy solving a mystery is #Bucketlist stuff 🙏🏽 Enjoy! And my daughter STILL thinks she cooler than me 😎🤨".
Knownable Roles
- Steve Urkel (1989 to 1998, 2019 & 2023)
- Myrtle Urkel (1990 to 1998)
- Stefan Urquelle (1993 to 1998)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1993 to 2000 & 2013)
- Kahn in the Guardians of Luna
- Sonia the Hedgehog in Sonic Underground
- Bladebeak in Quest for Camelot
- Darryl in Me, Myself and I
- ??? in ???
Trivia
- While playing Steve's cousin, Myrtle Urkel on Family Matters when the female character was first introduced. White got into the character very quickly making his co stars be very impressed with his performance. However after he finished shooting the episode (Cousin Urkel), he broke down in tears fearing that kids in the school he was going at the time was going to tease him. But he admits the very next day at school, no one didn't tease him for playing a girl character which surprised him. It was this idea during the later seasons of Family Matters, that White had to do switch around with the characters he was cast to do in the series.
- Jaleel White admits out of all the celebrity personas Steve had to do after using his transformation chamber. He loved playing when Steve is dress up as the late legendary martial arts legend, Bruce Lee!, the father of late actor Brandon Lee. He and Bruce Lee also share the same birthday. White also said he would have love to do a Steve Urkel version of the late Michael Jackson.
- His acting mentor was Reginald VelJohnson, who played Carl Winslow.
- Likes writing short stories, & drawing cartoons. Which could be his hobbies. He also still has the BMW that he used on Family Matters, as it is in good condition til this very day. However he still doesn’t know what to do with the famous Steve Urkel car.
- Before auditioning for Steve Urkel on Family Matters, he was looking for the classic nerd glasses (black, thin, with tape around the center) but had no luck. His father, who is a dentist, tossed him the glasses that he used to keep particles out of his eyes. Jaleel just figured that he would find different glasses at another time. The crew on the other hand loved the look, so he kept them.
- Is against alcohol & drugs. As he reveals that he doesn’t drink a lot at a bar or club.
- According to an interview with Aaron Webber, he claims that if anyone were to voice Classic Sonic in Sonic Generations, it would be Jaleel White. Aaron had to choose between Classic Sonic being voiced by Jaleel White, or having no voice at all. Aaron also mentioned that he grew up with the classic cartoons of Sonic like Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, and he thought Jaleel White did a fantastic job. However due to the idea of having Classic Sonic speak in Sonic Generations being dropped early in production, White was never contacted by Sega for the opportunity.
- White voiced Sonic in Eddie Lebron's short Sonic fanon film which was released online in January 2013. His tone is more mature than his previous incarnations but is still similar. Jaleel recorded many lines for Sonic, including a handful that didn't make it into the final version.
- In Sonic the Hedgehog #8, while Robotnik summoning robots based on comic book characters, he summons a Wolverine bot (based on the comic book character of the same name), but due to a communications glitch, a Wolvurkel (a combination between the superhero Wolverine and Steve Urkel) was sent and started dancing. Sonic states that he sounds familiar, and a side bar even said, "It's true! Jaleel 'Urkel' White is the voice of Cartoon Sonic!".
- Likes saying the word black instead of saying African American in interviews and convention Q&A sessions. However he would use the word African American when he is at comic con.
- His bloodtype is A.
- He has a daughter, and his star sign is a Sagittarius.
- Chinese Zodiac sign is the Dragon.
- Has played a character name Darryl twice, one in a cartoon show and one in a live action show.
- His daughter's name is Samaya.
- Can't see anyone playing Maya but the late Michelle Thomas.
- Is a huge fan of the late 2Pac, Biggie and Michael Jackson (who, coincidentally was a big Sonic the Hedgehog fan, and Sonic actually moonwalked in a Japanese Sonic 1 commercial). He also attended Michael Jackson's funeral. He wished to have play Michael Jackson on Family Matters, as he was a huge fan of the late singer.
- In a January 2018 interview with TVLine’s Andy Swift, series creator and former showrunner Jeff Franklin mentioned that they have talked about White reprising the role of Steve Urkel on Fuller House, and that they had some ideas for the character if White decides to reprise the role. He eventually returned to play Dteve Urkel in a ad commercial with Snoop Dogg.
- This will be the first time Jaleel White plays Steve Urkel since the finale of Family Matters (1989), 21 years before this series' premiere.
- Is concerned about the CGI for the new Sonic film. But is still a fan of the franchise regardless. He has saw the movie and loves it. He also hopes to make a cameo in a future Sonic film.
- Has voiced Sonic in a total of 132 episodes. In reality he has voiced Sonic 200 times (1 unaired pilot episode of AoStH including 65 episodes of AoStH and 65 Sonic Says segments. Then count the Christmas Blast special, 26 episodes of Sonic Satam, 40 episodes of Sonic Underground and lastly the Sonic fan film).
- Josh Miller (who worked on the Sonic 2020 film) reveals that he spoke to Jaleel White on Twitter due to this film being a success, and being the top grossing film in the US. Josh said that his dream goal is to add Jaleel in the sequel to really bring the 90s charm of Sonic back and he asked Jaleel about it. Jaleel agrees with the idea by giving Josh a thumbs up emoji! However it's unknown if Jaleel will voice a different character or if he will appear as a live action character.
- Out all the voice related media that he did for the Sonic franchise, his favorite cartoon series is Sonic Underground. The reason why is because he loved how to switch up while voicing Sonic and his siblings. He credited the series as helping him learn how to handle doing different characters.
- At first, Jaleel didn't want to be the voice of Sonic because he felt it was going to be too much for him, but his mother Gail and the producers of the SatAM series showed him concept art and story pitches of the character, which convinced him to ultimately take the job. White is one of the two black voice actors to voice Sonic. The other is Deven Mack in Sonic Prime. Deven Mack confirmed on Twitter that he channeled Jaleel White when creating the voice for Chaos Sonic.
- White is one of two Sonic the Hedgehog voice actors not from a video game to also voice a character (in his case, Gene the Genie) in the DuckTales (2017) reboot. The other is Ben Schwartz.
- Jason Griffith and Ben Schwartz regard Jaleel as a legend for being the first person to voice Sonic in a tv show. Griffith revealed that he idolized White, and had watched the original Sonic cartoon series to prepare for Sonic X.