As Eddie Winslow on Family Matters, Darius McCrary gives viewers a look at the problems of a bright teenager who's always looking at an angle. Eddie's constantly trying to get away with some scheme. It could be faking all A's on his report card, shooting pool for money, or driving before he has his license. For Darius McCrary, his success has come from hard work, talent, and a little bit of luck.

Darius was born on May 1, 1977, in Los Angeles, California. His parents knew they had a talented child on their hands very early on. At the age of two, young Darius performed a duet at a concert with his father. His father just happens to be a famous gospel singer and composer named Howard McCrary.

At the age of ten, Darius' aunt, Chip Fields, an actress and director, suggested he try out for a role in a feature film called Big Shots.

"The whole audition thing was new to me," recalls Darius. "It was weird. I mean, here I was with all these kids, and I didn't think I was going to get the part. All of them were professional. After the audition I flew to Detroit with my aunt. It was there I got the call."

Darius got called back to Los Angeles for a taping. Then he was flown out to Chicago with four other boys, where the final decision was made.

"Needless to say, it was the biggest break of my life," he says.

His appearance in Big Shots led to more work for Darius. He made his first television appearances in 1987 with guest shots on Hooperman and Amen. Darius also appeared in the Oscar-winning firlm Mississippi Burning, where he earned excellent reviews for his work with Gene Hackman.

"I played a character named Aaron Williams," he explains. "He was sort of like a young Martin Luther King. He stood up and did what he felt was right."

After these appearances, Darius decided acting was what he wanted to do with his life.

And then came Family Matters.

"When I went to audition for Family Matters, I just hit it right off with the producers," tells Darius. "I half jokingly said to the producers, 'Pick me!' And they did! They told me they wanted to go with the look I had because they were trying to create a heartthrob type of image."

Darius has worked hard to make Eddie a real person to his fans. As the show moves into its fourth season, he tries to add a little something new each year. "I work so that Eddie grows up a little each season," explains Darius. "It wouldn't be realistic otherwise."

On the Family Matters set, Darius feels like part of a real family. "I call Reggie 'Dad,' I call Telma 'Auntie T.' Rosetta, I call 'Nana.'"

Darius is also close to his real family. He has a younger sister and brother. "I want to build a relationship with them now," he explains, "so we'll be close later on."

Like his young co-stars, Darius studies with a tutor on the set. "I like having a tutor because I don't have to worry about being distracted in class and getting in trouble. The other kids on the show are really cool, so I like being around them."

When Darius is not working on school or Family Matters, sports and music fill his time. He's an excellent athlete who enjoys football, swimming, golf, basketball, soccer, and karate.

On the musical side, he plays drums and keyboards, and sings. In fact he has already recorded an album. "It's pop tunes," says Darius. "Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Bobby Brown, that kind of stuff. Some upbeat, some ballads."

As far as girlfriends go, Darius is too busy for one right now. And one is all he ever wants. "I want to date just one girl," he reveals, "not a lot at one time, because the pattern you set new is the pattern you set for life. When I get married, I'm only going to have one wife!"

He does, however, love being recognized by lots of girls he meets. "It's cool being recognized on the street," admits Darius. "I like being good to my fans and signing autographs. You never know what someone else is going through. They could be having a terrible day. When you're a celebrity, you owe so much to your fans."

What does the future hold for this multitalented actor, singer, dancer, and musician? "I definitely plan to continue acting and recording albums," explains Darius. "But I'm also planning on going to the UCLA Medical Center to study to become a heart surgeon. That's one thing I'm aiming for."

Who knows? Maybe someday we'll be watching a show starring Doctor Eddie Winslow, or should we say, Dr. Darius McCrary, heartthrob/heart surgeon!

Chapter 5: Jaleel White (Urkel) >>