Practically overnight, the character of Steve Urkel transformed Family Matters into the hottest show on television. Jaleel White's rise to success as an actor, however, has taken a number of years.

"I've been in showbiz for 13 years," explains Jaleel.

For an actor to work that long before achieving success is not unusual. What is unusual in Jaleel's case is that he's only 16 years old!

Jaleel White was born on November 27, 1976, in a suburb in Los Angeles. He is the only child of Michael White, a dentist, and Gail White.

When he was three years old, Jaleel's preschool teacher, Mrs. Lew, saw what she called "a spark of comedic talent" in the toddler. She saw he was unusually witty and charming, and he easily made her and the rest of his preschool class laugh.

Mrs. Lew suggested to Jaleel's parents that they try to get the boy into show business. Gail White registered her son in an acting workshop, where he was discovered by a top children's casting agent, Iris Burton.

Young Jaleel started to get work in TV commercials immediately. He made his acting debut in a Goodyear tire ad. "My part in the commercial was to swing on the tire and go 'Wheee!'" recalls Jaleel.

By the time he was nine, he had appeared in more than 30 TV commercials for such products as Kellogg's breakfast cereals, Atari computers, Nabisco cookies, Pepsi, Toys 'R' Us, and McDonald's. His favorite commercial was the one he did for Jell-O Pudding Pops with the one and only Bill Cosby!

Being a star in TV commercials never went to Jaleel's head. "When you start as young as I did, you don't really know what you're doing. By the time you are seven or eight you realize, hey, you're on TV, but by then you're so comfortable with it, it's no big deal."

Jaleel soom moved from commercials to roles on television shows. He had a regular role on Charlie & Company and made guest appearances on The Jeffersons and Mr. Belvedere.

He began to get work in TV movies like Kids Don't Tell, The Leftovers, Silence of the Heart, and Camp Cucamonga. He also appeared in the Jay Leno Family Special, a variety show.

Jaleel White was happy. His acting work fir into the life of a normal teen. Most of his time was spent on school, sports, and his friends. He also has a number of hobbies that kept him busy. They include writing, drawing cartoons, cooking, and making homemade ice cream.

Then came Urkel, Family Matters, and superstar popularity. Has all this success changed Jaleel White? "I haven't changed at all," he insists. "It's the people around me who've changed."

Jaleel sometimes has a hard time with old friends who feel like they have to treat him differently now.

This quiet, thoughtful young man never boasts about his achievements or his position in the Family Matters cast. He is very considerate of the other actors' feelings, and is, in fact, his own toughest critic.

"I critique my own performance," says Jaleel. "And I'm not always satisfied with my work. I see myself doing things the general public wouldn't see, and I go back and correct them in the next show. I'm definitely looking for the little bitty fine points I have to make sure are up to par."

Off-screen, Jaleel dresses casually, mostly in basketball shorts, shirts, shoes, and caps. That might clue you in on one of Jaleel's major passions - basketball. He loves to watch "his (L.A.) Lakers" play. He even got to sit courtside for a Lakers game and meet the team afterward.

Jaleel is also a pretty good player. "Shooting hoops is my way of letting off steam," says Jaleel. He shone in a recent celebrity basketball game to raise money for charity, outplaying Beverly Hills 90210 star Luke Perry, and rapper Marky Mark. At that charity game Jaleel got to meet and play with his two basketball heroes, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. He also collects basketball cards.

Despite his acting success, Jaleel still faces a home life filled with regular chores and rules. He feels his upbringing has kept him on the right track in life. It's hard to become a spoiled superstar when you still have to clean your own room!

The Whites have always been loving parents. They are strict, but fair. Jaleel still has to pitch in and do his share around the house. Just because he's famous doesn't mean he gets out of doing his chores.

More than anything, Jaleel's folks stress the importance of education. Even with all his success these days, Jaleel is still a straight-A student.

Just like Kellie Williams' folks, Jaleel's parents also have strict rules about dating. "My parents always said, 'No dating until I'm 16.' And knowing them, maybe even not at that time."

Still, Jaleel doesn't seem to be in a rush to begin dating. "Once you start dating, things can go absolutely nuts. Sometimes I think it's better to keep your sanity and stay away from dating for a while. That way you can at least get some good grades in school."

Still, Jaleel has lots of friends, including many girls. Kellie Shanygne Williams - Urkel's beloved Laura Winslow on Family Matters - is one of his best friends.

Most days find Jaleel at the Lorimar Studios taping Family Matters. His day starts in the makeup and wardrobe department, where his Urkel clothes and glasses go on. "I roll up my pants, put on suspenders, and you get the impresion that the pants are too small. Actually, they're quite comfortable."

Over the course of the day, Jaleel is either shooting Family Matters, doing schoolwork with a tutor, reading his fan mail, eating lunch with his pal Kellie Williams, or visiting other buddies around the huge Lorimar lot.

"I know a zillion people here," says Jaleel. His friends include cast members from shows like Perfect Strangers and Full House.

Jaleel White realizes he is a role model to kids who watch Family Matters, and he takes that responsibility seriously. He's always telling kids he speaks with that above all else, school comes first. "The most important thing is to get your education. Without that, you don't have much."

As far as the future goes, Jaleel would like to eventually become a director. He's learning as much as he can about the craft right now on the set of Family Matters. He's always asking about lighting, camera angles, and other important factors in becoming a good director.

For now, though, he's happy to continue his work making us all laugh as Steve Urkel. "No sweat, my pet!"

Chapter 6: Telma Hopkins (Rachel) >>