SANAA: UNAMKUMBUKA STEVE

Think you know everything there is to know about the lovable, unforgettable Steve Urkel from "Family Matters?" Think again!

Jaleel White Almost Didn't Play Urkel

Jaleel White was a sought out actor around the same time as his role on "Family Matters." He almost took a role with the television show, "Saved by the Bell," instead. He would have played one of the central star characters had he taken the role.

Urkel's Signature Glasses Belonged to White's Father

Steve Urkel's signature glasses were not the original glasses he was supposed to wear. The glasses he wore on the show actually belonged to his real-life father. The glasses he was intended to wear were solid black, and were not quite as "nerdy" as the ones he ended up sticking with. These glasses became an iconic representation of Urkel.

DID YOU KNOW?

Today, the actor Jaleel White maintains an active career in acting. However, the Urkel character will forever be tied to him. Many people have said that they have difficulty seeing him as anyone other than Urkel.

Urkel Saved the Show

The Urkel character is credited with saving the show from cancellation. Before he was brought on, the show was on the verge of losing its spot on the network because of poor ratings. Urkel's appearance almost immediately boosted ratings, and continued to do so for several seasons.

Urkel had an Alter Ego

Urkel had an alter ego for a few episodes. The alter ego's name was Stefan Urquelle. This alter ego was a way for the storyline to show Urkel as a smooth-talking, handsome young man rather than the klutzy, awkward nerd he was written to be. Unfortunately, the alter ego turned out to be a little overconfident.

The Urkel Dance Was Actually Popular

Steve Urkel's signature dance permeated popular culture for quite some time. Many other television shows made reference to it. Additionally, the television show "Step by Step" had characters do the dance in one episode.

Jaleel White Helped to Write the Character and Show

White also had a hand in shaping the Urkel character in later seasons. During the last few seasons, he was also contracted to help write episodes of the show. Many people have commented on how the character development was deepened during these later episodes.

Urkel Made an Appearance on Full House

Steve Urkel made a guest appearance on Full House. He showed up to help Stephanie Tanner get used to her new glasses. His character showed her that glasses didn't make you any less cool or attractive.

Rumors Suggested White was Obsessed with His Urkel Character

Jaleel White has been the source of several death claims, most of which assert that he became obsessed with the Urkel character once the show ended. This is simply a rumor. While White has said he misses the show, and enjoyed the role of Urkel, he has had a successful career elsewhere since then.

Steve Urkel in Other Roles

The actor who played Steve Urkel, Jaleel White, is also a voice actor. He covered the voices for Sonic the Hedgehog in the animated children's television show, "The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog." He was a cast member for 65 episodes.

Steve Urkel may have been a silly character when he was first introduced to the show. However, with time, the character deepened quite a bit. Later development showed him to be a caring young man. The character even helped to explore several sensitive social topics.