What is Jaleel White’s Net Worth and Salary?
Jaleel White, an American actor and screenwriter, has a net worth of $8 million. He is best known for his portrayal of Steve Urkel on the popular sitcom “Family Matters”, which aired from 1989 to 1998. Initially intended to be a one-time role, Steve Urkel became a cultural icon and gave rise to the famous catchphrase “Did I do that?”. Jaleel appeared in 204 out of 215 episodes of the show and earned $180,000 per episode at its peak, which amounts to around $4 million per season. Adjusted for inflation, this amounts to earning $300,000 per episode or roughly $7 million per season today.
Before his stint on “Family Matters”, Jaleel appeared in commercials and had minor roles on TV shows like “The Jeffersons”, “Mr. Belvedere”, and “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” (a predecessor to “Saved by the Bell”). He also starred on UPN’s “Grown Ups” (1999–2000) and hosted the Syfy game show “Total Blackout” (2012–2013). Jaleel was ranked #37 on VH1’s 2005 “100 Greatest Kid Stars” list.
Jaleel White Early Life and Education
Jaleel White was born in California in 1976 to Gail, a homemaker, and Michael, a dentist. After becoming interested in acting, his mother became his manager. White attended John Marshall Fundamental High School and South Pasadena High School before graduating from UCLA with a degree in film and television in 2001.
Jaleel White’s Early Acting Career
Jaleel White began acting at the age of 3, after his preschool teacher suggested it. He starred in commercials, including one for Jello-O pudding pops with Bill Cosby. In 1984, he had a guest role on “The Jeffersons” and was originally cast as Rudy on “The Cosby Show” but the part went to Keshia Knight Pulliam. He appeared in the television film “Kids Don’t Tell” and all 18 episodes of the CBS sitcom “Charlie & Co.” in 1985. White also appeared in “The Disney Sunday Movie” and “Mr. Belvedere,” as well as the “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” pilot and “Jay Leno’s Comedy Hour.”
Steve Urkel: A 1990s Cultural Phenomenon
Jaleel White landed the role of Steve Urkel on “Family Matters” in 1989 after wearing a pair of his father’s large dental eye glasses during the audition. He played the nerdy neighbor in 203 of the show’s 215 total episodes, sometimes portraying Steve’s suave alter ego, Stefan Urquelle, and his cousin, Myrtle Urkel. Steve Urkel became a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s, with his popularity leading to a doll and Urkel-Os cereal. Jaleel White reprised his role on “Full House” and “Step by Step” in 1991, as well as the 2019 animated film “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?”
Jaleel White’s Career Highlights
Jaleel White is an American actor, writer, and producer who has appeared in over 20 films, including “Dreamgirls,” “Who Made the Potatoe Salad?,” “Call of the Wild,” and “The 15:17 to Paris.” He also wrote two episodes of the sitcom “Family Matters.”
White is known for voicing the popular videogame character Sonic the Hedgehog in several animated series, including “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Sonic’s Christmas Blast,” and “Sonic Underground.”
He played the lead role on the sitcom “The Grown Ups” and has guest-starred on several TV shows, including “Boston Legal,” “Psych,” “House,” and “Castle.”
In 2010, White wrote, produced, and starred in the web series “Fake It Till You Make It.” He also hosted the game show “Total Blackout” in 2012 and competed on “Dancing with the Stars,” coming in seventh place.
In 2020, Jaleel began appearing in a recurring role on Netflix’s “The Big Show Show.”
Allegations of Domestic Violence
In 2010, Jaleel White’s then-girlfriend Bridget Hardy accused him of hitting and shoving her during a confrontation about his alleged infidelity. However, White denied the allegations and claimed they were a result of their ongoing custody battle over their daughter Samaya.
Accolades
White has been recognized for his acting talent with several awards and nominations. He was nominated for a Young Artist Award for his guest appearance on “The Jeffersons” in 1985 and for his supporting role on “Charlie & Co.” the following year. In 1991, he won the Young Artist Award for Outstanding Young Comedian in a Television Series for “Family Matters.”
Jaleel has also been nominated for 4 NAACP Image Awards for his performance on “Family Matters,” winning in 1994, 1995, and 1997. He was also nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for Favorite Television Actor in 1996. In 2017, White was presented with the Global Humanitarian Medal of Honor in Memoriam of Theodor Seuss Geisel at the Disney Motif Awards.
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