Jaleel White Says the Secret to His Family Matters Audition Was Wearing His Dad’s Glasses and 'Too-Little Jeans'

With his thick glasses, nasal voice and skinny high-rise jeans, there’s probably no ’90s sitcom character more distinctive than Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White.

He is best known for his catchphrases like “Am I that?” and “oopsmom!”, a cute geek from Family matters — originally intended to be a one-off character — became an instant hit with audiences and was soon elevated to a regular cast member.

Earlier this year, while speaking at 90s Con 2024 in Daytona Beach, Fla., on a panel titled “The Evolution of Jaleel White,” the actor told the audience that being asked to audition for the role of a nerd is “fun” and transcends all stereotypical roles. available to young black actors at the time. “When that audition came and I actually read what the character was, I really felt like I could get the job,” White, 47, said during the Sept. 15 panel.

Determined to land the part, he devised his own impromptu look for Steve, using items of clothing he could find in his own home. “I was inspired to get glasses, dress up and work hard to get a job,” he recalled. “The glasses were my dad’s, he wore them to keep particles from flying into his eyes – he’s a dentist.”

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Jaleel White (left) in a 1991 episode of the series Family matters.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

If White’s father gets some credit for what would become Urkel’s trademark, then his mother might get credit for inspiring one of the character’s other memorable traits — his skinny jeans.

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“My mom would always keep some clothes that she planned to trade,” White said. “So she deliberately dressed me in jeans that were too small, and then I took the briefcase.”

White said during the panel that he auditioned in full character — he even refused to introduce himself by his real name — and the rest is history.

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“I decided at the last minute actually — I’ve only done it twice before — but I decided to walk into the room as a character and never even introduce myself as Jaleel,” he recalled. “I was 12 years old. I made that choice by trying to do everything I could to give myself a competitive edge.”

Growing up Urkela memoir filled with stories from White’s life, is now available from Simon & Schuster.

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Source: HIS Education

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