‘Family Matters’ star Jaleel White looks back on his time filming the beloved ’90s sitcom.
The actor, who played Steve Urkel from 1989 to 1998, revealed in his upcoming memoir, “Growing Up Urkel,” that he was told to wear baggy jeans to hide his “bulge” as he grew older, according to the US Sun. .
White recalls that the show’s directors asked him to ditch his signature suspenders and high-waisted skinny jeans after Season 8 when he started outgrowing his geeky character’s clothes in his 20s.
Jaleel White, seen here Saturday, opened up about his time on “Family Matters” in his upcoming memoir, “Growing Up Urkel.” Photo Image Press via ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com The actor played the beloved role of Steve Urkel from 1989 to 1998. Getty Images
“Let’s get rid of the suspenders. He lowered his pants too,” alleged executives said. “Oh and…it’s a little uncomfortable watching him in skinny jeans. “There’s a, uh… bulge.”
White, who was about 13 when the series began and 22 when it ended, remembers “peeling off” the skinny jeans his character was wearing “like bananas.”
According to the outlet, the child star claimed that the show’s producers wanted the series to continue as long as possible, and it was too “physically painful” for him to speak in Urkel’s famous high-pitched voice as a man.
In his book, White, seen here in 1994, recalls the show’s directors telling him to wear baggy jeans to hide his “bulge” as he grew older. ABC Photo Archives / Getty Images “Let’s get rid of the suspenders. Lower his pants, too,” the alleged executives said. Instagram/Jalil White
White shared that he almost left the show before filming wrapped in 1998.
The “Big Fat Liar” star also spoke about meeting disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs on the Oct. 30 episode of “The Viall Files,” per Us Weekly.
“I’ve never been invited to a party,” he told host Nick Viall.
“Oh and… it’s a little uncomfortable watching him in skinny jeans. There’s uh… a bulge,” White added. Instagram/jaleelwhite The ‘Big Fat Liar’ star claimed the show’s producers wanted the show to continue as long as possible Instagram/jaleelwhite Want more celebrity and pop culture news?
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“I keep saying, ‘No is God’s protection.’ I was taken off the White Party list; I never went out of my way to invite myself to any of that stuff anyway. That’s the way it is,” White continued.
Combs was arrested on September 16 on charges of human trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and fraud or coercion.
The “I’ll Miss You” rapper is being held in a Brooklyn detention center awaiting trial on May 5.
He also remembers growing up from his character’s high voice. Getty Images The show ended in 1998. ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images
Meanwhile, White is best known for his appearances in the 1990s sitcoms “Full House” and “Step By Step.”
In May 2024, he tied the knot with his wife, Nicoletta Ruhl, after they announced their romance in 2022, according to People magazine.
He is the father of 15-year-old daughter Samaya, whom he welcomed with ex Bridget Hardy.
