“Have I done it?” It is undoubtedly Steve Urkel’s most famous line in the hit series “Family Matters”. Now, Jaleel white reveals what playing the geeky neighbor role for almost 10 years did to his real voice!
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Jaleel White said THIS about his Steve Urkel days
Jaleel spoke at 90s Con 2024 on Sunday (December 1), held in Daytona Beach, Florida this year. During the event, White said he had to change his voice in the TV series for that high-pitched, overloaded sound. He starred in the show from 1989 to 1998. Finally, he damaged his voice, per complex. White learned the extent after speaking with a doctor.
“What happened is that during puberty I was talking at the same pitch for long periods of time. If the shot had gone all over the place, I wouldn’t have damaged it as much. It’s been in remission, and I’m fine now.” Jaleel White said.
At one point, Jaleel said he thought he was going to lose his voice completely. The TV network really shook White when they repeatedly sent notes about his voice projection.
“I would keep getting network notes like, ‘We can’t hear him. Please be more clear.’ It was a bit scary for me to go through, he reportedly said.
Will ‘Family Matters’ Get a Reboot?
Speaking of his “Family Matters” days, the actor recently released a new memoir, “Growing Up Urkel.” As you can probably guess, the book is about how the role enhanced his status in acting but also defined his perception in Hollywood and to fans.
According to Rolling Stone, Jaleel White was booked to appear in a single episode of “Family Matters.” But his character was a W with viewers, and he was added in the 13th episode. By the second season, production had added him to the lead role, and the rest is history.
As for a “Family Matters” reboot in his future, Jaleel says he’s excited for it. But he wants more than the “Fuller House” formula, which features the original cast grown with children of their own. White also wants to be paid more than the $80,000 he was already offered for the basic plan.
“What? So I don’t get to say anything about what’s going to be written, you’re going to cut my old salary in half, I’m going to do fewer episodes, and there’s not going to be any pitching at all because you’ve already set it up to be me, Laura and a child,” Jaleel told Rolling Stone in November.
Earlier this year, the actor began a new chapter in his off-screen life when he married technology executive Nicoletta Ruhl.
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