Steve Urkel

Steve Urkel (full character name: Steven Quincy Urkel, portrayed by Jaleel White) is a character on the 1990s sitcom Family Matters. The character was portrayed as an archetypical nerd, with large, thick eyeglasses, "high-water" pants held up by suspenders, and a high-pitched voice with a snorting laugh. Highly intelligent, he was (like other TV characters, e.g. Tim Taylor from Home Improvement) also quite accident-prone and socially awkward. Urkel was originally a one-shot character on Family Matters, but, because of audience and ratings reaction, he became the show's main character by the third season.

Appearances on other shows

White has played Urkel on several sitcoms, most notably:

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• Full House – In the 1991 episode, "Stephanie Gets Framed" when he helps Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin) deal with her anxieties after she has to get glasses.
• Step by Step — In the series' second episode, "The Dance," Urkel helps his science-fair pen pal, Al Lambert (Christine Lakin) lift her spirits after her potential date dumps her just before a school dance. White reprises his "Do the Urkel" dance in the scene where Al gives her boyfriend his comeuppance. Note: White also has a short cameo in a 1997 episode.
• Meego — White makes an uncredited cameo in this short-lived CBS sitcom (which starred Bronson Pinchot).