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.

Character background

Personality

Urkel was socially awkward, but was endearing to some people, and his popularity with the fans made him one of America's favorite nerds. After he caused an accident (usually because of his clumsiness or when one of his inventions backfired), he would often remark, "Did I do that?"

Related Topics:
America's - Nerd

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He drives a BMW Isetta, enjoys going to polka dances, plays the accordion and his favorite food is cheese (although he also likes frog legs and anchovy paste, among other foods). He conducts most of his activities (scientific experiments and creating inventions) in the basement of his home.

Related Topics:
BMW Isetta - Polka - Accordion - Cheese - Frog legs - Anchovy

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In the 1991 episode "Life of the Party," Urkel creates a dance called "The Urkel" to help win friends at school.

Related Topics:
1991 - The Urkel

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Relatives

On a serious note, Urkel's parents do not seem to love him (originally this wasn't the case); frequently, his comments allude that he is a victim of verbal and emotional abuse (although this has never explicitly been mentioned in this running gag). In 1995, the elder Urkels move to Russia without informing their son, forcing the Winslows to allow Steve to move in.

Related Topics:
Abuse - Running gag - 1995 - Russia

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In addition to his parents (who were never seen, although Mrs. Urkel once was heard off-screen), his family includes Myrtle Urkel (also played by White), who thought of herself as a Southern Belle; Uncle Cecil (who was never seen, but often mentioned); Original Gangster Dawg (OGD), another cousin (also played by White); and Aunt Oona (Donna Summer), his shy, socially awkward aunt from Altoona, Iowa.

Related Topics:
Never seen - Myrtle Urkel - Southern Belle - Donna Summer - Altoona, Iowa

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Stefan Urquelle

Stefan Urquelle is Steve Urkel's alter ego, also portrayed by Jaleel White. While Urkel is clumsy and unpopular with people around him, Urquelle is popular and suave, especially with the ladies.

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Steve created a transformation chamber which allowed him to turn into Urquelle whenever he wanted to. He also created a liquid called Boss Sauce which is put into the transformation chamber, this liquid is what allows the transformation chamber to change Steve into Stefan. Steve changes into Stefan many times because Laura Winslow wants to see Stefan frequently. In his premiere, however, he was very narccissistic, cold-hearted, Gaston-ish, and shallow, which got on Laura's nerves very quickly.

Related Topics:
Narccissistic - Gaston

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The effects of the transformation chamber are only temporary which means that Stefan will change back into Steve after a certain amount of time (originally a week). As the show went on, Steve enhanced the Boss Sauce which stopped the change-over from Stefan back into Steve. Stefan could only change back into Steve by drinking an antidote or chewing a tablet.

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Later on in the series, Steve creates a cloning machine which allows Stefan to become a real person.

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All for the love of Laura

Urkel's long-unrequited love interest was Laura Winslow (Kellie Shanygne Williams), a popular girl who he has known since childhood. He also attracted the affection of Myra Monkhouse (Michelle Thomas), who was very pretty and often had huge crushes for nerds like himself. While Urkel tried his best, he ultimately realized he had absolutely no feelings for Myra despite her constant advances, especially since he was convinced Laura was his true love.

Related Topics:
Laura Winslow - Kellie Shanygne Williams - Myra Monkhouse - Michelle Thomas

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Myra's relations with Laura were always (at best) tense, especially since she believes that Laura secretly has a crush on Urkel. Several of her schemes to expose Laura's "true feelings" fail.

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Eventually, Urkel's patience paid off. In the later seasons, Laura came to appreciate Urkel's company and her feelings softened considerably; however, she always stuck up for him in his time of need and was always appreciative of his help (in the latter instance, usually only after mistakenly believing he was meddling in her social life). During the series' final season (1997-1998), she and Urkel fell in love, with Laura accepting Urkel's marriage proposal. The marriage was never shown do to the unexpected canceling of show.

Related Topics:
1997 - 1998

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