‘Family Matters’ star Jaleel White says Urkel’s “bulge” got in the way of filming & he was told to wear looser pants
Family Matters, Steve Urkel really was the full package … in more ways than one.Jaleel White rose to fame playing the nerdy next door neighbor to the Winslow family on the beloved series from 1989 to 1998.Initially, the character was only set to appear for one episode, but Urkel quickly became the show’s breakout character known for the catchphrase “Did I do that?” and wearing suspenders and high-waisted jeans.Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.Iconic.White played the character for the show’s 9 seasons, from the age of 12 until he was 21.However, ahead of the show’s final seasons, the actor got too big for his britches…literally!In a new interview, the now 47-year-old discussed how production had to make adjustments to Urkel’s costumes because he was too well-endowed.“In the final season of Family Matters, it was decided — I was not a part of any of these not sessions — it was decided that I would no longer wear jeans, because they just looked just too tight,” White told SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio. “And if you’ll notice, on the final season of Family Matters, Steve only wears khakis.”A post shared by Mad Dog Sports Radio (@maddogsportsradio)The reason behind the costume change was because executives found Urkel’s physical transformation into adulthood too distracting.White elaborates on his, erm, growth spurt in his new memoir Growing Up Urkel and disclosed how he was told by producers the plans to keep Urkel evolving but also family-friendly.“We want to keep this character going, because everybody knows the character, but we just don’t want certain characteristics anymore,” White writes in the book, per Entertainment Weekly. “Let’s get rid of the suspenders.
Lower his pants, too. Oh, and . . . it’s getting a bit uncomfortable watching him in tight jeans. There’s a, uh . . . bulge.”Urkel’s PG-rated khaki era ensued.White was not upset about the wardrobe.
