Growing up Urkel : a memoir / Jaleel White.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

An incisive and insightful memoir by one of the most beloved icons of nineties television Jaleel White, the actor who portrayed Steve Urkel on the hit sitcom Family Matters .

DOES IT BOTHER YOU WHEN PEOPLE STILL CALL YOU URKEL?

"This is a question I get all the time and it's an interesting one--because the question lands differently from different people. Over the years, I've trained myself to hear their tone when saying the name or asking the question. If it's an older grandmother who hasn't seen me in a while she'll say, 'Oh baby, it's Urkel!' with genuine enthusiasm, and I'll greet her with love and give her a hug.

At this point in my life, I firmly understand that this journey was never just about me. It's been about finding my calling and figuring out the best ways to use it to bring joy to others. I see my story as a testament to the power of perseverance, authenticity, and reinvention."

In his memoir, Growing Up Urkel , Jaleel White takes you on a memorable journey through the peaks, valleys, and plateaus of fame and fortune. Join Jaleel as he invites you to relive the unforgettable ride of nineties nostalgia, while uncovering the personal growth behind the iconic suspenders and the lasting impact of his journey as one of America's favorite sitcom stars.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction: The Reboot (ix)
• 1 Did I Do That? (1)
• 2 Just Happy to Be Invited (15)
• 3 The Family White (29)
• 4 The Holdout (45)
• 5 Branching Out (53)
• 6 Late Bloomer (85)
• 7 Entitled Little Shit (107)
• 8 The First Day of the Rest of My Life (123)
• 9 Underrepresented (141)
• 10 Status Symbols (169)
• 11 Growing Up (185)
• 12 Perceptions and Illusions (217)
• 13 I'll Love You for As Long As I Need You (237)
• 14 Just Be Nice (253)
• 15 How to Play the Game (267)
• 16 There Are No Do-Overs (299)
• Acknowledgmen (315)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Actor White discusses the "double-edged sword" of his breakout role on the 1990s sitcom Family Matters in this intriguing if tight-lipped debut. The focus is squarely on White's career: he booked his first commercial at four years old (for Toys R Us), then stepped back from auditioning in middle school. His parents, however, encouraged him to continue acting, hoping the money could help pay for college. That nudge led White to audition for a single-episode guest spot as nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel on Family Matters when he was 12 years old. He got the part, and the crew liked his performance so much that he became a series regular. White balances boilerplate behind-the-scenes reminiscences with frank, sometimes funny discussions of the role's repercussions, including the trouble he continues to have being recognized for other performances (including in Big Fat Liar and Fake It Til You Make It) and the discomfort he feels that Urkel has become a "punching bag" for critics discussing Black representation on TV ("Friends doesn't speak for all white people. But no one ever thinks should or did. not examined with the same lens"). What's missing, save for a few humorous anecdotes about dating in his 20s and a brief ode to his daughter, is insight into White's personal life. While plenty charming, this doesn't offer much that fans don't already know. Agent: Kristen Neuhaus, Ultra Literary. (Nov.)

Booklist Review

The suspenders, the high-water jeans, the glasses--Family Matter's Steve Urkel is unmistakable for those who grew up with ABC's TGIF in the 1990s. Thirteen-year-old White was only supposed to be a guest star, but his characterization, inspired by Pee Wee Herman, Revenge of the Nerds, and Ed Grimley, was so immediately popular that he became a series regular. But when the show was cancelled in 1998, when White was a student at UCLA, he had trouble making a post-Urkel mark on Hollywood. A self-proclaimed late bloomer who was raised with strong values by his parents, he was forever striking out with the ladies and being taken advantage of by folks who were chasing his fame. This is no sob story, though. Instead, White chronicles his honest struggles with some entitled costars on Family Matters, deals that fell through and parts he missed out on, and lessons learned about who really had his back. Conversational in tone and just dishy enough, Growing Up Urkel will appeal to nostalgic readers looking for a show business insider's story.