Jaleel White Reveals How Playing Steve Urkel Damaged His Voice

Jaleel White is opening up about the lasting impact his iconic role as Steve Urkel had on his voice during a panel at the 90s Con 2024 in Daytona Beach. 

White, who brought the iconic Steve Urkel to life on Family Matters, got real about how the high-pitched voice he used for the role ended up messing with him.

“I spoke to a doctor,” White explained. “What happened is, during puberty, I spoke at the same pitch for extended periods of time. If the pitch had been going all over the place, I wouldn’t have damaged it quite as much. It’s been in remission and I’m fine now.”

For White, the damage wasn’t just physical—it was mentally draining too. He recalled a time when he thought he was really losing his voice. “I would constantly get network notes like, ‘We can’t hear him. Please be more clear,’” White shared. “It was kind of a scary thing for me to go through.”

Back when he first started playing Urkel, White didn’t know how to protect his voice. He admitted he didn’t have a vocal coach while acting on the show, which could have helped him avoid the damage.

However, now he’s learned how to keep things “under control” by working with a vocal coach and his doctor to keep his voice in check.

Despite the challenges, he’s been very vocal about his appreciation for the breakout role that made him a household name.