Jaleel White recalled that even though his Family Matters character Steve Urkel was a hit at the time the show ran for nine seasons, from 1989 to 1998, it “damaged” the actor’s voice, because of the way he had to speak.
“I spoke to a doctor,” he explained speaking at a 90s Con 2024 in Daytona Beach, Fla, on Sunday, Sept. 15 in a panel moderated by actress Kimberly J. Brown.
“And 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,” he added.
Continuing that “it’s been in remission and I’m fine now,” he said he had an experience of doubt for about 15 or 16 years old when “I felt like I was really losing it. I would constantly get network notes like, ‘We can’t hear him. Please be more clear.’ It was kind of a scary thing for me to go through.”
White claimed he did not consult with a vocal coach before selecting Urkel’s tone, leaving him without tools to safeguard his voice. Now, he receives both vocal coaching and medical assistance to “get it under control.”
However, he added, “I wouldn’t do anything differently. It was a great experience and it was a small sacrifice to make for one hell of a legacy.”
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