Black P*** Star Who Played on Family Matters Before

Clockwise from bottom-left: Steve (White), Laura (Williams), Myra (Thomas), Eddie (McCrary) Harriette (Payton) and Carl (VelJohnson)

Family Matters is an American sitcom revolving around the Winslow family, a middle-class African-American family living in Chicago. The series ran for nine seasons (8 on ABC and one on CBS)and is a spin-off of Perfect Strangers.^[1] Midway through the starting time season, the show introduced the Winslows' nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel (played by Jaleel White), who quickly became its breakout character and eventually a primary character. The series had a total of 12 main characters, with some characters portrayed past multiple actors.

Casting [edit]

JoMarie Payton originally appeared on Perfect Strangers in 1987 in the recurring office of Harriette Winslow, the elevator operator for the Chicago Chronicle. Reginald VelJohnson later made 1 appearance on Perfect Strangers in the 1989 episode "Crimebusters" as Carl Winslow, policeman and husband of Harriette Winslow. Due to the big popularity of Payton's character with audiences, the grapheme was spun off to its ain prove, Family unit Matters.^[ii] ^[three] While Payton, VelJohnson, and Telma Hopkins (as Harriette'due south widowed sister Rachel) were initially the stars of the show, with the focus beingness around the Winslow family unit, Jaleel White was introduced as nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel during the center of the starting time season in the episode "Laura'due south First Date"; Urkel, the lovesick pursuer of Laura Winslow (portrayed by Kellie Shanygne Williams), quickly became a popular breakout graphic symbol with audiences.^[4] ^[5]

Shortly afterwards the introduction of White as Steve Urkel, Shawn Harrison was cast in the role of Waldo Faldo, initially every bit sidekick to a bully portrayed by Larenz Tate that terrorized anybody and Urkel. When Tate and Harrison were offered the chance to return to the evidence on a recurring basis, simply Harrison took up the offer.^[vi] As a result, his character was re-written to be the best friend of Eddie Winslow (portrayed past Darius McCrary). Harrison eventually joined the main cast in the 1992–1993 season. Soon after, Michelle Thomas was cast in the role of Myra Monkhouse, dearest interest and later girlfriend of Steve Urkel. Initially cast on a recurring basis, Thomas joined the principal bandage equally a regular in the 1994–1995 flavour. In the 1996–1997 season, Orlando Brown was added to the cast every bit Jerry Jamal "3J" Jameson, a troubled youth existence mentored by Steve who becomes the foster child of the Winslows.

Main characters [edit]

The series featured 12 main characters with their actors appearing during the opening credits.

Carl Winslow [edit]

Played past Reginald VelJohnson.

Carlton "Carl" Otis Winslow, who originally appeared in the Perfect Strangers episode "Crimebusters" alongside his wife Harriette, is the son of Estelle Winslow and the late Samuel, brother-in-law of Rachel Crawford and the father of Eddie, Laura, and Judy Winslow, uncle of Richie Crawford and adoptive father of "3J" Jameson. He is a short-tempered person only withal has a kind and humble nature. He mentioned in the season 1 episode "The Mama Who Came to Dinner" every bit having three brothers named Frank (who later appeared in the season 8 episode, "The Brother Who Came to Dinner"), Walter, and Calvin, and in another episode from that same season, "The Party", a brother named Darryl. His initials spell "Cow" and he is often teased because of this. He holds his position as "King of the Castle" (a self-proclaimed "Big Kahuna") very seriously; however, he is easy to admit defeat to Harriette when involved in typical marital disputes.

Carl is constantly annoyed, irritated, and always being bothered past his pesky neighbour, Steve Urkel, who has great respect for Carl and affectionately calls him "Big Guy". Although Steve is relentlessly annoying and has cost the Winslow family big amounts of fourth dimension and money from his own clumsy demeanor, he has shown he's more than mature than Eddie is in accepting responsibility. Carl is frequently in that location to dorsum Steve upwards and help him out in times of distress. Although he continues to exist exasperated and irritated by his antics, over the progression of the show, Carl develops a fondness for Steve that surprises even himself.

Carl is an officer for the Chicago Law Department. He takes his task seriously and it is oftentimes suggested that he is very good at what he does, despite having an incompetent if the genial boss in Lt. Murtaugh. Fitting into the cop stereotype, he has an avid love for doughnuts and other junk food. This plays into the fact that he is overweight and in several stories throughout the series, Carl'due south physical health plays a role (in the flavour 4 episode "Driving Carl Crazy", he is revealed to have high blood force per unit area, which got unsafe considering he tried to dodge dieting). Because of Carl's obesity, he is often facing stigmas (like being lazy, unintelligent, noncompliant with weight-loss treatment, etc.) associated with it, sometimes prompting his family and colleagues to doubt his reliability or leading to comical situations. Despite the stress of his job, he neither abuses alcohol nor tobacco to cope with them; he rather depends on his family for comfort and support. Carl starts the series as a police sergeant; he is later promoted to lieutenant in flavor five's "That's What Friends Are For," and eventually helm in season nine'due south "Who'due south Afraid of the Big Black Book?". Carl is also the simply grapheme to announced in every single episode of the series.

Harriette Winslow [edit]

Played by Jo Marie Payton (1989–1997), and Judyann Elder (1998).

Harriette Baines Winslow is Carl's wife, Rachel'due south big sister, biological mother of Eddie, Laura and Judy, aunt of Richie and adoptive female parent of 3J and the daughter of Jimmy Baines and Darlene Baines. Harriette is a very conservative and stiff-willed woman. She holds her role in gild every bit a mother and working woman with loftier regard. Harriette is very reluctant to tell people what they want to hear, equally she is very frank and upfront about her feelings. She outset appeared in Perfect Strangers as an "elevator operator" for the Chicago Chronicle, before being laid off and later rehired equally Director of Security in the season one episode "Two-Income Family" and then fired from the Chronicle in the season 5 episode "A Matter of Principle" for refusing to reduce her security staff during a upkeep crisis. She was subsequently employed by Ferguson's Department Store beginning with the flavor six episode "The Looney Bin," initially as a service clerk, then later promoted to Head of Sales in the flavour nine episode "Out With the Old".

As the voice of reason, she is quite good at mediating conflicts in her family unit, often pointing out faults to everyone, only this likewise makes her very reluctant to take sides. For example, she is often very supportive of her husband, Carl, but during his feuds with another character, she rarely takes his side. Instead, she would criticize both of them, hoping to reconcile them with each other. This particularly makes it difficult for Carl to discipline their rebellious son, Eddie, who rarely learned from his mistakes. Conversely, she is peculiarly strict towards her girl, Laura, despite being far more responsible, obedient and trustworthy. Sometimes Harriette would go equally far every bit plough confronting her ain husband. She is fully aware that Carl is constantly harassed by their neighbor, Steve Urkel, but flat out sides with the nerd instead, due to his fragile feelings winning her sympathy and their shared belief that Carl'southward agony is due to his own impatient attitude.

All the same, all of her reasoning, yet cocky-righteous, is motivated by her love for her family and her hopes that all sides can reconcile with each other. The just time she'southward been forced to side exclusively with Carl was during his feud with their second neighbor, Nick Neidermeyer, because her beginning attempt to reprimand both of them failed, with Neidermeyer still unrepentant and mocking Carl'southward obedience to his wife.

Eddie Winslow [edit]

Played by Darius McCrary.

Edward James Arthur Winslow is a casual NBA, NFL fan and jock. He is the oldest kid of Carl and Harriette Winslow and their simply son until they adopt 3J in season eight. During the early years of the series, he was a high schoolhouse student with stereotypical traits of a high school slacker. He had mediocre grades, irresponsible behavior and is always pursuing beautiful girls.

In the outset season, he appeared good-intentioned and responsible, despite being academically challenged. In the pilot episode, he approached his father to make an exception and let him stay out past curfew and confessed to his begetter that his straight-A report bill of fare was a classmate'south prank once he found out. Equally the series progressed, Eddie gradually became more rebellious, making many poor choices that landed him in trouble. Eddie frequently had a stormy human relationship with his father, especially concerning Carl's strict rules simply also because of Eddie's young attitude and penchant for breaking rules. Being a rebel and hedonist, his viewpoint of adulthood is very childish, believing that all adults are gratuitous from rules, authority and penalisation. He despises beingness treated like a kid and demands to exist treated like an adult but at the aforementioned fourth dimension, he scarcely acts like an adult and fiercely avoids adult responsibilities as ofttimes as possible.

It was shown a few times that Eddie was prone to gambling and getting into problem and refused to get to Carl for assistance, which got him into more problem than not, such as dealing with a pool hustler in season 2's "Fast Eddie Winslow". When getting into problem or debt, Eddie would often try to solve the problem himself, refusing to confess to his male parent at the risk of existence punished, which would likely land him into trouble with his father anyway. In one case, later on damaging the family auto in the Season 2 episode, "Busted", he was caught illegally gambling at an underground casino, hoping to win coin and pay for repairs without telling his parents. In the season 3 episode, "Jailhouse Dejection", afterwards getting caught joyriding in a stolen auto with his delinquent cousin, he attempted to sweet talk himself out of penalization, which just got him punished for the remainder of the twelvemonth. In the season v episode "Money Out the Window", afterward getting into gambling debt one time over again, he attempts to sell Carl'southward rare postage stamp, hoping to buy it dorsum before beingness caught by his father. Once more, after getting scammed in season 7 episode "Scammed", he lied to his father to borrow coin to pay an illegally overpriced bar tab. Nonetheless, on a few occasions, he has shown he was willing to go to his father for help, such as when he was sold a stolen stereo system in season 4'due south "Hot Stuff" and got racially profiled by two white cops (an unapologetic racist senior officeholder and his obedient rookie partner) when cited for a traffic violation that he did not commit in season 5'south "Good Cop, Bad Cop".

Eddie, along with his begetter and sister, is often constantly irritated, annoyed and harassed by their neighbor, Steve Urkel.

During the first two seasons, he was friends with classmate Rodney Beckett. From the third flavour onwards, Eddie's all-time friends were Waldo Faldo and Steve Urkel. He likewise on occasion, would hang out with "Weasel". Initially, his relationship with Steve – who considered Eddie his "best bud" and often affectionately chosen him "Eddo" – was piffling more than than out of pity (because Steve was an unpopular nerd). Eddie remained loyal to Steve and he somewhen accepted him as a true friend.

Eddie has dated a very large number of girls throughout the series, sometimes more than one at the same time, with very few of them reappearing as his girlfriend. Even Steve has remembered the names of many of Eddie's girlfriends just cannot go along track of which ane Eddie currently dates. When he met ane and attempted to estimate her name, Steve foolishly blurted out many names, probable the names of Eddie's by girlfriends, which leads to Eddie chasing after the nerd. When Steve tried to invite Eddie'southward friends to his birthday party, he was tricked past Laura to telephone call numbers from Eddie's "petty black book", resulting in the entire family unit room flooded with attractive women, much to Eddie'south ironic horror. All the same, Eddie has shown that he is not beyond desiring truthful love and pursuing an honest and serious relationship. His most indelible, successful, and ultimately final relationship is with Greta McClure. His relationship with Greta developed throughout the serial and faced many obstacles, about notably in the forms of Myrtle Urkel and Greta's father Dave McClure (possessor of Eddie's employer Mighty Weenie).

Eddie has two main adversaries on the show. The first was Myrtle Urkel, the cousin of Steve Urkel and a rich Southern belle whose infatuation with Eddie mirrored Steve'south infatuation to Laura. Nevertheless, unlike Steve, Myrtle never respected Eddie's personal space and kept pursuing him much to his extreme terror. She waited until season seven (starting time with the episode "She'south Back") to attempt and win his dear, but he was dating Greta at the fourth dimension. Different Laura'southward would-be boyfriends when it came to Steve, Greta was more successful in warding Myrtle off. Undaunted, Myrtle made her last push button to win Eddie's centre by getting a makeover merely he was still non impressed. She soon relinquished her dear for him in season nine'due south "Don't Make Me Over," and fix her sights on other guys. Eddie'south second main adversary was his sometime boss, Dave McClure, who did not approve of Eddie dating his daughter and tried to keep them apart in three episodes (including "My Bodyguard" and "Walking My Baby Back Home" in season vii). As of the series finale, Eddie and Greta are still dating and are living together in an apartment, in spite of Mr. McClure having disowned her.

Eddie has shown to have matured and become more responsible and hardworking throughout the series. Though he started equally a mediocre student, he got accepted into college. He worked at a Mighty Weenie restaurant and became its director. When his academic challenges restarted in higher, Eddie switched his focus to become a police officer like his father. Eddie enrolled at the police force academy in the flavor 9 episode "Breaking Up Is Difficult to Exercise," somewhen getting hired by the Chicago Police Department equally a rookie officer at the end of the series in "Lost in Space (Part 1)".

Laura Lee Winslow [edit]

Played by Kellie Shanygne Williams.

Laura Lee Winslow is the oldest daughter of Harriette and Carl Winslow and the object of Steve Urkel's angel. In school, Laura was essentially the platonic girl; beautiful, popular and received very good grades. Unlike her blood brother, who was a slacker and more into sports, Laura was very independent and focused with her education and was even distraught when her straight-A streak was broken past a mere B+. She oftentimes tried to practise everything to succeed by herself, which was not always the correct choice. She tried to start a babysitting business when she was a kid, sneaked out of the house to burn herself out studying for a test despite her parents' insistence to rest and worked a graveyard shift to save money to buy a car. She somewhen got accepted to Harvard University in season seven'south "Twinkle Toes Faldo," but decided to decline the offer because her parents could not afford the tuition, though she told them it was because she could not live and then far from home.

Laura, along with her father and brother is also often bothered past their abrasive neighbor, Steve Urkel.

Laura began equally quite vain, often in pursuit of popular expert-looking boys, being dismissive towards Steve and showing footling respect for her academically challenged older brother. She was not always a skillful judge of grapheme, equally a majority of her would-be boyfriends were antagonists in their appearances. She had many boyfriends who would bully Steve and who would cheat on her but would ultimately cease with Steve warding them off. Laura generally had piffling patience for Steve'south antics simply her seeming dislike of him just seemed to egg him on further. She eventually grew wiser and demonstrated better judgement. She has shown appreciation to Steve when he selflessly helped her and the Winslows out when they needed him. Laura somewhen learned to love Steve. They became a couple in the concluding (ninth) flavor episode "Trading Places" and were engaged to be married in the third-to-concluding episode, "Pop Goes the Question".

Judy Winslow [edit]

Played past Valerie Jones (pilot only), and Jaimee Foxworth (1989–1993).

Judith "Judy" Winslow is the younger daughter and youngest biological kid, of Carl and Harriette Winslow. Her middle name is unknown (Laura's middle name is Lee and Eddie'due south middle names are James and Arthur). She is nine years sometime as the serial begins and remains in the series until she is thirteen. It is suggested that she enjoys a close relationship with her sister Laura. She attends uncomplicated school, and later attends middle school for sixth class. Following the fourth-season episode "Mama'south Hymeneals", the graphic symbol disappears from the series birthday, with no explanation given. Series co-creator and executive producer William Bickley said she was cut due to a "upkeep consideration".^[7] She tin can be seen in annal footage on flavour half dozen episode " What's Up Doc ?"

Estelle Winslow / Thomas [edit]

Played past Rosetta LeNoire (1989–1995, 1996, 1997).

Estelle Winslow is the mother of Carl Winslow and his 4 brothers, Harriette's mother-in-law and grandmother of Eddie, Laura and Judy Winslow. Estelle is a very wise adult female and ever very defensive of her grandchildren. Estelle moves into her son's household at the first of the series. She (unlike all of the other Winslows) was a friend of Steve Urkel for the entire series and loved him like a grandson. She loved when Steve came to the Winslow house and instead of trying to make him exit, she wanted him to stay. Steve always affectionately called her "Estelle, my Belle," which she loved. Estelle is street-wise and keeps upwards to appointment with the latest pop civilisation and trends, much to the surprise of her family unit. In later seasons (outset with flavour two's "Requiem for an Urkel"), she begins a relationship with Fletcher Thomas, which Carl disapproves of initially before eventually accepting the human relationship. The two later got married at the Winslow home in season four's "Mama's Wedding". Estelle would often say her catchphrase "way to go, Carl," ordinarily to Carl when he did something incorrect.

Steve Urkel [edit]

Played by Jaleel White. Steven "Steve" Quincy Urkel is the Winslows' extremely annoying, nerdy, irritating, quintessential, pesky, bouncy, reckless, vain, clumsy, carefree, and mischievous neighbor with large, thick eyeglasses, "high-water" pants held upwardly past suspenders, a high-pitch nasal-tone voice and a snorting laugh. He first appeared in the season one episode "Laura'due south First Appointment" and was too known for his massive trounce on Laura Winslow, whose angel he was constantly attempting to win. He became known for his signature "Urkel Dance", a novelty trip the light fantastic that he frequently performed.

While highly intelligent, he is besides quite accident-prone (spawning his catchphrase, "Did I do that?") and socially awkward. As a nerd, he gradually grows to get an inventor and soon, his sick-conceived inventions form a big majority of the accidents which he does to the Winslow house causing Carl to yell at him. He has as well created numerous inventions that were otherwise considered impossible, such every bit a machine which turned him into his suave alter-ego, Stefan Urquelle, too as alter his personality into other celebrities whose Dna he inexplicably collected, such as the crime-fighting Bruce Lee Urkel.

Steve is more often than not portrayed as odd and dorky but kindhearted and good-natured character. However, he tends to exist socially tone-deaf and other people, especially the Winslows, discover him annoying. Steve's saving grace is that he is a genuinely good person who cares about others (often putting their needs and wants alee of his own) and over time others come to genuinely like him and treat him with more respect, even as he remains a walking sight gag and prone to random disasters. While some of the main characters are more welcoming towards him, it is Carl, Eddie and Laura, who are the most tormented by his shenanigans, because they are the ones he most wants to exist closest to and be himself around, resulting in extremely little formality and respect. And while he has a kind heart, he ofttimes doesn't appear to intendance how he is affecting others with his behavior (in a mode, Urkel was a forerunner of the Sheldon Cooper graphic symbol on The Big Bang Theory, who was also a genius and rarely noticed/cared about the fashion he made other people feel).

Amid Steve'southward most antagonistic tendencies are his refusal to take responsibility, his manipulation of others, his delusions, and his persistence. He is extremely skillful at pulling the strings of angry people, especially the Winslows, to feel sorry for him and forgive him, or more than precisely, apologize for pain his feelings and take arraign for him. This allows him to end numerous episodes dismissing his mistakes and all criticism, and preserving his mirage of innocence. And while often fully aware of how much grief he causes the Winslows, and how much he damages their domicile, his firsthand response is ever to keep doing whatever he is doing, until they give up ordering him to end. This effectively makes Steve Urkel the most remorseless main graphic symbol in the serial. He has even admitted at least thrice that he's fully aware of how much he burdens them, merely doesn't desire to modify anything because he'south comfortable with the way things are.

While Steve is known for having a strong sense of integrity and general responsibility (succeeding at school, refusal to cheat, obeying the police), his social lifestyle remained largely uncompromising, incapable of accepting No for an reply, and undisciplined, completely unfamiliar with consequences for his actions. A likely reason for rarely being punished is that his parents and larger family were unsupportive and cold towards him, often leaving him to fend for himself and seek his family unit needs elsewhere; his zipper to the Winslow family makes sense in this context. By the end of the series, Steve has made it plain that he considers Carl Winslow to exist his "real male parent" and that he doesn't care if his actual family unit is a factor in his life anymore.

However, Urkel finds himself more considerate of other people later enduring being stalked past Myra and finding out what it's like being unwillingly pursued, although he would still proceed clinging to Laura, both to be with her besides equally to escape from Myra. Information technology is simply afterward he lets go of Laura and accepts Myra, afterward much reluctance, that he no longer clings and then much to others and his relationships finally go more stable.

Rachel Crawford [edit]

Played by Telma Hopkins (1989–1993; recurring, 1994–1995, 1997).

Rachel Baines Crawford was Harriette's attractive and widowed younger sister. She moved in with the Winslows shortly after her husband, Robert, died. She is the mother of Richard "Richie" Crawford and the girl of Jimmy Baines, who appeared in the flavour ii episode "Finding the Words" to reconcile with her and Harriette, after he walked out on them when they were little. A budding singer, she is as well a writer and an entrepreneur, opening Rachel'south Place (a hangout for teenagers, much in the vein of Arnold's from Happy Days) in the season ii episode "Rachel's Place," which replaced Leroy's, a similar hamburger joint that Urkel had accidentally burned downwards while working there. Rachel is seen throughout the first 3 seasons; & appears infrequently for a number of episodes in the 4th season due towards her getting her own sitcom after a twelvemonth'due south absence (due to Telma Hopkins leaving the show full-time to star in the short-lived sitcom Getting By), she made occasional appearances during the sixth and ninth seasons. Rachel considered herself more beautiful than Harriette. Rachel's trademark during the early on seasons were her hats. Her last appearance was in the Christmas-themed episode "Deck the Malls" from the 9th flavour.

Richie Crawford [edit]

Played by Joseph & Julius Wright (credited as Joseph Julius Wright) (1989–1990); and Bryton McClure (1990–1997).

Richard "Richie" Crawford was the only son of Robert and Rachel Crawford; Robert dies earlier Richie was born, which in office prompts Rachel's move into the Winslow household. There, Carl finer fills the "father" part left vacant by Robert's expiry. Richie is nearly a year old in the show's get-go season and was age-advanced to iii-years-old in get-go with the season two premiere "Rachel'due south Place". He is a typical mischievous child and even idolizes Steve; in fact, due to the nerd'due south constant visits and unrelenting beat on Laura, Richie calls him "Uncle Steve". In after episodes, Richie becomes the friend to a young orphan named 3J (whom the Winslows eventually adopt). His last appearance in the serial was in the Christmas-themed episode "Deck the Malls" from the ninth season.

Jerry Jamal Jameson [edit]

Played past Orlando Brown (1996–1998).

Jerry Jamal Jameson, referred to equally 3J, is a young boy whom Carl and Harriette adopted in the flavor viii episode "3J in the Firm". He was introduced as Urkel'south "Little Brother" (in the season seven episode "My Big Blood brother," which pays homage to the Big Brothers/Large Sisters of America program) and later on becomes friends with Richie.^[8] His street-wise, smart-mouthed demeanor is a cover for his loneliness and want to accept a stable, permanent family; his birth mother had given him upwards for adoption before long after he was born and frequently moved effectually. He was living with his aunt for a fourth dimension until he was placed in a children'due south shelter, when she could no longer afford to continue him. The Winslows, seeing that he needed love, make up one's mind to adopt him. It is revealed in the episode "Whose Man is information technology Anyhow?," that his mother is a waitress and Carl took him in that location (non realising the connection) for lunch and that ane day she would similar to reunite with him simply until then, Carl promises to take intendance of him and would remain keeping in contact with her.

Waldo Geraldo Faldo [edit]

Played by Shawn Harrison (1990–1996; 1997).

For most of the time that Waldo was featured on the show, he was a friend of Eddie Winslow (the son of the testify's main characters, Carl and Harriette Winslow) and the Winslows' quintessential nerdy neighbor, Steve Urkel. When he was introduced in the season two episode "Requiem for an Urkel," he started off every bit Willie Fuffner'southward friend but though he more often than not had no ill intent and was non quite the keen that Willie was, he notwithstanding nonetheless ignorantly followed Willie's lead. The two got arrested for bringing booze to a political party in "Life of the Party," and Waldo presumably ended their friendship afterwards out of guilt for nearly endangering Urkel. His character was rewritten every bit a skilful guy and to serve equally a friend of Eddie'south. Like Steve Urkel (the bear witness's most famous graphic symbol), Waldo was an outlandish, virtually surrealistic person. While Steve was the resident nerd, Waldo was the resident idiot. Waldo eventually reached a point in his lack of intelligence to where he even manages to annoy Steve. In the flavour three episode "Food, Lies and Videotape," Waldo was discovered to exist an excellent chef. It is later revealed that Waldo did non learn how to walk, until he was 10. He dated Laura's best friend Maxine for many seasons (start with the flavour four episode "Pulling Teeth") until breaking upwardly with her in flavour eight's "Love Triangle" after he left for culinary school (In existent life, the actor who plays Waldo said his contract expired).^[9] He is also mentioned to accept a sis named Quesadilla. Waldo says when asked why his sister was given that proper noun that it was because she was born at a Taco Bell and his parents weighed over naming her either Quesadilla or Burrito Grande ("And that's a stupid proper noun!" as he quipped regarding the latter). His extended family includes cousins such as American Gladiator Sabre (who, equally a favor to settle a dispute betwixt Carl and Steve, got them to compete against each other on the show), a short-statured simply skillful-natured cousin named Babalabadingdong (whom he'd set Laura up with on a blind date), ane of the members of the R&B grouping Portrait (who'd made Waldo promise to not reveal that they were related when the group was performing at a school dance), his aunt Bababababara-Ann (Babalabadingdong's mother), His aunt Velveeta and her husband, Jalapeño and another uncle whose caput is in a jar in a science lab at Harvard University.

Waldo'due south most famous trait was his dimwittedness and his uncanny ability to misinterpret a unproblematic question, comment or directive. His catchphrases include: "coo" (absurd), "no prob, Bob!" and "sup". Waldo has as well shown that he has a sense of morality in three central episodes. In season three's "A Test of Friendship," he comes to Steve's defence past calling Eddie out for wanting to crook on their chemistry test and tells him that he should have known the consequences. In season vii's "Talk'southward Cheap," Waldo revealed he was the ane who called a daytime talk show that Eddie, Steve, Myra, Laura, Myrtle and Stefan appear equally guests on in that episode and brought everyone dorsum to their senses with Stefan's help. In "Tips For A Ameliorate Life," he refused to allow Eddie move into his house after he hurt his feelings by insulting him while he was drunk. Waldo mentions that anyone who drinks and insults friends is no friend of his, though in true Waldo fashion he was about angered that Eddie'south drunken slam that Waldo would win the aureate medal "at the Stupid Olympics" referred to an consequence that didn't exist.

Myra Monkhouse [edit]

Played by Michelle Thomas (1993–1998).

Myra Boutros Boutros Monkhouse was introduced midway through the fourth season in "A Thought in the Dark" as a possible girlfriend for Steve. She was the cousin of Laura's then-boyfriend, Ted Curran, who set upwardly the date to become nerdy Steve out of his mode. Myra was originally intended to exist a old grapheme (as Steve had been envisioned as when he was introduced in season one) simply ultimately became a recurring graphic symbol in the series. Although Ted was dropped from the show after the season four episode "Heart Strings" and ultimately never referred to over again, Myra would get a regular character throughout the residual of the serial starting in season six.

Myra is an attractive girl who is attracted to nerdy boys and polka music. She has a very perky and persistent personality. In the flavour five episode "A Matter of Principle," Myra transferred to Vanderbilt High School to be closer to whom she affectionately calls her "Stevie-kins". Steve is too attracted to Myra but he never grew to love her over the course of the testify. He but agrees to engagement her, on the condition that his friendship with Laura remain intact. This frequently causes Myra to feel in competition with Laura for Steve's affections; Laura would often try to correct the misunderstanding but Myra would only become more convinced that Laura was after Steve. However, since Laura does not really show any attraction for Steve, Myra is willing to take a truce, although the Laura-Myra human relationship remains testy and adversarial, fifty-fifty in the well-nigh bland, non-Urkel situations.

After Steve decided to go steady with Myra in the season six episode "Paradise Barefaced," Myra's character calmed and developed and she began to fit together more comfortably with the rest of the main characters. She became less persistent and less aggressive in clinging onto Steve, and Steve became more comfortable and welcoming with her. She became more friendly towards Laura and formed a trio of sorts with her and Steve (with herself in between, of course). She is also grouped together with Laura and Maxine.

In the 9th flavour, Steve and Myra grow apart. In "Breaking Upwards Is Hard To Do" from that flavor, she hated his makeover (which he did in that season'south premiere episode "Out with the Former," in an attempt to get less grating to other people) and demanded him to change back to the nerd she loved and so much. When Steve refused, Myra broke up with him correct abroad. Yet, information technology just turned out to exist a ploy and she only pretended to break upward with him in order to go him to renounce his love for Laura and stay with her. That failed and Steve decides to start a real relationship with Laura. Nevertheless, Myra never fully accepted the idea of their relationship beingness officially over. From hither, Myra'southward character regressed and devolved to an antagonistic function, competing with Laura for Steve's affections and pursuing Steve relentlessly, similarly to her early appearance. When Steve asks Laura on a engagement and Laura accepts in "Crazy for You," she grows furious at her loss. Myra pairs up with Stefan Urquelle (Jaleel White) and both set out to win them back. Although both were successful in stopping information technology in the following episode "Crazier For You," Stefan soon felt guilty of trying to pause Steve and Laura up and decides to leave them alone. However, Myra continues to effort multiple times, including spying on Steve, until he learned the truth and ordered her to renounce her dear for him. She refused and he had Myra arrested by the end of that episode when he exposed her for stalking him with illegal spy gear in her room to the police. At the time of the testify's serial finale "Lost in Space," Steve and Laura were officially engaged to be married. When Myra learned about their engagement, she was furious and connected to deport the torch for him equally he drifted off into outer infinite. Information technology is unknown what happened to her after that.

The actress who played Myra, Michelle Thomas, fell ill with cancer in Baronial 1997, and died in December 1998. This limited her screentime as Myra in the concluding seasons of the show.

Recurring actors [edit]

Lt. Murtaugh (played by Barry Jenner; 1990–1992)

Lieutenant Murtaugh is Carl's unreliable and obnoxious second dominate at the Chicago Police Department. He has a crush on an unwilling Rachel and tries to appointment her in season two'southward "Skip to My Lieu". Murtaugh is seemingly tolerant of Steve Urkel when they bond over root beer floats about their dearest lives at the end of that episode, but subsequently impudently takes Steve'due south money over a poker game in season 3's "A Pair of Ladies".

Capt. Marion Savage (played by Sherman Hemsley; 1994–1995)

Introduced in season six's "Par For the Form," Captain Savage is Carl's loudmouthed third dominate who is much more obnoxious than Murtaugh. As revealed in "Midterm Crisis," his fiancée Lois works as a stripper, although he is not too happy when Carl tells him about it equally he already knew. Savage and Urkel are revealed to be members of the same cheese club.

Commissioner Geiss (played by Dick O'Neill; 1996–1998)

Carl's terminal boss, introduced in season seven's "Chick-a-Boom". Although somewhat gruff, he was far more tolerable and showed more patience, respect and faith in Carl than his previous bosses. He somewhen promotes Carl to captain in season 9's "Who'due south Afraid of the Big Blackness Volume?," when his son expresses that Carl deserves the position more.

Jolene Santiago (played by Bridgid Coulter; 1990–1991)

Eddie'south first serious girlfriend, introduced in season ii'due south "Rachel's Place".

Greta McClure (played by Tammy Townsend; 1995–1998)

Eddie'southward second serious and final girlfriend in the series, who first appears in the flavor six episode "My Bodyguard", and some other one of Laura'south friends. She has difficulty coping with her sick-tempered, tyrannical and unreasonable male parent, who does not corroborate of her relationship with Eddie. She and Myrtle Urkel became enemies immediately upon their showtime coming together in flavour vii's "She's Dorsum," and several episodes that follow centered on their boxing to win Eddie'south dearest. However, Greta was more successful in warding Myrtle off than Laura'southward would be boyfriends are with Urkel.

Alex "Weasel" Park (played by Shavar Ross; 1992–1994)

Some other friend of Eddie and Waldo from high school, who was as well a friend of 1 of Laura'due south ex-boyfriends, Ted Curran. "Weasel" was an obnoxious and highly irresponsible jerk, having persuaded Eddie to break curfew and to gamble on football game games (in "Money Out the Window") without having enough coin to pay the lost bet. His favorite past time is mooning Meter Maids which Carl finds extremely offensive to Police force Enforcement Officers in full general.

Penny Peyser (played by Ebonie Smith; 1989–1990)

Laura's best friend from season one, who like Rodney, had little patience for Urkel'southward antics. She also had a crush on Eddie.

Maxine Johnson (played by Cherie Johnson; 1990–1998)

Laura'south best friend and Waldo's girlfriend until Waldo's deviation from the serial. Although Maxine is the serial' longest recurring secondary character, she was never officially part of its chief cast. Maxine has been attracted to many handsome boys and dated several boyfriends throughout the grade of the series, both seen and unseen. However, Maxine's estimate of grapheme regarding boys is arguably as inept as Laura's, as she has similarly dated many selfish and unfaithful boyfriends, and fifty-fifty shared some of the same antagonistic suitors as Laura. Somewhen, she would begin dating Waldo in season 5 and was surprised to establish a loving and enduring human relationship with him. After Waldo's difference from the serial, Maxine set her sights on other boys. Her feelings towards Urkel were much softer than that of Penny's and even Laura'southward own, mainly due to Maxine'due south and Steve's coming from neglectful families.

Ted Curran (played by Patrick J. Dancy; 1992–1993)

Laura'south young man and cousin of Myra Monkhouse. Although once antagonistic towards Urkel, and fifty-fifty to Laura, he was one of Laura'due south few consequent and level-headed boyfriends, even seeking forgiveness for betraying Laura'southward trust and reconciling with her. While his role in the series was brief, he played a critical role by existence the one who introduced his cousin, Myra Monkhouse, to Urkel. While Myra became a permanent character soon afterward, Ted was dropped after the flavour 4 episode "Heart Strings," after he and Laura argued and broke up offscreen.

Curtis Williams (played by J. Lamont Pope; 1995–1997)

Some other one of Laura's boyfriends and a race car enthusiast. Steve did non similar his profession and was against Laura being a passenger in his race car in flavor seven's "Hot Rods to Heck". Despite his first appearance in that episode depicting him as a more antagonistic character, he and Laura restarted their relationship stronger after the cloned Stefan's stay in Paris following the season viii premiere "Paris Vacation". Afterward Stefan returned in "Information technology Came Upon a Midnight Clear," Curtis and Laura broke up and he started dating Maxine several episodes later in "Love Triangle".

Cassie Lynn Nubbles (played by Kim Valentine; 1991–1992)

A stereotypical big-headed and popular blonde student and Laura'southward rich and spoiled rival who tried to get everything she wanted, including using underhanded tactics to win the pupil council president ballot at Vanderbilt High in season 3's "Adult female of the People". When Cassie attempted to employ unflattering photos to blackmail Laura in that episode, Urkel enlisted Eddie to shoot photos of the nerd kissing her to blackmail her back, forcing her to compete for the student president election adequately, which ended in Laura's victory.

Principal Shimata (played by Clyde Kusatsu; 1990–1994)

The chief of Vanderbilt High, Shimata is friendly towards Steve, but has been bellyaching by him before. He and Steve often converse with each other in Japanese. It is inferred that he may accept a trounce on Ms. Steuben.

Ms. Irene Steuben (played by Susan Krebs; 1990–1992)

Steve and Laura'due south instructor at Vanderbilt Loftier. Although she is a competent instructor to other students, she is very easily annoyed by Urkel and expresses many headaches around the nerd.

Alfred Looney (played by Tom Poston; 1994–1995)

Mr. Looney is a janitor at Vanderbilt High School, who is introduced in season 6's "The Looney Bin". He insists that his terminal proper name is supposed to exist pronounced "Lou-né" (stating "It's French" each time it comes up). He gets along well with Steve Urkel, who is the only grapheme who really chosen him "Lou-né", or simply Alfred. He enjoys singing, dancing, and theater, and has sung and danced a few times with Urkel for fun. He about got married in "Wedding Bong Blues," just after he was left at the altar by his bride-to-be, he nearly committed suicide by jumping off a bell tower. Steve and Carl ultimately stopped him, risking their lives while trying to go him off the bell belfry in the procedure, earlier Mr. Looney reunited with another old female person friend.

Nick Neidermeyer (played past Ron Orbach; 1995–1997)

Harriette's former boss (and later on, obnoxious neighbor in "Dream Date") who was an antagonist to both Carl and Harriette; he is introduced in season seven'southward "Bugged," when Harriet asks Carl to have him sit in with Carl'due south friends during a poker game. She immediately regretted it because of his obnoxious beliefs, and when he revealed that he transferred to another section, thus having no potency to fire Harriet, she and Carl happily threw him out. In season 8's "Revenge of the Nerd," Carl tries to become friends with him, after realizing how their feud has become a bad influence on 3J and Richie, and though Nick was nevertheless annoying, he eventually opened up to Carl about his failed spousal relationship and his mistake of not edifice a cute family like Carl. Nick never reappeared afterwards, and it is unknown if he and Carl became friends, though it can be assumed that their feud is over.

Fletcher Thomas (played by Arnold Johnson; 1990–1995), Whitman Mayo (1995), and Edmund Cambridge in 1995)

Estelle "Mother" Winslow'due south lover, whom she marries in flavor four (and was introduced in the season two episode "Requiem for an Urkel"). Carl was initially cold to him and disliked his female parent dating anyone due to his attachment to his late begetter, only eventually warmed up to him afterwards learning to fix his behavior. Estelle and Fletcher get married in a wedding ceremony held at the Winslow'southward backyard in the episode "Mama'south Wedding ceremony".

Rodney Beckett (played by Randy Josselyn; 1989–1990)

Eddie's best friend in high school (introduced in season i's "Straight A'south"), who is depicted every bit a practical joker. Similar Penny, he had no patience for Urkel's antics and did non care for him at all. The graphic symbol last appears in the season two episode "Fast Eddie Winslow".

Vonda Mahoney (played by Danielle Nicolet; 1991–1992)

Eddie's curt-term girlfriend in season 3. After Steve tutored her in a class she was declining at in the episode "The Dear God," she gratefully offered herself to him sexually to which Steve declines. Worried that she may sell herself simply to accept guys date her, Steve teaches Vonda the dangers of making herself easy, and she learns to take and respect herself more than. Though she felt better almost information technology, Eddie wanted to beat upwards Steve for interfering.

Gwendolyn (played by Naya Rivera; 1992–1993)

The girl of the Winslows' next door neighbor, introduced in season four's "Just One Appointment," who has a trounce on Richie.

Little G (played by Gary LeRoi Greyness; 1993–1995)

Richie's all-time friend.

Vice Principal Mallet (played past Fred Willard; 1994–1996)

The vice principal of Vanderbilt High Schoolhouse. He does non like Steve because of his awkwardness and tried to keep him out of the school's public diplomacy.

Zoohair Bhutto (played by Iqbal Theba; 1995–1997)

Carl'south poker friend.

Willie Fuffner (played by Larenz Tate; 1990–1991)

Vanderbilt High School'southward resident bully, to whom Waldo was formerly a friend and henchman. Though he likes bullying Steve, he was mainly antagonistic towards Laura for rejecting him for another boy and forced the guys to the dating sidelines. Steve stood upwards for her in the season two episode "Requiem for an Urkel," leading to a supervised battle match between Steve and Willie. Willie and Waldo were also arrested in the episode "Life of the Party" later that season, for spiking Steve'south punch with booze.

Coach Westfield (played by Mike Genovese; 1991–1992)

The 2nd bus at Vanderbilt High Schoolhouse.

Johnny Gill (1991–1996)

Vocalist Johnny Gill appeared equally himself in three episodes (flavour two's "I Should Take Done Something", season three's "Love and Kisses", and season eight's "Abode Again" (to promote the reunion of New Edition)). Steve pays him a rare baseball game card to serenade Laura in order to impress her in the latter episode.

Scientific discipline Instructor (played by Patrick Cronin; 1992–1994)

The science teacher at Vanderbilt High School.

Stefan Urquelle (played by Jaleel White; 1993–1998)

Stefan Urquelle was Steve's suave and charming modify-ego, who was everything Laura desired in a boyfriend. Get-go appearing in flavour five's "Dr. Urkel and Mr. Absurd," Steve adult this personality every bit a way to get Laura to love him, merely inverse back at the end of the episode due to his self-centered personality. Steve shortly improved his change-ego'due south personality, and originally intended to get Stefan permanently, just found himself juggling between accepting his true cocky or receiving his long desired love from Laura. Though he learned to accept himself, he would still occasionally and temporarily turn into Stefan when needed. In the flavor seven episode "Send In the Clone," Steve created an identical clone of himself, whom he had enter into the transformation chamber to become a permanent Stefan.

Myrtle Urkel (played past Jaleel White; 1990–1998)

Myrtle Urkel was introduced in flavour two's "Cousin Urkel" as Steve's rich Southern belle cousin whose honey for Eddie mirrors that of Steve'due south for Laura. All the same, unlike Steve, she never respected Eddie's personal space and kept forcing herself on him much to his farthermost horror. Myrtle and Greta McClure became quick adversaries the moment they met in the episode "She's Back" from season vii. In season nine'south "Don't Brand Me Over", Myrtle gets a makeover with Laura and Maxine'south assist. However upon realizing that Eddie loves Greta, she relinquishes her beloved for him and decides to set her sights on other men. When Eddie tries to get her to stay regardless as his life would be irksome without her mixing it up by reaffirming her dearest for him, Myrtle refuses and leaves.

References [edit]

^ Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (2006). Historical Dictionary of African-American Television set. Vol. 7. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 135. ISBN0-8108-5335-3.
^ "Jo Marie Payton Biography". A&E Television Networks. Archived from the original on 2013-01-x. Retrieved 2010-09-28 .
^ "'Family unit Matters.' Boob tube's longest-running Black show." Jet. 1997. HighBeam Research. (September 28, 2010). http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19487249.html Archived 2012-11-04 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Jaleel White on Playing Steve Urkel". Tv set Guide. Retrieved 2010-09-28 .
^ Fisherkeller, JoEllen (2002). Growing Up With Television: Everyday Learning Among Young Adolescents . Temple University Press. pp. 178. ISBN1-56639-953-X.
^ "Harrison Finds That Family unit Actually Matters". Dominicus Sentinel . Retrieved 2010-09-24 .
^ "Family unit Matters: 1989-1998". people.com. 2000-06-26. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
^ Cracow, Jonah. "Telly Playbook: "Permit'southward Add together a Child!"". Ign.com. Retrieved 2010-x-07 .
^ "Twitter". Retrieved fifteen October 2017.

Black P*** Star Who Played on Family Matters Before

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Family_Matters_characters