Steven Quincy "Steve" Urkel (born July 25, 1976), often referred to simply by his surname, Urkel, is a fictional character in Family Matters. He is portrayed by Jaleel White. In Season 1 he was a recurring character, since Season 2 he is a main character. Originally slated to have only one appearance on the show, he soon became its most popular character.
Steve was the epitome of a geek/nerd, with large, thick eyeglasses, "high-water" or "flood" pants held up by suspenders, multi-colored cardigan sweaters, high-pitched voice and also the most irksome neighbor of the Winslows.
He professed unrequited love for neighbor Laura Winslow, perpetually annoyed her father, Carl, and tried to befriend her brother Eddie (whom Steve calls "Eddo"). Amongst the rest of the family, Harriette, Rachel, Richie and "mother" Estelle Winslow were more accepting and caring of Urkel. Estelle always was delighted whenever he comes to visit. Throughout the series' run, Steve was central to many of its recurring gags, primarily gratuitous property damage and/or personal injury as a result of his inventions going awry or his outright clumsiness. He became known for several catchphrases uttered after some humorous misfortune occurred, including "I've fallen and I can't get up!" after he accidentally got drunk in one episode and fell off the edge of a building, "Did I do that?" (previously used by Curly in the 1934 Three Stooges short Punch Drunks), "Whoa Mama!" and "Look what you did" (if rarely someone else caused the damage). He first appeared in the episode "Rachel's First Date". As a boy, Steve was incredibly smart but annoyed everyone around him. Steve never really stayed at his own house because his own parents showed nothing but contempt for him.
Once, Steve told Carl Winslow, the father, that he actually wanted him to be his father, because his own father was greatly disappointed with him for not wanting to be a surgeon. Steve has asked Carl to do a lot of things for him. Naming a few: how to swim, how to drive, how to ride a bicycle. Even though Carl bellows at Steve a lot, he cares for him.
In the Family Matters episode "Tips for a Better Life", Urkel takes a second job at Cafe Java Coffee House after he accidentally destroyed Carl and Harriette's master bedroom floor with his latest invention and in order for him to pay off Carl. A few months (weeks in episodes) later, Steve proposed to Laura and strangely enough, she chose Steve.
In the Season 10 episode "Death of a Stefan" it is revealed that Stefan and Steve are two halves of one being and his cool and suave nature blends back into Steve's personality, deepening his voice and making him far more mature and self-assured than before and dressing better. He later becomes the father of Stephanie Laurine Urkel and her brothers: Cornelius, Aloysius and Betram.
If the show continued in its final season, he also would have gotten a high-paying job at an Internet start-up company where the boss reveals that the company would never have gone public without the hiring of minority employees. This disgusted him because it was racist and went to Carl for help. Steve's boss agreed to treat his employees equally and use their knowledge to make the company better after being threatened with arrest. He also, before Stefan's death, would have had a nightmare of becoming the father of unruly children when Laura would mention the idea of starting a family and babysit Looney's kids in another episode. Steve would finally be able to reconcile with his parents with Carl and Harriette's help when he learns that they were in his shoes at one point, and encouraged him to treat his children with love and care.
On Mobius, he is referred to as Lord Steven. In addition to his mansion in Chicago, the Urkel Family owns property in Mobotropolis.
Relationship with Sonic
Steve Urkel.
Steve and Prince Sonic have a very close friendship. They met at one point when Steve's latest invention, the Portal to Unknown Realms, also known as the Interdimensional Gateway, malfunctioned causing several wormholes to open up all over the world and across several dimensions. After the battle, Sonic and his family and friends were sent home to Mobius. Steve then would invent sneakers, dubbed Super Sneaks or Sonics, that enable one to move at speeds comparable to that of Sonic. The ones that he wears allow Steve to establish his own connection to the Speed Grid. Steve wouldn't see Sonic again until his coronation and wedding to Amy.
Trivia
- Steve is voiced by Jaleel White, who also voices Sonic, his sibs and their father Jules. As a result of Steve and Sonia having the same voice and inflections, the two character are not allowed to speak at the same time in the script.
- Steve's medallion is his accordion, transformed into a medallion by the Oracle of Delphius.
- Steve prefers his chili dogs with extra cheese on them.