Family Matters was a long-running ABC/CBS[1] American sitcom about a middle-class African-American family living in Chicago which ran on national television for nine full seasons. The series was a spin-off of Perfect Strangers and revolves around the Winslow family.[2] Midway through the first season, the show introduced the Winslows' nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel (played by Jaleel White), who quickly became its breakout character and eventually a main character.[3] The series had a total of 12 main characters, with some characters which were portrayed by multiple actors.
JoMarie Payton originally appeared on Perfect Strangers in 1987 as the recurring character Harriette Winslow, the elevator operator for the Chicago Chronicle. Reginald VelJohnson later made one appearance on Perfect Strangers as Carl Winslow, policeman and husband of Harriette Winslow. Due to large popularity of Payton's character with audiences, the character was spun off to its own show, Family Matters.[4][5] While Payton, VelJohnson, and Telma Hopkins (as Harriette's widowed sister Rachel) were initially the stars of the show, with the focus being around the Winslow family, Jaleel White was introduced as nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel during the middle of the first season, Urkel, the lovesick pursuer of Laura Winslow (portrayed by Kellie Shanygne Williams),[6] , quickly became a popular breakout character with audiences.[7]
Shortly after the introduction of White as Steve Urkel, Shawn Harrison was cast in the role of Waldo Faldo, initially as sidekick to a bully portrayed by Larenz Tate that terrorized Urkel. When Tate and Harrison were offered the chance to return to the show on a recurring basis, only Harrison took up the offer. As a result, his character was re-written to be the best friend of Eddie Winslow (portrayed by Darius McCrary). Harrison eventually joined the main cast in the 1992–1993 season.[8] Soon after, Michelle Thomas was cast in the role of Myra Monkhouse, love interest and later girlfriend of Steve Urkel. Initially cast on a recurring basis, Thomas joined the main cast as a regular in the 1994–1995 season.[9] In the 1996–1997 season, Orlando Brown was later added to the cast as 3J, a troubled youth being mentored by Steve who becomes the foster child of the Winslows.[10]
The series featured 12 main characters with their actors appearing during the opening credits.
Played by Reginald VelJohnson[6]
Carl Otis Winslow, who originally appeared on the sitcom Perfect Strangers alongside his wife Harriette, is the son of Estelle, brother-in-law of Rachel, and the biological father of Eddie, Laura, and Judy, uncle of Richie and adoptive father of 3J. He mentioned in one episode having a brother named Calvin. His initials spell COW, and he is often teased because of this. He holds his position as "King of the Castle" (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 by his pesky neighbor, Steve Urkel, who has a very high level of respect for Carl, and affectionately calls him "Big Guy". Although Steve is relentlessly annoying, and has cost the Winslow family large amounts of time and money from his own clumsy demeanor, he has shown he's more mature than Eddie is in accepting responsibility. Carl is often there to back Steve up, and help him out in times of distress. Over the progression of the show's run, Carl develops a fondness for Steve that surprises even himself.[11]
Carl is an officer for the Chicago Police Department. He takes his job seriously, and it is often suggested that he is very good at what he does, despite the fact that his boss, Lt. Murtaugh, is very incompetent. Fitting into his character, 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's physical health plays a role. Early on, he is a police sergeant; later he is promoted to lieutenant, and eventually captain. Carl is also the only character to appear in every single episode of the series.
Played by Jo Marie Payton from 1989–1997,[12] and Judyann Elder in 1998.[13]
Harriette is Carl's wife, Rachel's big sister, biological mother of Eddie, Laura, and Judy, aunt of Richie, and adoptive mother of 3J and the daughter of Jimmy Baines and Darelene Baines. Harriette is a very conservative and strong-willed woman. She holds her role in society as a mother and working woman with high regard. Harriette is very reluctant to tell people what they want to hear, as she is very frank and upfront about her feelings. She is very constructive in her demeanor and attitude. She first appeared as a "elevator operator" for the Chicago Chronicle on the show Perfect Strangers, before being laid off, rehired as Director of Security and then fired from the Chicago Chronicle for refusing to reduce her security staff during a budget crisis.[14] She was later employed by Ferguson's Department Store, initially as a service clerk, then later promoted to Head of Sales. Harriette would often gently speak her catch phrase, "Carl".
Played by Darius McCrary,[15] Eddie is a casual NBA, NFL fan, and jock. He is the only son, and oldest child, of Carl and Harriette until they adopt 3J.[16] During the early years of the series, he was a high school student with stereotypical traits of a high school slacker (e.g., poor grades and irresponsible behavior). Eddie frequently had a stormy relationship with his father, especially concerning Carl's strict rules.[17][18] It was shown a few times that Eddie was prone to gambling and refused to go to Carl for help. These times got him into more trouble than not especially when he had to deal with a pool hustler, illegally gambling at an underground casino and a tough bookie.
During the first two seasons, he was friends with Rodney Beckett, a classmate. From the third season onwards, Eddie's best friends were Waldo Faldo and Steve.[8] He also on occasion, would hang out with "Weasel". Initially, his relationship with Steve - who considered Eddie his "best bud", and often affectionately called him "Eddo", was little more than out of pity (seeing him as nothing more than an unpopular nerd). Eddie remained loyal to Steve, and he eventually accepted him as a true friend. Eddie enrolled at the Police academy, eventually getting hired by the Chicago Police Department as a rookie officer.
Eddie has two main adversaries on the show. The first was his boss, Greta's father and owner of Mighty Weenie, Dave McClure. He didn't approve of Eddie dating his daughter and tried to keep them apart in three episodes. As of the series finale, Eddie and Greta are still dating and are living together in an apartment, despite Mr.McClure disowning her. The second main adversary is Myrtle Urkel. She was introduced as a rich Southern belle who infatuation with him was equal to that of her cousin, Steve. However unlike Steve, Myrtle never respected Eddie's personal space and kept pursuing him much to his extreme terror. She waited until Season 7 to try and win his love, but he was dating Greta. Unlike Laura's would be boyfriends, Greta was more successful in warding Myrtle off. Undaunted, Myrtle made her last push to win Eddie's heart by getting a makeover, but he was still not impressed. She soon relinquished her love for him and set her sight on other guys.
Played by Kellie Shanygne Williams,[19] Laura is the oldest daughter of Harriette and Carl, and the object of Steve's affections. It is suggested that she makes high grades. She had many boyfriends who would bully Steve, but would ultimately end with him warding them off. Laura generally had little patience for Steve's antics, but her seeming dislike of him only seemed to egg him on further.[11] She has shown appreciation to Steve when he selflessly has helped her and the Winslows out when they needed him. Laura eventually learned to love Steve, while he dated Myra. They became a couple in Season 9 and later engaged to be married in the third to last episode, Pop Goes the Question. The original plan for the series finale was to be Laura and Steve's wedding, but never materialized due to the show's cancellation.
Played by Rosetta LeNoire from 1989–1995 and in 1997.[20]
Estelle is Carl and his four brothers' mother, Harriette's mother-in-law, biological grandmother of Eddie, Laura, and Judy, great aunt-in-law of Richie, aunt-in-law of Rachel, and adoptive grandmother of 3J. Estelle is a very wise woman and always very defensive of her grandchildren. Estelle moves into her son's household after the death of her husband, Samuel.[21] She (unlike all 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 leave she wanted him to stay. Steve always called her "Estelle, my Belle," which she loved. Estelle is street wise and keeps up to date with pop culture and trends, much to the surprise of her family. In later seasons, she begins a relationship with Fletcher, which Carl disapproves of initially before eventually accepting the relationship. The two later got married at the Winslow home.
Played by Valerie Jones (pilot only), and Jaimee Foxworth (1989–1993).[22] Judy is the younger daughter, and youngest child, of Carl and Harriette. Her middle name is unknown (Laura's middle name is Lee and Eddie's middle names are James and Arthur). She is nine years old as the series begins, and is in the series until she is twelve. It is suggested that she enjoys a close relationship with her sister Laura. She attended elementary school, and later middle school (in sixth grade). During the series' fourth season, the character disappeared from the series altogether, with no explanation given. William Bickley, the show's creator and one of the writers, said she was cut due to a "budget consideration".[23]
Played by Jaleel White, Steve Urkel is a stereotypical nerd, with large, thick eyeglasses, "high-water" pants held up by suspenders, a high-pitch nasal-tone voice, and a snorting laugh. He first appeared in the first-season episode "Laura's First Date", and was also known for his massive crush on Laura Winslow, and constantly attempting to win her affections. He became known for his signature "Urkel Dance", a novelty dance that he frequently performed.[24]
While highly intelligent, (to the point where he would call his teachers by their given names) he was also quite accident-prone, (spawning his catchphrase, "Did I do that?", later on the show he says to Carl "At least no one got hurt," then Carl replies "Not yet," then Carl chases Steve to hurt him, and "Look what you did!", assuming the accident happened by another person's fault and counter phrase to "Did I Do That?".) and socially awkward. He has also created numerous inventions, that were otherwise considered impossible, especially for the 1990s. One of those inventions involved a machine, which turned him into his alter-ego, Stefan Urquelle, who was first introduced in the episode, Dr. Urkel and Mr. Cool.[25]
Played by Telma Hopkins (1989–1993, 1994-1997 Recurring)[26]
Rachel was Harriette's attractive widowed little sister. She moved in with the Winslows shortly after her husband, Robert, died. She is the mother of Richard "Richie" Crawford and the daughter of Jimmy Baines who appeared in "Finding the Words" to reconclie with her and Harriette, After he walked out on them when they were little. budding singer, she is also a writer and an entrepreneur, opening Rachel's Place (a hangout for teenagers, much in the vein of Arnold's from Happy Days) in 1990, which replaced Leroy's, a similar hamburger joint that Urkel had accidentally burned down. Rachel is seen throughout the first four seasons; after a year's absence, she made occasional appearances during the rest of the show's run. Rachel considered herself more beautiful than Harriette. Rachel's trademark was hats. Her final appearance was in the Season 9 Christmas episode, and she wasn't seen again after opening her presents.
Played by Joseph & Julius Wright (credited as Joseph Julius Wright) (1989–1990); and Bryton McClure (1990–1997)[5]
Richard "Richie" Crawford was the only son of Robert and Rachel Crawford; Robert dies before Richie was born, which in part prompts Rachel's move into the Winslow household. There, Carl effectively fills the "father" role left vacant by Robert's death.
Richie is almost a year old in first-season episodes, and age-advanced to 3 years old thereafter. He is a typical mischievous child, and even idolizes Steve; in fact, due to the nerd's constant visits and unrelenting crush on Laura, Richie calls him "Uncle Steve". In a few episodes he didn't get along with Judy but they always worked it out.
In later episodes, Richie becomes friends with a young orphan named 3J (whom the Winslows eventually adopt). His final series appearance was the Season 9 Christmas episode "Deck the Malls."
Played by Orlando Brown (1996–1998)[10]
3J—Jerry Jamal Jameson—was a young orphan whom Carl and Harriette adopted early in the 1996-1997 season. He was introduced as Urkel's Little Brother (in an episode paying homage to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America program), and later is friends with Richie.[27] His street-wise, smart-mouthed demeanor is a cover for his loneliness and desire to have a stable, permanent family; his birth mother had given him up for adoption shortly after he was born, and frequently had moved around. He was living with his aunt for a while until he was placed in a children's shelter in Season 8, when she could no longer afford to keep him. The Winslows, seeing that he needed love, decide to adopt him.
Played by Michelle Thomas (1993–1998)[9]
Myra was introduced midway through the fourth season as a possible girlfriend for Steve. She was the cousin of Laura's then-boyfriend, Ted Curran, who set up the date to get the nerd out of his way. Myra was supposed to be a one time character (just like Steve was, in Season One), but was given a role on the series. Although Ted's character was dropped later in Season 4 and ultimately never referred to again, Myra would become a regular character throughout the rest of the series.
Myra Monkhouse is a beautiful girl who is attracted to nerdy boys and polka music. She has a very perky and persistent personality. In season 5, she transferred to Steve and Laura's school to be closer to her "Stevie-kins". Steve is also attracted to Myra, but he never grew to love her over the course of the show. He only agrees to date 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 doesn't really show any attraction for Steve, Myra is willing to accept a truce, although the Laura-Myra relationship remains testy and adversarial, even in the most banal, non-Urkel situations.
In Season 9, Steve and Myra immediately grow apart and soon break up. It was revealed in the episode "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do", that she hated his makeover and demanded him to change back to the sexy nerd she loved so much. When Steve refused, Myra broke up with him right away. However, it only turned out to be a ploy and she only pretended to break up with him in order to get him to renounce his love for Laura and stay with her. That failed and Steve decides to start a real relationship with Laura. However, Myra never fully accepted the idea of their relationship being officially over. When Steve asks Laura on a date and Laura accepts, she grows furious at her loss. Myra pairs up with Stefan Urquelle (Jaleel White) and both set out to win them back. Soon Stefan felt guilty of trying to break them up and stops when he learns how insane she really is. However, Myra continues to try multiple times, including spying on Steve, until he learned the truth and ordered her to renounce her love for him. At the time of the show's series finale, Steve and Laura were officially engaged to be married. When Myra learned about their engagement, she was furious and continued to carry the torch for him as he drifted off into outer space. It's unknown what happened to her after that.
Waldo was portrayed by actor Shawn Harrison. (1990–1996)[8]
Waldo was part of Family Matters from 1990 to 1996. For most of the time Waldo was featured on the show, he was friends with Eddie Winslow (the son of the show's main characters, Carl and Harriette Winslow) and the Winslows' quintessential nerdy neighbor, Steve Urkel. In season 2, he did start off as Willie's best friend and a fellow bully, until he presumably ended their friendship after their arrest. Afterwards, his character was rewritten as a good guy and friend of Eddie's. Like Urkel (the show's most famous character), Waldo was an outlandish, almost surrealistic character.[28] While Urkel was the resident nerd, Waldo was the resident idiot. Waldo has reached the point where he even annoys Urkel. Waldo was discovered to be a great chef. Waldo had also been afraid to walk, until he was 10. He dated Laura's best friend Maxine for many seasons until breaking up with her after he left for culinary school.
Waldo's most famous trait was his dimwittedness and uncanny ability to misinterpret a simple question, comment, or directive. He is, however, an excellent cook. His catchphrases include: "Cool", "No prob, Bob!", and "Sup". Waldo has also shown that he has a sense of morality in three key episodes. In Season 3's "A Test of Friendship," he calls Eddie out for wanting to cheat on their chemistry test and tells him that he should've known the consequences. In Season 7's "Talk's Cheap," Waldo revealed he was the one who called the show and brought everyone back to their senses with Stefan's help. In "Tips For A Better Life," he refused to let 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.
Recurring characters include:[29]