A lot of people don't know me. I was a man in a suit for many years, but it's really gonna work to my advantage and I've always known that. I'm turning 30 in a month... that's something for me to look at. Generally when people see me and greet me, they're kind of astonished at what I really am. It's all about playing character and really becoming somebody else. I've always said, "Acting is nothing more than paid schizophrenia if you're doing it right.".

Jaleel White

Categorized in : People Men Character

You should never be afraid to be yourself, under any circumstances. The genre of cool is fleeting. What's cool today will not be cool a year from now. If you're yourself, you'll be at peace with yourself.

Jaleel White

fleeting being-yourself years

You need fans in high places, I always tell people. I don't care how talented you are.

Jaleel White

fans people needs

You have to be respectful of pop culture, because people interpret it in the way they want.

Jaleel White

want culture people

Sometimes, when you're not getting a whole lot of attention, you're actually walking the right path.

Jaleel White

path attention sometimes

Writing is still on my slate.

Jaleel White

slate stills writing

The conventions of an almighty agency tapping you for greatness and signing you up and telling you this is going to be the next big thing; that has not been my career.

Jaleel White

agency greatness careers

Fame will take care of itself. One thing I've learned about fame is that, hey, you can't control it. You don't know how you're going to be received or perceived when you step out of a car, when you arrive some place. And you never really know how big something is going to get, so you have to set some standards for yourself, and just abide by those.

Jaleel White

hey-you car fame

It's very important that your parents have careers of their own. When the kid becomes the breadwinner of the household, that's when you have problems.

Jaleel White

parent important kids

What I've kind of learned about comedy is that when comedy gets too expensive it might not be funny. Sometimes it's good to keep the conditions where you're pressed for time and it's just about getting the work done, as opposed to how much things are we eating on the set.

Jaleel White

comedy kind done

I don't need to play villains or anything like that to show people that I'm different. I just want to be a part of stories that hold up over time. Too much of this stuff is forgettable. When it comes to being an actor, I don't know how good I am but I always say this, I've never been the problem in the cast. I just want to keep that streak up and do more projects in the future, that's it.

Jaleel White

different problem people

So, the advice that I would always give is make sure you've got your own career, before you put your child in the business.

Jaleel White

advice giving children

In L.A., the waiters think they're stars. Everybody's always trying to pretend that they see stars every day, so there tends to be a false blas' about celebrity sightings in L.A. In some ways, that's a good thing, because it allows you to walk around.

Jaleel White

good-things trying thinking

If you go to talk to Disney about anything related to Mickey Mouse, if you can even get the meeting, you're going to get 50 people in that room. That is the crown jewel of their brand, and so they protect it. And so for better or worse, the crown jewel of my legacy still remains Steve Urkel and Stefan Urquelle.

Jaleel White

better you legacy people

The nature of television is that it's a beast with a lot of opinions. I don't consider myself typecast any more than Neil Patrick Harris was as Doogie Howser or James Gandolifini is as Tony Soprano.

Jaleel White

myself beast nature television

I always connected renting a car with being an adult. If you think about it, it's the last frontier of your youth. You can join the military at 18, drink when you're 21, but you can't rent a car.

Jaleel White

think you youth car

I've been in this business 31 years. I've never had a movie deal.

Jaleel White

deal never business years

There's a bit of hazing when it comes to the youth performers and a disbelief that you're capable of handling dramatic or comedic material on an adult level.

Jaleel White

adult you capable youth

I took opportunities, big or small, to show that I was a constant professional. I feel like the Sam Jackson of network TV drama.

Jaleel White

professional feel small drama

I learned to be on time because, otherwise, you could miss a major opportunity. Also, it's important to live a balanced life, stay healthy, and not waste your money on things like $8 lattes.

Jaleel White

you money time life

Nobody is going to be more disinterested in your work than your own kid.

Jaleel White

your nobody own work