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Family Matters

1989

A long-running dramedy centering on the Winslow family, a middle-class African American family living in Chicago, and their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers.

The Drop: A Snowfall Saga - S1E3 "Family Matters" - Episode Discussion

Episode discussion in The Drop: A Snowfall Saga

Discuss this episode here. Spoilers are expected.

Jaleel White

Cast · Known for Family Matters

Jaleel Ahmad White  (born November 27, 1976) is an American actor and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Steve Urkel from Family Matters. White also voiced the character of Sonic the Hedgehog and other characters for Sonic the Hedgehog media.

Tony Longo

Tony Longo (August 19, 1961 – June 21, 2015) was an American actor. Longo appeared in numerous television series, including Family Matters, The Facts of Life, Laverne & Shirley, Simon & Simon, Alice, Perfect Strangers, High Tide, Renegade, Sydney, Las Vegas, Six Feet Under and Monk. His film credits include Sixteen Candles, Mulholland Drive, Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw, The Last Boy Scout, the 1994 version of Angels in the Outfield, The Cooler, Eraser, Suburban Commando, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, and Drake and Josh.

Reginald VelJohnson

Cast · Known for Family Matters, Onslaught, Die Hard

Reginald VelJohnson (born August 16, 1952) is an American actor of film, stage and television, well known for his role as Carl Winslow on the sitcom Family Matters, where he was the only cast member to appear in every single episode. He also portrayed LAPD Sgt. Al Powell in the film Die Hard (1988), its sequel Die Hard 2 (1990), and the Chuck episode "Chuck Versus Santa Claus" (2008). Description above from the Wikipedia article Reginald VelJohnson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Jo Marie Payton

Cast · Known for Family Matters

Jo Marie Payton is an American actress and singer who starred as Harriette Baines–Winslow, the matriarch of the Winslow family on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1989–1998), a role she originated on its forerunner series Perfect Strangers. From 2001 to 2005, Payton provided the voice for Suga Mama Proud (Penny Proud's grandmother) on Disney Channel's animated series The Proud Family and Disney+’s upcoming revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. The role earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination in 2005. Payton also had a recurring role as the personal assistant to Gregory Hines' character, Ben Doucette (Will Truman's boss), during season two of Will & Grace (1999–2000).

Telma Hopkins

Cast · Known for Family Matters

Telma Hopkins was born on October 28, 1948 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA as Telma Louise Hopkins. She is an actress, known for Family Matters (1989), The Love Guru (2008) and Half & Half (2002). She was previously married to Donald B. Alen. Telma Louise Hopkins is an American actress and singer. Hopkins rose to prominence as a member of the 1970s pop music group Tony Orlando and Dawn, which had several number-one songs. She also performed on the CBS variety show Tony Orlando and Dawn from 1974 until 1976 along with Tony Orlando and Joyce Vincent Wilson.

Venus DeMilo Thomas

Venus DeMilo Thomas is an American actress best known for her work as a part of Nickelodeon's Salute Your Shorts. Later in her career, she guest starred as Laura's friend K.C. on Family Matters. She also played Rashelle on Sister Sister.

Kellie Shanygne Williams

Cast · Known for Family Matters

Kellie Shanygne Williams Jackson (née Williams) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Laura Lee Winslow, the middle-born child of Carl and Harriette Winslow on the ABC/CBS television series Family Matters which ran from 1989–1998.

Orlando Brown

Cast · Known for Family Matters

Orlando Brown (born December 4, 1987) is an American actor, rapper and singer. He is best known for his roles as Cadet Kevin 'Tiger' Dunne in Major Payne, 3J Winslow in Family Matters, Max in Two of a Kind (American TV series), Damey Wayne "Waynehead" in Waynehead, Sticky Webb in The Proud Family, Cornelius Fillmore in Fillmore!, Eddie Thomas in That's So Raven, and Frankie in Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off.

Chance Quinn

Chance Quinn was an actor best known for his portrayal of characters throughout various television series. Quinn started off his acting career in various television sitcoms, including "Family Matters" (CBS, 1989-1998) and "The People Next Door" (CBS, 1989-1990). Quinn started in the industry by acting in films like the Wil Wheaton dramatic adventure "Stand By Me" (1986). Several more television roles followed in the nineties, including stints on "Blossom" (1990-95), "Cutters" (CBS, 1992-93) and "Sirens" (1992-95). He also appeared in "The Heights" (Fox, 1992-93). He also was featured in the TV movies "The Day My Parents Ran Away" (1993-94), "Evolver" (Syfy, 1995-96) and "Trial By Fire" (ABC, 1995-96). Most recently, Quinn worked on "La La's Full Court Life" (VH1, 2010-14).

Mari Morrow

Mari Eulanda Morrow (born July 21, 1968) is an American film actress, model and realtor. She is best known for her roles as Rachel Gannon on ABC's daytime soap opera One Life to Live (1994–96), Oneisha Savoy on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1992–97), and Desiree "Des" Littlejohn on the UPN sitcom The Parkers (1999). She also starred in featured films such as Def Jam's How to Be a Player (1997), Uninvited Guest (2000) and Traci Townsend (2006).

Michelle Thomas

Cast · Known for Family Matters

Michelle Doris Thomas was an American actress and comedian. She was known for her roles as Justine Phillips on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1988–90), and Myra Monkhouse, Steve Urkel's girlfriend on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1993–98). On December 22 or 23, 1998, at age 30, Thomas died surrounded by her family and friends in New York City at Manhattan's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Thomas' boyfriend and longtime friend, was among those at her bedside.

Jaimee Foxworth

Cast · Known for Family Matters

Jaimee Monae Foxworth (born December 17, 1979) is an American actress and model. She is best known for her role of Judy Winslow, the youngest daughter of Carl and Harriette Winslow on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters. After the introduction of Steve Urkel (Jaleel White), Foxworth's scenes were reduced significantly. The combination of the character having little to do on the show and budget cuts caused producers to eliminate her off the series after its fourth season. The character disappeared without explanation, with the Winslows acknowledging only two children: Eddie (Darius McCrary) and Laura (Kellie Shanygne Williams). With very little acting work coming in the years after Family Matters, Foxworth formed a R&B musical group, S.H.E., with her two sisters (Tyren Perry & Jania Perry). They released their debut album 3's a Charm on July 1, 1997 through Shaquille O'Neal's T.W.IsM./Interscope Records.

Valerie Jones

Valerie Jones was born in 1982 in Tustin, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Family Matters (1989) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990).

Ivy Lee

Ivy Lee (李锦梅) is a Singaporean former actress and host. She was prominently a full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1993 to 2007. Lee left Mediacorp in November 2009 and moved to Hong Kong with her family. Lee graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Biomedical in 1993. The same year, she joined TCS (predecessor of MediaCorp) after winning the biannual Star Search and clinching the "Miss Photogenic" title at the same contest. At the Star Awards 2006, Lee was awarded the Best Actress award for her role as a lawyer in the drama serial Family Matters. Before that, she was also named the Best Actress another two times; the first in 2000, and then in 2004. Later in her career, Lee was known for her on-screen partnership with actor Edmund Chen, most notably in Beyond the Axis of Truth and Double Happiness. At the Star Awards 2007 anniversary special celebrating 25 years of Chinese drama in Singapore, they were named one of the Top 5 Favourite On-screen Partners for their roles as husband and wife in Double Happiness. Lee left the entertainment industry in November 2009 and moved to Hong Kong with her family. As of 2017, she moved again to London.

Larenz Tate

Cast · Known for Michael

Larenz Tate (born September 8, 1975) is an American film and television actor. Tate was born on the west side of Chicago, Illinois. He is the youngest of three siblings whose family moved to California when he was nine years old. Convinced by their parents to enter a drama program at the Inner City Cultural Center, the trio did not take the lessons seriously until classmate Malcolm-Jamal Warner's ascent to fame after being cast on the sitcom The Cosby Show. Subsequently realizing that they could parlay their efforts into a tangible form of success, the siblings began to receive small roles and in 1985, Tate made his small-screen debut in an episode of The New Twilight Zone series. Following appearances in such television series as 21 Jump Street and The Wonder Years, Tate was cast in the television movie The Women of Brewster Place before receiving the recurring role of Steve Urkel's nemesis, Willie Fuffner, in the family comedy series Family Matters (1989). He was also a cast member on the CBS series The Royal Family, starring Redd Foxx and Della Reese, which ended prematurely when Redd Foxx suddenly died. In the video game 187 Ride or Die, Tate voices the main character, Buck. Following numerous small-screen roles, offers began pouring in for Tate, and in late 1992, collaborative filmmaking siblings Albert and Allen Hughes approached him to star in their debut feature Menace II Society. A jarring vision of inner-city desperation and decay, the film found Tate channeling his substantial energy into creating "O-Dog", a trigger-happy teenager. Following up with the little-seen but often-praised television series South Central, Tate would later appear in the family comedy-drama The Inkwell (1994) before re-teaming with the Hughes brothers for Dead Presidents (1995) and taking on the role of a love-stricken young poet in the romantic drama Love Jones (1997). Larenz Tate also played the role of Kenny in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the episode "That's no Lady That's my Cousin". There followed roles in The Postman (as the automotively monikered Ford Lincoln Mercury), the Frankie Lymon biopic Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998, with Tate as Lymon), and 2000's Love Come Down. Though a big theatrical release had eluded Tate for the first few years of the millennial turnover, Tate would soon turn up opposite Laurence Fishburne in the high-octane but critically derided Biker Boyz (2003), A Man Apart (2003), Crash (2004), as music legend Quincy Jones in Ray (2004), and Waist Deep (2006). Larenz was also featured in R&B singer Ashanti's 2003 released music video Rain on Me, where he played the jealous, abusive spouse of Ashanti. The video touched on the subject of domestic abuse. He can be seen in the latest season of FX Network's Rescue Me. Tate is married to Tomasina 'Geneva' Parrott. They have two sons together named Myles and Zander.

Mary Pat Gleason

Cast · Known for Basic Instinct

Mary Pat Gleason (February 23, 1950 - June 2, 2020) was an American film and television actress. From 1983–85 she appeared on The Guiding Light as Jane Hogan. Since the early 1980s she appeared on such television series as Full House, Murphy Brown, Empty Nest, L.A. Law, Saved by the Bell, Murder, She Wrote, Friends, Step by Step, Suddenly Susan, Will & Grace, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, Family Matters, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Middleman, Up All Night, 1600 Penn, Motive, and Baby Daddy. She appeared in such feature films as I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Basic Instinct, Traffic, Bruce Almighty, 13 Going on 30, The Crucible, Bottle Shock, A Cinderella Story, and The Island.

Bryton James

Cast · Known for Family Matters

Bryton Eric McClure, also credited as Bryton James and mononymously as Bryton, is an American musical theatre, film and television actor. As a child actor, he played Richie Crawford on the ABC/CBS sitcom, Family Matters. He currently plays Devon Hamilton on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless in which he won two Daytime Emmy Awards.

Damian Perkins

Damian Perkins is a singer, actor, dancer, artist and model. He played Mereb in the original Broadway cast of the Broadway musical Aida and also played the role of Benny in the Canadian tour of the musical Rent. Aside from his work on Broadway, he has made guest appearances in shows such as CSI: Miami, Family Matters, Charmed, Providence, The Net, The Sentinel, and Then Came You. Perkins has done several pilots and has had major work in indie and studio films, including an amazing 2007 roster, on some of which Damian is producer as well as actor. He is working with some of the industry's top-tier directors, actors and producers, having done over 20 national commercials as well (Levi's, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Motorola, Pringles, J. C. Penney, and Nike amongst others). Overall, Damian has done over 2,000 live stage performances. He has been interviewed and performed on many TV shows, including The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Today Show, LA Weekly, The New York Times, BBC, E!, The Toronto Star, XM Satellite and many others. He has directed over 30 productions, including recent plays at the Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood, and has been training many young actors to reap success in TV/Film/Commercials and Theater for over 8 years. Finally, as a fine artist his work is owned by many celebrities and private collectors throughout Japan, Canada, and the United States. mian has co-created a new musical called "Divine Lust" with singer/songwriter Glenda Benevides and is projected to open in 2010.

Julius Carry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Julius J. Carry III (March 12, 1952 – August 19, 2008) was an American actor. Carry appeared primarily in numerous television roles, including Dr. Abraham Butterfield on Doctor, Doctor and the bounty hunter Lord Bowler in the The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. He also portrayed the main villain Sho'nuff in the cult classic film The Last Dragon. In addition to that movie he was also a supporting actor in the Rudy Ray Moore film Disco Godfather, and appeared in the film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. He also appeared on shows such as Murphy Brown, Family Matters, A Different World, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, and Boy Meets World. His final appearance as an actor was in the season one episode "Eating The Young" on the CBS series The Unit. It aired in 2006. He died on August 19, 2008 of pancreatic cancer. Description above from the Wikipedia article Julius Carry, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Barry Jenner

Cast · Known for Family Matters

Barry Jenner (January 14, 1941 – August 9, 2016) was an American actor best known for his television roles, including Captain Jerry Cooper on Dallas, Admiral William Ross on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Lt. Lieu Murtaugh on Family Matters. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as an only child to a factory worker father and part-time waitress mother, he studied political science and American history at West Chester University before moving to New York City to pursue acting, landing early soap opera parts on Somerset and Another World. Jenner's career spanned guest spots on Knots Landing, films like Looker, Popcorn, and Enough Said, theater productions, and commercials, while he also served 21 years as a reserve officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. He was married to actress Susan Harney from 1980 until their divorce, then to Suzanne Hunt from 2001, with whom he had two sons, Ashley and Christian; he passed away from acute myeloid leukemia.

Joel Zwick

Director · Known for Family Matters, Full House

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Joel Zwick (born January 11, 1942) is an American film, television and theatre director. He is best known for his work on Perfect Strangers, Full House, Family Matters and well as directing the films My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Fat Albert. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was educated at Brooklyn College. He directed twenty-one pilots, all of which went on to have successful runs as weekly series. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joel Zwick, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Diane Hsu

Born to Chinese immigrant parents, Diane Lee Hsu was a classically trained pianist from age 6 who was performing with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra by age 17. While studying modern dance in college (she'd graduate with a degree in such from the University of Utah), Diane began modeling, which led to a tryout for Playboy Magazine. Under the name Diana Lee, she'd become only the third Playmate on Asian descent after being chosen to become the magazine's Playmate of the Month in May 1988. Soon after, film and TV roles followed. Hsu made her film debut in the James bond film License to Kill (1989), where she played Hong Kong narcotics agent Loti and was also one of the silhouette models in the opening title sequence. She'd go on to other film roles, played a semi-recurring role on the soap opera The Young and the Restless, had guest spots on shows like Family Matters and The West Wing and has done voice work for video games like Everquest II and Prototype.