Why Jaleel White didn’t land a role on ‘The Cosby Show’ but considers it a ‘blessing’?
White revealed during his recent episode of TV One’s Uncensored that he didn’t get the gig on Cosby because the gender of the character Rudy (Keshia Knight-Pulliam) was changed at the last minute.
“The network wanted Bill to have two sons, but Bill only had one son in real life,” White explains. “And Bill pushed back and he wanted the cast to mirror his actual family. That’s why the character Rudy was named Rudy because he was always intended for a boy.”
After his disappointment wore off, White continued auditioning and eventually landed a few guest spots. He was cast in another show that was called Charlie & Co. with Flip Wilson and Gladys Knight. The show was canceled midway through the first season.
White almost quit acting for good before being cast in Family Matters as Steve Urkel. He became the breakout star. The show lasted for nine seasons, outlasting The Cosby Show.
Looking back, White says being rejected by Cosby had its perks because of his eventual work on Family Matters. “Not having gotten The Cosby Show was a huge blessing in my life but I never like to say that it wasn’t a blessing for Malcolm [Jamal Warner] or the other actors who went on that journey. It just wasn’t meant for me.”
