Family Matters fans were shocked after the news of Jaleel White’s marriage surfaced online. Did he marry his on-screen matchup, Kellie Shanygne Williams?
Jaleel White and Kellie Shanygne Williams were paired up together in the 1989 series Family Matters, and fans highly shipped them, anticipating them to tie the knot in real life.
Highlights
- Fans hoped Jaleel White and his “Family Matters” co-star Kellie Shanygne Williams would marry in real life, but despite their on-screen chemistry, they never dated.
- Jaleel White, known for his role as Steve Urkel, reunited with Kellie Shanygne Williams via video call, bringing back memories of the beloved sitcom.
- Jaleel married Nicoletta Ruhl on May 4, 2024, in Los Angeles in an outdoor wedding ceremony.
Jaleel White portrayed Steve Urkel in the sitcom, which instantly increased in popularity. Thus, he transitioned from a one-time guest to a regular cast member.
White’s role as Steve was reprised for the first time in 21 years in the 2019 animated series Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?
The comeback had the viewers reminiscing about the sitcom, triggering the bittersweet memories created in the span of 9 years.
Jaleel White and Kellie Shanygne Williams were an On-Screen Couple
Kellie Shanygne Williams played Laura Winslow, Urkel’s crush who became his love interest.
Although they portrayed contrasting characters, it is said that opposites attract; thus, they showcased outstanding chemistry that blended well with humor, warmth, and genuineness.
Urkel’s feelings for Laura remained consistent, and he could be seen trying to win her over through his grand gestures and kindness.
Steve’s obsessive crush on her is evident until the beginning of season 9; however, Laura doesn’t reciprocate his feelings until then.
On the other hand, another character, Myra, falls in love with Steve, and they start dating.
Nonetheless, their relationship didn’t last long. They broke up in the 13th episode of season 9, Breaking Up is Hard to Do.
It eventually happened after Laura had a change of heart and started seeing Urkel’s good side, which made her drawn to him.
Thus, the tables turned, and the series ended as the newly engaged couple, Laura and Steve, exchanged a Welcome-home kiss.
Their on-screen moments compelled the viewers to sail their ships in their favor; however, to their disappointment, the couple never dated in real life.
Jaleel and Kellie recently united on a video call, proving they are really close friends without any romantic involvement.
Jaleel White Tied The Knot With His Girlfriend, Nicoletta Ruhl
Nicoletta Ruhl is a Sports Technology business executive who met Jaleel while exercising on the UCLA track during the 2020 pandemic.
Then, they started dating, and the couple officially declared their relationship on Instagram on New Year’s 2022.
After 6 months of their declaration, they got engaged, and 4 years later, on May 4, 2024, they married at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.
Their guest list consisted of 175 family and friends, although they invited only those who were close to them.
To this, in an interview, Ruhl said that,
It was important for all of the people who carry an impact on our daily lives to be present and for each and every one of them to enjoy themselves and feel as though they were part of something intimate and meaningful.”
Their guest list consisted of 175 family and friends, although they invited only those who were close to them.
To this, in an interview, Ruhl said that,
It was important for all of the people who carry an impact on our daily lives to be present and for every one of them to enjoy themselves and feel as though they were part of something intimate and meaningful.”
Their wedding felt like a scene straight out of a movie, and the event’s red velvet cake with lemon, funfetti, and vanilla was what made it whole.
On this happy occasion, White expressed his feelings in an interview with the People, “We’ve each committed ourselves to loving and helping one another achieve the best possible outcome in anything we set out to do both personally and professionally.”
Additional Information
- Jaleel White has a daughter, Samaya, with his ex-girlfriend, Bridget Hardy.
- Jaleel played Porter’s role in the popular medical series House, where he appeared in the episode “Twenty Vicodin.”
- The actor will appear in the movie Star Wars: Skeleton Crew in 2024, which is currently in production.
