Jaleel White has literally grown up right in front of our eyes. Being the actor behind one of TV’s most beloved characters, Steve Urkel, on the hit show Family Matters, we’ve seen White tackle a lot as a pre-teen, teenager and now as an adult.

White was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in Culver City, California, the only 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 of Michael White, a dentist, and Gail White, a homemaker who later became his manager. White attended John Marshall Fundamental High School and South Pasadena High School before graduating from UCLA in 2001. On the advice of his preschool teacher, White began acting as a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥. He got his start on TV commercials at age 3 and the rest is history.

“We become the best version of our parents,” he posted in another dedication to his father. “Or the worst version of our parents  the choice is yours. Any way you slice it… we become our parents #yallladiesgottachill #mymamasaidLikeherpicturestoo #Stefandontfallfarfromthattree #peepmyfirstcar #acuralegend #1997 #Crenshaw #Ucla #LABorn a whuppin from Dr. White  put a LOT on a young mind  #Fatherhood #iguessitsgenetic”

(Photo credit: @Jaleelwhite instagram)

In a heartfelt instagram post, White writes, “Stefan was cool. But behind the scenes, I was just a boy who wanted to be like my Pops. Almost lost him this year