The Family Matters legend speaks to VF about the hard lessons, difficult relationships—with figures from Les Moonves to Bill Cosby—and silver linings of being a young icon.

Writing a memoir presented Jaleel White with an opportunity to not only document the ups and downs he went through as a child star — but to highlight how far he has come after years of life in the public eye.

Nearly 30 years after Family Matters came to an end, Jaleel White revealed he was told to wear loose jeans to hide Steve Urkel’s “bulge.” In his new memoir Growing Up Urkel, White opens up about his time as the TGIF fan-favorite Steve Urkel,

Jaleel White shared how 'Family Matters' producers asked him to wear looser jeans to obscure his "bulge" in later seasons.