White was 12 when the show began, but 21 when it ended. Between the ages of 12 and 21, people do some serious changing. Jaleel White, the actor who played Steve Urkel on Family Matters, was no different.

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.

Jaleel White experienced some growing pains while starring as Steve Urkel on Family Matters. In his new memoir Growing Up Urkel, White remembered network execs requesting that he change up his trademark attire,