Jaleel White revealed that portraying the iconic character Steve Urkel on “Family Matters” affected his voice.

At 90s Con 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida, this past Sunday (Sept. 15), the actor reflected on his time as Urkel during a panel discussion. He recalled how the beloved character became famous for his high-pitched, nasal voice. However, he revealed that altering his voice for the role caused long-term damage, according to PEOPLE.

"I spoke to a doctor," White explained. "What happened is during puberty, I spoke at the same pitch for extended periods of time. If the pitch had been going all over the place, I wouldn't have damaged it quite as much. It's been in remission, and I'm fine now."

White added that he went through a period where he "felt like I was really losing it. I would constantly get network notes like, 'We can't hear him. Please be more clear.' It was kind of a scary thing for me to go through."

He also revealed that he didn’t work with a vocal coach when developing Urkel's distinctive voice, which left him unprepared to protect his vocal cords during the role. Now, White works with both a vocal coach and a doctor to help manage and control the long-term effects of the damage, ensuring he maintains better vocal health moving forward. However, he added, "I wouldn't do anything differently. It was a great experience and it was a small sacrifice to make for one hell of a legacy."

The 47-year-old played Urkel on “Family Matters” nine-season run from 1989 to 1998.