Whatever Happened To Laura Winslow From Family Matters?
"Family Matters" may have been a spinoff of the '80s sitcom "Perfect Strangers," but it ultimately surpassed the popularity of the original. In fact, "Family Matters" ran for an impressive nine seasons, as opposed to its predecessor's total of eight (via IMDb). There was just something about the simplicity of the storyline — a middle-class policeman navigating life as a husband and father — that resonated with viewers.
The cast of "Family Matters" includes Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow; Jo Marie Payton as his wife Harriette; Darius McCrary as his son Eddie; Kellie Shanygne Williams as his daughter Laura; Jaimee Foxworth as his other daughter Judy; and, of course, Jaleel White as the nerdy next door neighbor Steve Urkel, who always holds a special place in his heart for Laura.
Over the course of the show, viewers watch as Laura transitions from a know-it-all, straight-A cheerleader with goals of studying at Harvard, to Steve's fiancée. It's a complete shift, because for most of the series, Laura's repulsed by her pesky neighbor who doesn't understand the concept of knocking. But in the end, after experiencing her share of poor relationships, she realizes Steve is the one.
It's been about 24 years since Williams appeared on "Family Matters." What has the actress been up to in the years that followed Laura's unprecedented engagement?
Kellie Shanygne Williams is acting and advocating for teens
After "Family Matters" came to an end in 1998, Williams remained in the world of acting. From 2000 to 2001, she starred as student teacher Alice Adams in "What About Joan?", a two-season sitcom about the private lives of high school instructors. Williams also made brief appearances in the shows "Girlfriends," "The Parkers," and "Eve." Most recently, she reunited with Darius McCrary for the feel-good holiday film "Christmas in Carolina," released in 2020, and this year, she's slated to appear in "Merry Little Switchmas," currently in post-production (via IMDb).
Regarding Williams' personal life, the 45-year-old is celebrating 12 years of marriage with Hannibal S. Jackson, which she shared in a celebratory post on her personal Instagram. She's also the mother of two children – Hannah, 11, and John, 9. While John has a passion for sports, evident in a baseball picture Williams' shared, Hannah is beginning to follow in her mother's acting footsteps and will appear alongside her in "Merry Little Switchmas," along with Williams' "Family Matters" mother Jo Marie Payton (via IMDb).
Additionally, in 2006, the actress launched the Kellie Williams Programs at Washington, D.C.'s City Arts and Prep Public Charter School (formerly William E. Doar, Jr. PCS for the Performing Arts) to provide an afterschool initiative that focuses on the fine arts (via Washington Post). Her goal is to help the next generation of aspiring actors. "We have worked with CNN and other businesses. I hope more people become involved with our young people because they are left to raise themselves, essentially. I was exposed to adults that gave back. In the future, I would love to create a television network just for teens," Williams said (via Essence).