TV-Series :: Family Matters :: Character Guide

Laura Lee Winslow (13 as the series opened) is the middle daughter of Carl and Harriette Winslow. Smart, beautiful, ambitious and almost the perfect daughter, older sister and annoying younger sister. Laura began life on the series as a money hungry girl who was obsessed with making her life's fortune before she could legally drive. Well all of that changed part way through the first season when she almost went on a date with the boy next door...Steven Q. Urkel (episode 1x12).

An innocent almost date that spawned the series most popular and enduring character, Steve Urkel. And of course he only had highs for the lovely Laura, no matter how many times she turned him down. Steve would truly do anything to be close to the object of his desire, including joining her when she secured a job at 'Leroy's'. A place Steve would promptly burnt to the ground.

Others in Laura's life over the years were her frequently seen best friend, Maxine, and on-again off-again boyfriend Ted Curran. Of course Ted drew the ire of Steve a number of times and nearly came to blows on a few occasions. Until Ted and Laura introduced Steve to Myra in an attempt to get him out of the way. It worked, sorta.

Following Ted's departure, Laura rarely had a boyfriend but Steve was her constant companion. Even coming up with a way he could be with his lady love, although in an altered state, as Stefan Urquelle. The smoothest and coolest guy Laura could ever hope of meeting, but as Laura would soon find out, he was far more in love with himself. It didn't work out.

It would be another full season before Laura's love interest would return, a slightly revamped version of Stefan that is, one that WAS the perfect man. But again there arose a problem when it was revealed that Steve's transformation into Stefan was only temporary. Steve swore as the season closed that he would not rest until Stefan was back...FOREVER.

This promise was kept late in the 6th season when Stefan did return and a fateful trip to the 'Magical Kingdom of Disney World' made it appear the two were deeply in love and were about to be married. But in the end Steve decided that he didn't wanna be Stefan to win Laura's affections and changed back into Steve, "permanently".

More wacky adventures TV followed for over the remainer of the seventh season. Like, Maxine and Laura falling for the same guy, Steve and Laura seeing each other in the buff and Laura joining a sorority before quitting when she found out how they treated Steve. Also, a new man was soon introduced in Curtis Williams. A smooth and seemingly perfect guy for Laura. But as we would find out at season's end, Laura's heart belonged to Stefan. And to her hearts desire he would soon return, for good, when Steve cloned himself and the clone became Stefan (only on TV!)

Over the final two seasons (one of them on CBS) the love triangle between Steve, Laura and Stefan slowly formed. Laura was even surprised that she was starting to look at Steve as more than a good friend. The final season saw her feelings become more clear and she could no longer deny that she had feelings for the king of nerds. This development didn't sit well with Myra (and Stefan) as both made various attempts to break up the romance. It was to no avail, and as the series wound down, Laura declared her love for Steve and the two planned to be married.