I was watching the ending of an A&E Biography on Reginald Vel Johnson, the father on Family Matters (you know, the show with Urkle), and it got me to wondering about the characters. Whatever happend to youngest girl? I remember she was there, and then she wasn’t and I don’t recall they made any attempt to explain her disapearance. If they did, what was it and in real life, where did she go all of a sudden?
IIRC it was simply a matter (sorry) of the character of Urkle becoming so big, he pushed the smaller characters right off the screen, and the youngest daughter was simply written out. Rather like half the original “class” on Facts of Life being written out, to focus on Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie.
I heard she was kidnapped by Richie’s older brother Chuck from “Happy Days.” Apparantly he became antisocial due to parental neglect.
[hijack]
The more important question is why A&E felt compelled to make a documentary on Reginald Vel Johnson. I can see the meeting now:
Associate Producer #1: I’d like to do a documentary on Mary, Queen of Scots
Associate Producer #2: I’ve always wanted to do a biography of General Douglas MacArthur
Associate Producer #3: I want to do Reginald Vel Johnson
Producer: Reginald Vel Who?
Associate Producer #3: You know, Reginald Vel Johnson, the actor who played the father on Family Matters
Producer: What the Hell is Family Matters? chomps cigar
Associate Producer #3: It was a long-running sitcom that started out as an ersatz Cosby Show but degenerated into sort of a fantastical yet unfunny take on suburban life
Producer: Are you on drugs?
Associate Producer #3: Yes
Producer: Then give me some. long drag on crack pipe Reginald Vel Johnson it is!
[/hijack]
But he was in the Die Hard movies too! He’s not a 1 trick pony.
Actually, there is another question:
Has Reginald Vel Johnson ever not played a cop?
Thanks for answering my question. 
As for RVJ, yeah I’m wondering if they’re running out of ideas. They shouldn’t, because I’m always saying, “I wish they’d do a Biography on so-and-so”. Just the other night my mom said that about Alan Alda when we were watching MAS*H. I’ve never seen a Biography on Jack Nicholson or Marlon Brando (although I’ve read biographies on them). I did like the one on Vincent Price, though.
Hey, wait a second… I’m starting to see a trend here.
The Fonz starts to get popular on Happy Days and Chuck leaves —>
Urkle gets popular on Family Matters and the youngest sister leaves!
Hmmm… a conspiracy masterminded by the Fonz and Urkle!