Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Cast: A Look At All The Extraordinary Performers

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is an American television sitcom originally aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996. The show was created by Andy Borowitz and Susan Borowitz and produced by Quincy Jones.

It stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel-Air mansion after getting into trouble in his hometown. The show deals with family, friendship, and identity themes and is known for its humor, heartwarming moments, and memorable theme song. Keep reading to learn more about the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air cast.

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Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Cast

The main cast of the TV show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which aired from 1990 to 1996, includes: The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air IMBD is 7.9 out of 10.

Will Smith as Will Smith
James Avery as Philip Banks
Janet Hubert/Daphne Maxwell Reid as Vivian Banks
Alfonso Ribeiro as Carlton Banks
Karyn Parsons as Hilary Banks
Tatyana Ali as Ashley Banks
Joseph Marcell as Geoffrey Butler
Ross Bagley as Nicky Banks

Will Smith (Will Smith)

Will Smith plays a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart Philadelphia adolescent assigned to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel-Air home in the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Though Smith was well-known for his music career as The Fresh Prince, he was struggling financially and leaped at the chance to star in the program, which was largely inspired by legendary music manager Benny Medina. During the show’s run, the actor starred in Six Degrees of Separation, Bad Boys, and Independence Day.

Once the sitcom ended in 1996, Smith became one of Hollywood’s most powerful figures, starring and producing in many successful films like Men in Black, I Am Legend and the Bad Boys trilogy. King Richard, his 2021 biography earned him a Golden Globe.

James Avery (Philip Banks)

James Avery played Philip Banks, the rigid but loving family patriarch. Over the course of the series, Uncle Phil bonds with his nephew and works to make Will a well-rounded young man with a promising future. Avery went on to star in Sparks on UPN and appeared in That 70s Show, The Closer, and The Division after The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air concluded.

He voiced Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Carmen Sandiego, and The Nightmare Room. Open-heart surgery complications killed the larger-than-life performer on New Year’s Eve 2013. Will Smith said, “Some of my biggest lessons in acting, life, and being a respectable human being came through James Avery. Every boy needs Uncle Phil. Sleep well.”

Janet Hubert (Vivian Banks)

Vivian Banks, played by Janet Hubert, was a fiery and ambitious counterpart of Will’s Aunt Viv. After three seasons, the producers allegedly fired her for her on-set conduct and replaced her with Daphne Maxwell Reid. Hubert and Smith were frequently at different. Hubert told Smith during the sitcom’s 2020 reunion special, “I wasn’t unprofessional on set; I just stopped talking to anybody because I didn’t know who to trust because I had been banished. They say you exiled me.”

The actress then said that she was in an abusive marriage and rejected a fourth-season contract. The talented actors reconciled at the program, with Smith apologizing for his role in her departure. Hubert appeared on Gilmore Girls, The Bernie Mac Show, One Life to Live, and General Hospital. In Pose, she appeared recently.

Daphne Maxwell Reid (Vivian Banks)

As Janet Hubert left The Fresh Prince after the third season, Daphne Maxwell Reid assumed Aunt Viv’s place. After Nicky was born and introduced, Aunt Viv was recast as a housewife. During three seasons, the actress played the part, giving Aunt Viv a more subdued and soft-spoken persona. You can also consider this Wellmania Cast.

Reid later had an appearance with her real-life husband, Tim Reid, in the sitcom Sister, Sister with Tia and Tamera Mowry, Eve, Crossing Jordan, and Let’s Stay Together on BET. She is also a skilled photographer and clothing designer, and in 2022, Reid made a guest appearance in the Peacock original series Bel-Air, a dramatic remake of Fresh Prince. Reid played Helen, a member of the Art Council Board, in the ninth episode.

Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton Banks)

Carlton Banks, Will’s preppy and conservative cousin, is known for his legendary and humorous dancing. “The Fresh Prince’s comedy was originally concentrated on the conflict between Will and Uncle Phil…but it quickly became clear that the Will-Carlton relationship would be the series’ primary source of humor,” Will Smith said at the 2020 reunion event.

Carlton is Will’s best friend and is like a brother. Since his Fresh Prince days, Alfonso Ribeiro has hosted Catch 21 on GSN and Spell-Mageddon on ABC Family. Ribeiro and Witney Carson won the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars in 2014. The cheerful host of ABC’s Funniest Home Videos replaced Tom Bergeron in 2015.

Karyn Parsons (Hilary Banks)

Hilary, Will’s gorgeous and dim-witted cousin, is the Banks family’s oldest child. Hilary is spoilt and privileged, yet she evolves and acquires ethics over the series. For six seasons, Karyn Parsons plays the narcissistic fashionista.

Rap up tweeted that Will Smith reunites with the cast of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” for an upcoming HBO Max special. You can see below:

Will Smith reunites with the cast of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” for an upcoming HBO Max special 😍 pic.twitter.com/u5jHYi6vfH

— Rap-Up (@RapUp) September 10, 2020

She co-wrote, co-created, and starred in Lush Life and The Job with Denis Leary. The comedy Major Payne and The Ladies Man brought the actress considerable success. Parsons wrote How High the Moon in 2019 and Soaring Free in 2020. She founded Sweet Blackberry, which tells stories about African heroes. You may also consider this Rabbit Hole Cast.

Tatyana Ali (Ashley Banks)

Ashley, the youngest daughter of Philip and Vivian Banks, bonds with her cousin Will when he arrives and sees him as an encouraging older brother. Will Smith encouraged Tatyana Ali to become a singer on the sitcom. Ali sang three songs at the finale and released her debut album Kiss The Sky, in 1998.

In 2014, she released Hello, an extended play featuring the singles “Daydreamin,” “Boy You Knock Me Out” featuring Smith, and “Every time.” The album was certified gold. Ali played Roxanne in The Young and the Restless and The Brothers, Glory Road, and Home Again in addition to her singing career. She voices Fancy Nancy on Disney Junior.

Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey Butler)

Geoffrey, the Banks family’s sardonic butler, is well-mannered and bright. The character is known for his clever quips and frequent taunts of the Banks’ sloth, but he establishes deep bonds with them. Joseph Marcell has had great success as Geoffrey on stage and screen. In London’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, he played Gonzalo in The Tempest, King Lear, and Lord Lorton in Lady Windermere’s Fan. Marcell appears in a 2020 Ratched episode. In The Exorcism of God, he plays a tormented priest. Check out this recent article here Asteroid City Cast.

DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jazz)

Will’s closest companion. Jazz was previously a recurring character but became a regular after being well-received. Jazz had a crush on Hilary and was repeatedly evicted by Uncle Phil. “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “Summertime” are two of Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Grammy-winning hits.

DJ Jazzy Jeff released Hip-Hop Forever III and The Return of the Magnificent mixtapes after their group split and The Fresh Prince ended. He and Smith reunited at the MTV Summerblast Music Festival and Livewire Festival in Europe in 2017.

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