Now this is a story all about how… The Fresh Prince of Bel Air cast moved from their hugely popular 90s show to worldwide success and a heartwarming reunion almost 30 years later
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was a huge hit in the 90s, following the journey of Will (Will Smith) when his ‘life got flipped turned upside down’, after he moved from the rough streets of West Philadelphia to a lavish LA mansion. Here, he joined the Banks family, made up of Uncle Phil, Aunt Viv, his cousin’s Carlton, Hilary, Ashley and Nicky, along with their butler Geoffrey and Will’s pal Jazzy.
The 90s show had us rolling with laughter as brash teenager Will transitioned into his new LA life and found himself at odds with his affluent relatives. Over six seasons, his relationships grew, and he developed a notable bond with his Uncle Phil (played by James Avery) and cousin Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro).
With its catchy theme song, sung by the lead himself, The Fresh Prince continues to be a cultural icon despite the show’s end almost 30 years ago. Since the tear-jerking final episode aired in May 1996, there have been significant changes in the lives of the cast members. In 2020, the stars had an emotional reunion as they came together to pay tribute to James Avery, who tragically passed away in 2013.
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Five years later, fans were delighted when Will and Tatyana Ali, who played cousin Ashley, reunited earlier this year to recreate their iconic dance scene. The clip went viral and left viewers wondering what the cast had been up to since their departure from the show. From Hollywood fame to EastEnders and the I’m A Celeb jungle, let’s take a look at where the stars of The Fresh Prince are today…
Will Smith – Will
Imagine a world without the legendary Will Smith, now 56, – it would certainly be a duller place. Once a teenage heartthrob, Will skyrocketed to stardom playing a fictionalised version of himself and has since become one of the most influential actors in Hollywood.
While portraying the endearing yet goofy teenager, he also found success as a rapper under the moniker The Fresh Prince. His career took a significant leap when he transitioned from TV shows to starring roles in blockbuster movies.
Will made his mark with the action comedy Bad Boys before saving the planet from an alien invasion in Independence Day. He was back battling extraterrestrials in the Men in Black series and earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Muhammad Ali in Ali.
Other notable films in his repertoire include Hitch, I am Legend, Hancock, Suicide Squad, Aladdin and The Pursuit of Happyness, which also featured his son Jaden. Over the course of his celebrated career, he’s won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and an impressive four Grammys. He also secured an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard.
During the 2022 ceremony, Will sensationally slapped and shouted at host Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke referencing his wife, Jada. Will subsequently resigned from the Academy and was banned from attending their events for ten years. As of 2025, his films have grossed over $9.5 billion globally.
In his personal life, Will married fellow Hollywood star Jada Pinkett-Smith in 1997 and they welcomed two children, daughter Willow and son Jaden, who have become stars in their own right. Will also has a son, Trey, whom he welcomed during his first marriage to Sheree Zampino. Will and Jada separated in 2016 and are said to live apart, but have not divorced in what they describe as their “life partnership”.
Alfonso Ribeiro – Carlton
Carlton Banks is inseparable from the iconic Carlton Dance, and Alfonso Ribeiro, now 53, continues to groove to Tom Jones’ ‘It’s Not Unusual’ even today. His career has only flourished since his time on The Fresh Prince, having hosted gameshows Catch 21 and Spell-Mageddon, and worked behind the scenes, directing Meet The Browns and Are We There Yet.
Alfonso returned to UK TV in 2013 when he participated in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! The actor had a challenging time Down Under and had a heated exchange with presenter Matthew Wright over a grammar correction. He also clashed with Emmerdale actress Lucy Pargeter, with his frequent arguments contributing to a disappointing 7th-place finish.
However, Alfonso rebounded by showcasing his dance skills on Dancing with the Stars in 2014, which he ultimately won. He was then invited onto Strictly Come Dancing as a guest judge in 2018 and 2019 to fill in for Bruno Tonioli. The actor’s appearances on Strictly were so well-received that many fans have called for Alfonso to become a permanent judge.
This led to Alfonso returning to Dancing with the Stars in 2022 to co-host the show alongside Tyra Banks. He is now the main host of the show alongside Julianne Hough.
In his personal life, Alfonso was married to Robin Stapler from 2002 until 2006 – they welcomed their daughter in 2002. Following their split, he tied the knot with Angela Unkrich in 2012 after a short three-month engagement, and they have three children together born in 2013, 2015 and 2019.
James Avery – Uncle Phil
The acclaimed James Avery was the talent behind Will’s stern yet affectionate Uncle Phil on screen. Despite his daunting persona, Phil always went the extra mile to safeguard all his children and embraced Will as his own. After Fresh Prince, James landed parts in the legal comedy Spark and the crime series The Division, and lent his voice to many characters, including Shredder in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon.
Tragically, James passed away on New Year’s Eve 2013 at the age of 68 due to complications from open-heart surgery in Los Angeles. The news of James’ death was shared by his on-screen son, Alfonso, who portrayed Carlton Banks.
On Facebook, Alfonso posted: “The world has lost a truly special man. I am very saddened to say that James Avery has passed. Even though he played my father on TV, he was a wonderful father figure to me in life. He will be deeply missed.”
In tribute to James, Will Smith shared: “Some of my greatest lessons in acting, living, and being a respectable human being came through James Avery. Every young man needs an Uncle Phil. Rest in peace.”
Janet Hubert – Aunt Viv
Janet Hubert’s departure from the show after a dispute with Will and Alfonso was the most contentious moment on set. As expected, Janet, now 69, didn’t exactly embrace being axed as Aunt Viv and then seeing another actress slip into her role.
Backstage friction had reportedly been building between Janet and Will – the latter suggested they had struggled to gel. Post-exit, Janet held onto her grievances, openly slamming Will as an “a*****e” and levelling accusations that Alfonso engaged in “hideous things”. Janet made efforts to reconcile with her former castmates, and during the Fresh Prince reunion in 2020, Will admitted that he had not been “sensitive” or “perceptive” to Janet’s situation at the time. Will attributed his behaviour during her exit from the 90s show as being “very young” and “immature” and apologised to Janet.
Being let go from the show wasn’t the end of her career. Janet guest-starred in a 2002 Friends episode as Chandler’s boss and also featured on Gilmore Girls that same year, playing Michel Gerard’s mother. She then joined the daytime soap opera General Hospital as Yvonne in 2018.
Away from TV, Janet married her husband James Whitten in 1990 and they shared a son together, Elijah Isaac Whitten. Tragically, Janet alleged the marriage was “very abusive” and they split in 1994. She went on to marry Larry Kraft in 2005, and they’ve been together ever since.
Daphne Maxwell Reid – Aunt Viv
Season four saw a new Aunt Viv arrive, and Daphne Maxwell Reid stepped into some big shoes and shouldered the hefty burden with aplomb. The swap was playfully acknowledged; Jazz quipped about Aunt Viv seeming different post-baby, and Will shared a knowing look with the audience.
The second Aunt Viv, who had a much smoother relationship with the star-studded cast, remained on the show until its final episode. Daphne previously confessed that she initially rejected an audition for the series when it was pitched to her as a vehicle for a “young rapper.”
The trailblazing actress, who graced the first cover of Glamour magazine featuring a black woman, went on to feature in sitcoms such as Eve and Let’s Stay Together. Daphne has also made her mark as a skilled photographer, showcasing some of her best work in a collection titled ‘Daphne Maxwell Reid’s Fresh Prince’.
The now 76-year-old, has been married to actor Tim Reid since 1982 and became a stepmum to his two children. Previously, she was married to Rober Tubbs from 1968 until 1979 – together they welcomed their son, Chris.
Joseph Marcell – Geoffrey
The Banks family would have been lost without their beloved butler Geoffrey. As the only non-American main actor, Joseph Marcell journeyed from Saint Lucia to Peckham at age nine before achieving fame in the US. He became well-known as the family’s sharp-witted and sardonic butler, always ready to offer sage advice or a timely reprimand to Will. Instead of capitalising on his Hollywood success, Joseph chose to return to the UK post-show.
Joseph, now 76, has since featured in numerous iconic British TV series, including Doctor Who, The Bill, Holby City, and A Touch of Frost. His most memorable post-Fresh Prince role was in EastEnders, playing Patrick Truman’s rival, Aubrey Valentine.
After moving in with the Truemans, a squabble with Patrick led Aubrey to get Yolande drunk, culminating in a heated kiss between them. Who needs Bel Air when Albert Square is just around the corner? Not much is known about his personal life, but he was married to Judith M. Midtby from 1975 to 1980 and has been married to Joyce T. Walsh since 1995.
Karyn Parsons – Hilary
Many fans of the show found their first crush in Hilary Banks, the snobbish and not-so-bright eldest daughter of the Banks family. Despite being a typical mean girl who often looked down on Will’s background, there were moments of affection between them, and they frequently teamed up against Carlton.
The Fresh Prince turned Karyn into a household name, but her fame dwindled after the show ended. In 1996, she co-created, co-produced, co-wrote, and co-starred in the Fox sitcom Lush Life, which was abruptly cancelled after only four episodes.
After a hiatus from acting, she appeared in the comedy film The Ladies Man in 2000 and the critically acclaimed TV series The Job. While her acting career never really took off again, life wasn’t all doom and gloom for Karyn.
She went on to publish three children’s books and two picture-book biographies. In 2003, she tied the knot with Alexandre Rockwell, and together they have a daughter named Lana and a son named Nico.
Tatyana Ali – Ashley
Tatyana captured hearts as the Banks family’s youngest daughter, joining the show at merely 11 years old. Showcasing her exceptional singing skills in later episodes, Will Smith himself recommended a pivot to music.
Despite the potential in R&B post-Fresh Prince, Tatyana chose to focus on her acting career. Then with a bit of assistance from her on-screen cousin, she launched her first album in 1999 titled Kiss The Sky, which achieved gold certification in 1999.
Her single Daydreamin then climbed to number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, but sadly her music career didn’t take off. In a shift towards education, Tatyana earned a degree in African-American Studies and Government in 2002 from Harvard University.
She journeyed across the US as a spokesperson for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and led voter registration drives at university campuses. Tatyana, 46, who now has two sons with her English professor husband, played Roxanne in the soap opera The Young and the Restless from 2009 to 2013.
Earlier this year, she delighted Fresh Prince fans when she joined Will Smith to recreate their iconic dance scene, which saw her dancing in her bedroom wearing headphones before her on-screen cousin followed behind. In the video that went viral, the pair performed the same moves to the sounds of Doechii’s hit Anxiety.
Ross Bagley – Nicky
Little Nicky was the adorable, pint-sized preschooler who seemed wise beyond his years. Will’s charming cousin, who joined the show in 1994, was always causing mischief but melted all of our hearts.
Actor Ross Bagley went on to become a well-known child actor and starred as Buckwheat in The Little Rascals, as well as playing Will’s son in the sci-fi blockbuster Independence Day. He also lent his voice to The Wild Thornberrys movie in 1999.
Ross has matured a lot since Fresh Prince ended and took a break from acting to concentrate on his studies. He obtained a degree in cinema and television arts at California State University before becoming a licensed real estate agent in 2013.
While selling properties in LA, Ross ventured back into acting and was featured in the 2015 blockbusters Dead Ringer and Gilded Cage, as well as the Netflix movie Gnome Alone. His personal life away from the spotlight remains relatively private.
Jeff ‘DJ Jazzy Jeff’ Townes – Jazzy
All Fresh Prince fans had a soft spot for Will’s best mate Jazzy, even if the rest of the Banks family didn’t share the sentiment. Will’s pal was constantly being thrown out of the house by Uncle Phil and harboured an unrequited crush on Hilary.
Although his character may have been somewhat pitiful, Jazz has since become a highly respected producer and DJ. He formed a rap duo with Will Smith, known as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, and they won two Grammy Awards for their hits Parents Just Don’t Understand and Summertime. The band achieved several gold and platinum hits in the late 80s and early 90s.
Jazzy, who is a father to two, often hit the stage with Will and often spun discs globally for elite clubs. He pursued music full-time, collaborating with industry giants like Eminem, The Roots, and Jewel.
He previously opened up about a health scare where he revealed that he woke up without any recollection of the past 10 days. Doctors divulged that his lungs were riddled with pneumonia.
He rallied from the illness but noted that despite symptoms pointing to coronavirus, he did not get confirmation through testing. Jazzy told a friend: “I came home from my trip. I was like, ‘I feel like I’m coming down with something’ and got into bed, and I don’t remember the next 10 days.
“I had a temperature that reached about 103. I had the chills. I lost sense of smell. I lost sense of taste.” He continued, detailing the ordeal: “They gave me a flu test. And when I went and got the chest X-ray, she came in and said, ‘You have pneumonia in both your lungs’.”
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Source: Mirror
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