Now this is a story all about how… The Fresh Prince of Bel Air cast became a huge hit during the 90s – but what have they been up to since the show ended almost 30 years ago?
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was a Nineties classic, following the journey of Will (Will Smith) as his ‘life got flipped turned upside down’, moving from the tough streets of West Philadelphia to a lavish LA mansion. Here, he joined the Banks family, made up of Uncle Phil, Aunt Viv, his cousins Carlton, Hilary, Ashley and Nicky, their butler Geoffrey and Will’s mate Jazzy.
The sitcom had us in stitches as brash teenager Will adjusted to his new LA life and found himself at odds with his well-off relatives. Over six series, his relationships blossomed, and he formed a significant bond with his Uncle Phil (portrayed by James Avery) and cousin Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro).
With its catchy theme tune, sung by the lead actor himself, The Fresh Prince remains a cultural icon despite the show’s conclusion nearly 30 years ago. Since the heart-wrenching final episode aired in May 1996, there have been significant changes in the lives of the cast members, including some who are no longer with us.
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Just this week, it was announced that child actor Floyd Roger Myers, who played a young Will Smith in a 1992 episode of the show, had sadly died following a heart attack. Another devastating loss from the show is James Avery, who starred as Will’s uncle, who passed away in 2013, and in 2020, his co-star had a touching reunion to honour him.
Following the loss of two Fresh Prince of Bel Air stars, fans have been left curious about the rest of the cast and what they’ve been up to since they left the show. From Hollywood stardom to EastEnders and the I’m A Celeb jungle, let’s see where the stars of The Fresh Prince are today…
Will Smith – Will
Imagine a world without the legendary Will Smith, now 57, – it would certainly be a less colourful place. Once a teenage heartthrob, Will shot to fame playing a fictionalised version of himself and has since become one of the most influential actors in Hollywood.
While portraying the lovable yet goofy teenager, he also found success as a rapper under the name The Fresh Prince. His career took a significant leap when he transitioned from TV shows to starring roles in blockbuster films.
Will made his mark with the action comedy Bad Boys before saving the world from an alien invasion in Independence Day. He was back battling aliens in the Men in Black series and earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Muhammad Ali in Ali.
Other standout films in his collection include Hitch, I am Legend, Hancock, Suicide Squad, Aladdin and The Pursuit of Happyness, which also starred his son Jaden. Throughout his illustrious career, he’s bagged a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and an outstanding four Grammys.
He also scooped an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard. At the 2022 ceremony, Will dramatically slapped and yelled at presenter Chris Rock after the comic cracked a joke about his wife, Jada.
Will later stepped down from the Academy and was barred from attending their events for ten years. As of 2025, his films have earned over $9.5 billion worldwide.
In his private life, Will married fellow Hollywood icon Jada Pinkett-Smith in 1997, and they welcomed two children, daughter Willow and son Jaden, who have become celebrities in their own right. Will also has a son, Trey, from his first marriage to Sheree Zampino.
During Will and Jada’s marriage, the actress admitted to having a steamy extramarital relationship with singer August Alsina behind her husband’s back while they were thought to have been on a break. The couple hashed it out on a tense episode of her Red Table Talk podcast.
They split in 2016 and reportedly live separately, but haven’t divorced in what they call their “life partnership”.
Alfonso Ribeiro – Carlton
Carlton Banks remains famous with the legendary Carlton Dance, and Alfonso Ribeiro, now 54, still busts moves to Tom Jones’ ‘It’s Not Unusual’ to this day. His career has thrived since his Fresh Prince days, presenting gameshows Catch 21 and Spell-Mageddon, and working behind the camera, directing Meet The Browns and Are We There Yet.
Alfonso made a comeback to UK TV in 2013 when he took part in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! The actor had a tough time in the Australian jungle and had a fiery exchange with presenter Matthew Wright over a grammar correction.
He also butted heads with Emmerdale actress Lucy Pargeter, with his frequent rows contributing to a disappointing 7th-place finish. However, Alfonso bounced back by showing off 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. After their split, he tied the knot with Angela Unkrich in 2012 after a brief three-month engagement, and they have three children together born in 2013, 2015 and 2019.
James Avery – Uncle Phil
The celebrated James Avery brought Will’s formidable yet caring Uncle Phil to life on our screens. Though his character appeared intimidating, Phil consistently went above and beyond to protect his children while welcoming Will into the fold as family.
Following Fresh Prince, James secured roles in legal comedy Spark and crime drama The Division, while also providing voices for numerous animated characters, notably Shredder in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Sadly, James died on New Year’s Eve 2013, aged 68, following complications from open-heart surgery in Los Angeles.
The devastating news of James’ passing was announced by his on-screen son Alfonso, who played Carlton Banks. Alfonso wrote on Facebook: “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.”
Paying tribute to James, Will Smith said: “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 exit from the programme following a row with Will and Alfonso became the most explosive behind-the-scenes drama. Predictably, Janet, now 69, wasn’t particularly thrilled about being dropped as Aunt Viv, only to watch another actress step into her shoes.
Tensions were reportedly brewing behind the scenes between Janet and Will, with the latter hinting at a lack of chemistry. After her departure, Janet didn’t hold back, branding Will an “a*****e” and accusing Alfonso of “hideous things”.
She attempted to mend fences with her former co-stars, and during the 2020 Fresh Prince reunion, Will confessed he hadn’t been “sensitive” or “perceptive” to Janet’s circumstances at the time. He chalked up his behaviour during her exit from the 90s sitcom to being “very young” and “immature”, offering Janet an apology.
Janet’s career didn’t end with her departure from the show. In 2002, she made a guest appearance on Friends as Chandler’s boss and also featured on Gilmore Girls that same year, portraying Michel Gerard’s mother.
She later joined the daytime soap opera General Hospital as Yvonne in 2018. Away from the small screen, Janet tied the knot with James Whitten in 1990, and they have a son together, Elijah Isaac Whitten.
Sadly, Janet claimed the marriage was “very abusive”, leading to their separation in 1994. She later wed Larry Kraft in 2005, and they’ve remained together since.
Daphne Maxwell Reid – Aunt Viv
The fourth season introduced a new Aunt Viv, with Daphne Maxwell Reid stepping into the role. The change was cheekily acknowledged; Jazz joked about Aunt Viv looking different after having a baby, and Will shared a knowing glance with viewers.
The second Aunt Viv, who enjoyed a far more harmonious rapport with the star-studded ensemble, stayed with the programme right through to its concluding episode. Daphne had previously admitted that she initially turned down an audition for the series when it was presented to her as a platform for a “young rapper.”
The pioneering actress, who appeared on the debut cover of Glamour magazine to feature a black woman, subsequently starred in sitcoms including Eve and Let’s Stay Together. Daphne has also established herself as an accomplished photographer, displaying some of her finest work in a compilation entitled ‘Daphne Maxwell Reid’s Fresh Prince’.
The now 77-year-old has been married to actor Tim Reid since 1982 and became stepmother to his two children. She was previously married to Rober Tubbs from 1968 until 1979, and together they welcomed their son, Chris.
Joseph Marcell – Geoffrey
The Banks household would have been utterly chaotic without their cherished butler, Geoffrey. As the sole non-American principal cast member, Joseph Marcell travelled from Saint Lucia to Peckham aged nine before finding stardom in the US.
He gained recognition as the family’s quick-witted and cutting butler, perpetually prepared to deliver wise counsel or a well-timed telling-off to Will. Rather than exploiting his Hollywood triumph, Joseph opted to return to the UK after the show ended.
Joseph, now 77, has since starred in a host of iconic British TV series, including Doctor Who, The Bill, Holby City, and A Touch of Frost. His most notable role post-Fresh Prince was in EastEnders, where he played Patrick Truman’s rival, Aubrey Valentine.
After moving in with the Truemans, a row with Patrick led Aubrey to get Yolande drunk, resulting in a fiery kiss between them. Who needs Bel Air when Albert Square is just around the corner?
Little 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 catapulted Karyn, now 59, into fame, but her stardom faded 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 break 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 write three children’s books and two picture-book biographies. In 2003, she walked down the aisle to marry Alexandre Rockwell, and they have a daughter named Lana and a son named Nico.
Tatyana Ali – Ashley
Tatyana won hearts as the youngest daughter of the Banks family, joining the show at just 11 years old. Showcasing her impressive singing skills in later episodes, Will Smith himself suggested a move towards music.
Despite the potential in R&B post-Fresh Prince, Tatyana decided to concentrate on her acting career. Then, with a little help from her on-screen cousin, she released her debut album in 1999 titled Kiss The Sky, which achieved gold certification that same year.
Her single Daydreamin then soared to number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, but unfortunately, her music career didn’t take flight. In a shift towards academia, Tatyana bagged a degree in African-American Studies and Government in 2002 from Harvard University.
She travelled across the US as a spokesperson for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and led voter registration drives at university campuses. Tatyana, now 46, has two sons with her English professor husband and portrayed Roxanne in the soap opera The Young and the Restless from 2009 to 2013.
Earlier this year, she thrilled Fresh Prince enthusiasts when she teamed up with Will Smith to re-enact their iconic dance scene. The viral video showed her dancing in her bedroom wearing headphones, followed by her on-screen cousin performing the same moves to Doechii’s hit song Anxiety.
Ross Bagley – Nicky
Little Nicky was the endearing, pint-sized preschooler who seemed mature beyond his years. Will’s delightful cousin, who joined the show in 1994, was always stirring up trouble but melted all of our hearts.
Actor Ross Bagley went on to become a renowned 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, now 36, has grown up a lot since Fresh Prince ended and took a break from acting to focus on his studies. He earned 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 film Gnome Alone. His personal life away from the limelight remains relatively private.
Jeff ‘DJ Jazzy Jeff’ Townes – Jazzy
Every Fresh Prince enthusiast had a weakness for Will’s closest companion, Jazzy, despite the Banks household’s lack of enthusiasm for him. Will’s mate was repeatedly ejected from the property by Uncle Phil and nursed an unreciprocated infatuation with Hilary.
While his character might have appeared somewhat pitiful, Jazz has subsequently established himself as a tremendously respected producer and DJ. He established a rap partnership with Will Smith, recognised as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, and they secured two Grammy Awards for their chart-toppers Parents Just Don’t Understand and Summertime.
The duo accomplished numerous gold and platinum successes during the late 80s and early 90s. Jazzy, who is father to two children, frequently took to the stage alongside Will and regularly performed at exclusive venues worldwide.
He dedicated himself to music professionally, working alongside industry legends including Eminem, The Roots, and Jewel. He previously disclosed a frightening health episode where he revealed that he woke up without any recollection of the past 10 days.
Medical professionals disclosed that his lungs were severely affected by pneumonia. He recovered from the condition but mentioned that although symptoms suggested coronavirus, he never received confirmation via testing.
Jazzy confided to a mate: “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 went on, describing the horrific experience: “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’.”