Where Are They Now? The Fresh Prince Cast Then and Now

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was the '90s sitcom that stole our hearts, and yes, that theme tune is still legendary. Will Smith left the show and became a full on Hollywood star, racking up hit movies and an estimated $300 million net worth. The rest of the cast split off in all kinds of directions - some stayed in show business, some found new passions, and some quietly stepped away. Scroll through to see what happened to the Banks family and the faces we still remember.

Will Smith: From Sitcom To Superstardom

It did not take long for Will Smith to blow up after Fresh Prince. The year the series ended he jumped into blockbusters like Independence Day, Men in Black and Enemy of the State. Directors queued up for him and his list of hits kept growing, with the rare misstep of After Earth, which he called the most painful failure of his career. Lately he has shown up in Suicide Squad and the live action Aladdin, keeping that box office pull.

Reunion Hopes: Photos, Lunches, Not Happening

The cast still gathers each year for Karyn Parsons' charity lunch, and a 2017 reunion photo set fans dreaming of a full comeback. Will Smith even joked about slipping into Uncle Phil's shoes, but he has been clear a proper reunion 'wouldn't work' for him. Alfonso Ribeiro has said revisiting the role would feel like rehashing old wounds, and Parsons points out that losing James Avery changed the whole picture. So, as much as we want one, a true reunion seems unlikely.

Carlton's Dance And Ribeiro's Career

Alfonso Ribeiro turned Carlton into an icon, and he kept working in TV after Fresh Prince, including a stint on In the House with LL Cool J. He reintroduced THE Carlton Dance on Dancing with the Stars and explained the moves were inspired by Courteney Cox in Bruce Springsteen's 'Dancing in the Dark' video. Ribeiro also admits the Carlton label has been a double edged sword, saying the role gave him everything and also made it harder to be seen as a serious actor. That tension helps explain why he is reluctant about going back.

Where The Other Stars Ended Up

James Avery was the show's steady moral center and moved into voice work before he passed away in 2013; Will has said Avery taught him some of his biggest lessons. Karyn Parsons left acting to start Sweet Blackberry, a nonprofit that brings little known African American stories to kids. Joseph Marcell returned to his theatre roots, including performances at the Globe, while Tatyana Ali did indie films and finished college at Harvard. Daphne Maxwell Reid turned to photography and publishing, and DJ Jazzy Jeff stayed on the decks, still touring years later.

Philip Banks (James Avery)

James Avery had the all-important role of Uncle Banks. Each episode, he was tried and tested by Will and Carlton but he proved himself to be a loving father and uncle nonetheless. James Avery has had a lot of success as a voice actor. He voiced Shredder on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and had a role in the animated series of Iron Man. Avery passed in 2013 at the age of 68. Paying his respects to the late actor, Will Smith shared: “'Some of my greatest lessons in Acting, Living and being a respectable human being came through James Avery.”

Hillary Banks (Karyn Parsons)

Hilary Banks is another crucial character, although she has less fans than her male counterparts. This is largely because Hilary is a ditzy princess who's very spoiled. After the show, Karyn Parsons didn’t pursue a career in acting. Instead, she perused charity work and is now the Founder and President of Sweet Blackberry. The company is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring little-known stories of African American achievement to children everywhere. Basically, Karyn and Hilary are stark opposites in real life!

Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell)

Jospeh Martell had the honor of playing the extremely loveable butler on the show. Geoffrey is a fan favorite and even short of two decades years later, peoples till yell “Geoffrey” at him if they spot him out and about. Jospeh Marcell is actually a classically trained actor and pursued his passion for theatre once filming wrapped up for Fresh Prince. He recently appeared in a production of Shakespeare’s King Lear which was showcased at London’s prestigious venue, The Globe.

Ashley Banks (Tatyana Ali)

Ashley Banks is nothing like her spoiled sister. She is down-to-earth and is arguably one of the most relatable characters on the show. A lot of her storylines revolve around her struggles with coming of age. The episode when she is accused of shoplifting is a sure fan favorite. Once she was finished with Fresh Prince, Tatyana Ali starred in a handful of indie flicks, including The Clown at Midnight. She recently starred in the show Second Generation Wayans and in between her on-screen fame, Tatyana found the time to graduate from Harvard.

Aunt Vivian (Janet Hubert-Whitten)

Aunt Vivian was an awesome character and Janet Hubert-Whitten bought something special to the show. Unfortunately, conflicts occurred around the time she got pregnant. Janet claimed that producers forced her out of her role, but others reported that there were tensions between her and Will Smith. Whatever went down, Janet left the show and appeared in other popular TV shows including Gilmore Girls, Friends and The Bernie Mac Show. Most recently, she appeared in multiple episodes of General Hospital as Yvonne Godfrey.

Aunt Vivian (Daphne Maxwell Reid)

When Janet Hubert-Whitten left the show, Daphne Maxwell Reid stepped in to replace her. Daphne is an accomplished photographer and now sells travel pictures online. Maxwell Reid has four published books of her photography. She has traveled all over the world and sells pictures from the most incredibly places. On her website, she opens her description by saying: "People know me as 'Aunt Vivian' from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Although she does have a handful of other acting credits, photography is her true passion and calling.

Jazz (DJ Jazzy Jeff - Jeffrey Allen Townes)

Jazz always wears his sunglasses and usually shares scenes with Will. He has a massive crush on Hilary and is frequently thrown out of the house by Uncle Philip. In one hilarious scene, Jazz taunts Philip because he is already standing outside. Philip resorts by throwing him inside the house. You'll be pleased to learn that DJ Jazzy Jeff is still a notorious DJ. He is actually on tour this summer and you can catch him across North America from June.

Will’s Mom (Vernee Watson-Jackon)

Vy/Viola is Will's mother and also is the oldest of the Smith sisters. She is the ex-wife of Lou Smith and the stepmom of Lisa Wilkes. Vy is a recurring character but her appearances are sporadic. She sent Will to his aunt and uncles in Bel Air so that he could get a better life. Vernee Watson-Jackosn has had many on-screen credits since her time on the show. She recently landed the role of Nurse Robinson on the Big Bang Theory spin-off Young Sheldon. She has also appeared in Desperate Housewives, Two and a Half Men and X-Files. She has several voice acting credits under her belt too.

Little Nicky (Ross Bagley)

Little Nicky joined the cast in 1994 and was the youngest member of the Banks family. He was just six-years-old when he joined the show and was a regular character up until the show’s final season. Barley gave up acting following his time on the show. He was very young when he joined the cast and subsequently wanted to find his own way in the world. When he hit adulthood, Bagley graduated from California State University and now works as a licensed real estate agent in LA.

Lisa Wilkes (Nia Long)

Lisa Wilkes is introduced to the series as the woman who tames the womanizer Will Smith. The couple fall deeply in love and are due to elope when secrets surface. When the two agree not to marry, Lisa disappears from the show for good. Nia Long is still slaying. She has appeared in several TV shows including Third Watch, Empire and the feature film Big Momma's House. Nia is a longtime supporter of Peta and is married with two children.

Jackie Ames (Tyra Banks)

Who could forget Tyra Banks' appearance in Fresh Prince? Jackie was born and raised in West Philadelphia and coincidentally moves to Bel-Air to study at the same school as Will. These days, Tyra Banks is the star of her own show. She is a television personality, producer, businesswoman, actress, author and former model. Best known for hosting American's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks is undoubtably one of the most famous stars to appear on the show. These days, her net worth is around $90 million.

Helen Smith (Jenifer Lewis)

Helen Smith is one of Will's three maternal aunts and is the younger sister of Vy. She is Bobby's mother and frequently teases her brother-in-law, Uncle Phillip across the series. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was only the start of Jenifer Lewis' extremely successful career on screen. She has done many voiceovers including Pixar's Cars and Black-ish. Most recently, she appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Now that she is back on our radar, we'd like to see more from the woman who portrayed Helen Smith.

Janice Smith (Charlayne Woodard)

Janice is the youngest of the Smith sisters. She is considered to be the sweet and romantic sister, although Vy is a bit more cynical of her. Janice marries a man named Frank and has a child named Frank Jr. After her recurring role in Fresh Prince, Charlayne Woodard took on another long-term role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Most recently, she appeared in Sneaky Pete as Hickey. Woodard has been married to Alan Harris since 1991.

Penelope Fowler (Sherrié Austin)

Penelope Fowler AKA Lady Penelope is the daughter of an aristocrat and engages in elite activities such as opera. In reality though, she hates these activities and goes out to parties without her father knowing. Although the character she plays on the show is British, Sherrié Austin is actually from Sydney, Australia. In 2011, Sherrié was named one of the "25 Most Beautiful People" by Nashville Lifestyles Magazine. She has acted in a few films and shows here and there but is also an accomplished country singer. She has been more focused on her music than her acting of late.

Hattie Banks (Virginia Capers)

The wonderful Hattie is the mother of Philip Banks, making her the paternal grandmother on the show. She is a loving grandmother and is particularly close with Will and they share a love of fun. Fresh Prince was actually one of the last roles that Virginia Capers took on. After a long and successful career as an actress, Capers sadly passed away of pneumonia complications in 2004. Hattie is arguably one of the greatest roles she played in her career, although you may also recognize her as Florence Sparrow in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986).

Big Bertha (Rusty Schwimmer)

Bertha McCoy only ever appeared in one episode of Fresh Prince: The Movie but her character was certainly memorable. She appears in a phony story Will and Carlton make up and is seen calming down a bear to save Will and Carlton. Bertha's father forces her and Will into getting married only she is later presumably killed, along with the rest of her family. Since appearing on Fresh Prince, Schwimmer has taken on a vast array of television roles. In 2016, she appeared in the movie The Belko Experiment as Peggy Displasia. She currently has several TV credits in post-production.

Jewel (Karen Malina White)

Jewel is the former wife of the legendary Jazz. The couple met when she was in prison only they divorced when Jazz found out that her real name was Hortense and that she had hooked up with everyone in the building. Karen Malina White continued her career in acting following her time on the show. She has a modest list of credits under belt including appearances in Shameless, How to Get Away with Murder and sit-com The Middle in the last few years.

Kellogg Lieberbaum (Michael Weiner)

Given his name is Kellogg, it is no surprise that he quickly gets nicknamed "Cornflake." He is a sweet guy and Will befriends him on his first day of college. Cornflake is a loyal friend and often backs Will, even though he often can't handle the consequences of Will's "great" ideas. Michael Weiner never really persued a career in acting. His passion has always been for music and he composed the score for the 1999 movie Man of the Century. We are not really sure what he is up to these days as he has taken himself off the radar.

Coach Smiley (Dave Florek)

Coach Smiley is the history teacher and basketball coach at Bel-Air Academy. In one episode, he recruits Will to help the team out of their slumber. Ironically, Coach Smiley is very strict and cruelly punishes his students for their mistakes. Dave Florek has appeared in a handful of feature films since his time on Fresh Prince including Priest (2011) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). He recently appeared in the successful The Big Bang Theory spin off Young Sheldon as Dr. Eberland, the boy genius' pediatrician.

Eric (Malcolm-Jamal Warner)

Eric is a guest character and gets relentless teased by Will for his good manners. He is a law student and dates Hilary, much to Philip Banks' delight. Malcom-Jamal Warner has appeared in a handful of titles since his guest appearance on the show but he has mostly been focused on his music. In 2003, he released his debut EP The Miles Long Mixtape. He is a bass guitar player, a performic poet and scripted the comedy Reed Between the Lines (2011-2015). Most recently, he played AJ Austin in medical drama The Resident.

Ice Tray (Don Cheadle)

Ice Tray is one of Will's eccentric friends from Phili. He is loud and outgoing and he may seem a little rude but deep down he is a very caring friend. He cares deeply for Hilary and used to protect Will from bullies in 7th grade. Cheadle is a talented actor and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor after he gave a stellar performance as the leading character in the historical genocide drama film Hotel Rwanda (2004). It is far more likely that you will know him from his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Cheadle plays "War Machine" in the Avengers movies and the Iron Man franchise.

Top Dog (Glenn Plummer)

Top Dog is a guest character in season 4 of the show. He is the former president of the Phi Beta Gamma fraternity and it’s his friendship with Will that enables the cousins to enter the fraternity. After a series of humiliating tasks, of course. Glenn Plummer has appeared in many TV series and films in supporting roles. He notably had a recurring role as Leonard Bailey in Suits and appeared in SAW II and The Day After Tomorrow. In 2014, he produced and co-wrote Teeth and Blood.

Judge Carl Robertson (Sherman Hemsley)

Carl Robertson is the former mentor of Philip Banks. He is also Banks' chief rival for the judicial seat. Although he has a quirky character, he is also known to be sexist and roguish beneath his whitish charm. Sherman Hamsley has always been a shy and quiet man who preferred to keep to himself. When he appeared in Fresh Prince, he had already retired from TV and only did a handful of guest appearances around that time. Sherman Hamsley passed away in 2012.

Trevor Collins-Newsworthy (Brian Stokes Mitchell)

Trevor is a recurring character on Fresh Prince and is the News Anchor at the TV station where Hilary works as a Weather Reporter. He is known for being a pretentious sort of guy and has extravagant plans of proposing to Hilary. Brian Stokes Mitchell is a talented baritone singer and has been one of the leading men on Broadway since the 1990s. In 2000, he won the Tony Award for "Best Actor in A Musical" for his stunning performance in Kiss Me, Kate. In 2016, he received the 2016 Tony Isabelle Stevenson Award "for his commitment to supporting members of the entertainment community in crisis or transition through his work with The Actors Fund."

Lisa Adams (Cree Summer)

Lisa Adams is one of the loveliest girls that Will dates. She is the daughter of Mr. Adams and is extremely kind-hearted, although she only appears in one episode. Cree Summer has a lot of credits under her belt after time on Fresh Prince, but most of these are voice-overs in animated features. She has appeared in Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys, SpongeBob SquarePants and a handful of animated DC movies. In 2013, she was featured in a documentary about voice acting called "I Know That Voice."

Frederick Vickers (Craig Kirkwood)

Frederick is the son of Penelope and Geoffrey Butler. He shows up to Bel-Air to reconnect with his father. At first, Butler does not believe him but eventually realizes that his son is telling the truth and the pair reunite. Not too long after his appearance in Fresh Prince, Craig Kirkwood hang up his actor's hat to become a lawyer. His last role before dedicating himself to the practice of law was in the TV series Courting Alex in 2006.

Janice Robertson (Pam Grier)

Janice appears in season 4 as the former love interest of Philip Banks. She is manipulative and egotistical with a special power for seducing men. Pam Grier has had a long career in acting and has dated many high-profile celebrities, including basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In 1997, Grier starred as Jackie Brown in the eponymous movie from Tarantino. She received multiple nominations for her performance and has continued to take on roles in a mix of movies and TV shows since.

Helena (Galyn Görg)

Helena is a female boxer who takes a disliking to Will when he tries to hit on her. He claims that women are weak and she teaches him a lesson by knocking him unconscious. When she tries to apologize, Will insults her again but they end up going on a date. Galyn Görg is an exceptional dancer. She has performed all over the world and has lectured at schools across the continents too. Galyn is also involved in philanthropy and has dedicated her time to many noble organizations including UNICEF, Heal the Bay, Humanity Unites Brilliance, the Pachamama Alliance, The Herb Alpert Foundation, Yoga for Youth, The International House of Blues Foundation and the World Festival of Sacred Music.

Edward Fellows III (Jonathan Emerson)

Professor Fellows is a professor of English Literature at Bel-Air Academy. He wants to broaden his world view but ends up thoughtlessly appropriating black culture, treating Will as a token "diversity" student for his own image. It's very important to him that Will thinks he is cool. Last year, Jonathan made an appearance in the TV series Here and Now. He is still active as an actor in both film and TV but the majority of his credits were prior to Fresh Prince.

Tyriq Johnson (Perry Moore)

Tyriq is one of Will's closest friends in Bel-Air and he makes regular appearances in season 2. He has an obsesses ion with frozen pizza and his father is named "Winky", which happens to be the same name as his teddy bear. Perry Moore had a regular role in Days of Our Lives in the early 2000s. Perry hasn't had any acting credits since but we do have a fun bit of trivia about the actor. When he was waiting for gigs, he would go to the library and teach himself how to play chess, a game he had always wanted to learn.

Paula Hoover (Ebony Solomon)

Paula Hoover appears in Season 2 and is the bully of Ashley Banks. Carlton and Will pay her cash to leave Ashley alone but this ultimately backfires. In the end, Ashley and Paula resolve things themselves although Will cannot help but interfere. These days, seems to be keeping on the DL and we're not entirely sure what she is up to. She has made a handful of TV appearances since Fresh Prince but it seems that she pursuing other things these days as her credits have been quiet since 2005.

Jo Ann Morgan (Natalie Venetia Belcon)

Jo Ann is a guest character who meets Carlton on campus and ends up going on a date with him. She is the lucky lady who ends up taking Carlton's virginity. Unfortunately, she later admitted that she was in fact married and was just using Carlton. Natalie Venetia Belcon is better known for her roles on Broadway. Her last television performances was in 2007's Damages and in 2012, she appeared in the Broadway adaptation of Matilda. Belcon is also a talented singer, although we have not heard much from her the past couple of years.

Henry Furth (John Petlock)

Henry is a founder of the law firm where Philip worked as an attorney. He is a kind, friendly man who treats everyone equally. He eventually offers Philip Banks a partnership at the law firm. Fresh Prince is one of the last of John Petlock's acting credits. His final TV role was in 1998 on the criminal drama series The Practice. We are not really sure what he is up to now but after two decades off-screen, we are not anticipating his comeback any time soon.

How did Will Smith become the fresh prince?

Before he became one of the biggest sitcom stars of the ’90s Smith was just one-half of a rap duo that had an album that flopped. He was left broke, humiliated, and in trouble with the IRS. Smith didn’t even consider getting into acting. His girlfriend, however, wasn’t having it and convinced him to go, just stand, at The Arsenio Hall Show. So he did. There, behind the scenes, Smith met producer Benny Medina. Medina – the real fresh prince of Beverly Hills - pitched Smith with the idea for the show but, as Smith wasn’t an actor, he said he wasn’t interested.

Medina was stubborn and convinced Smith to meet with Quincy Jones – the producer of the show. Very quickly, Smith found himself at a party at his house. Jones, possibly drunk, talked him into agreeing to audition – right then and there – in front of a room full of celebrities, politicians and the head of NBC, Brandon Tartikoff.

Jones had lawyers signing up contracts immediately, and a few months later, Smith was shooting the pilot.

Will a Reunion Ever Happen?

Unfortunately, it looks like a reunion show really isn't on the cards for any of the actors. As we have seen today, many have since gone onto have their own successful careers and there really is no need for them to delve back into the past. Karyn Parsons also revealed earlier this year that there is one big reason why a reunion cannot happen. "For us, the loss of James Avery changed the whole picture," she told Metro. "I don’t think it would have happened anyway but with James gone, it is not possible." So if you love the show, keep rewatching the classic series on Netflix. But don't hold your breath for a reprisal.

Will Smith, Still a Box-Office Force

Will Smith remains the biggest name to come out of the show and his profile has only grown. His film work keeps him in the spotlight and his fortune has climbed well past the figure we quoted earlier. He still takes on big studio pictures and high-profile projects, and he is as busy as ever in entertainment and business. The Fresh Prince launchpad clearly paid off.

Janet Hubert Is Back in the Franchise Fold

Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Vivian, has quietly come full circle with the franchise. She is set to appear in the fourth and final season of the Bel-Air reboot in a new, important role that reconnects her to the Banks legacy. That feels like a meaningful coda to her original run and the messy split years ago. Fans who remember her first time around will likely welcome her return.

Daphne Maxwell Reid: Photography and Cameos

Daphne Maxwell Reid has kept one foot in show business and the other in her creative work behind the lens. She still sells travel photography, has multiple published books to her name, and periodically turns up in projects linked to the Fresh Prince legacy. Her creative life now spans acting, books and visual art, and she seems to be enjoying the mix.

Alfonso Ribeiro: From Carlton to TV Host

Alfonso Ribeiro leaned into hosting and TV work rather than trying to escape Carlton entirely. He embraced the Carlton dance and the nostalgia that comes with it while building a steady career as a television host. That shift kept him visible and allowed him to shape his own path away from typecasting. He still talks fondly about the show even as he moves forward.

Karyn Parsons, Sweet Blackberry and Books

Karyn Parsons quietly turned her post-Fresh Prince energy toward education and storytelling for kids. Her Sweet Blackberry project produces short films and books that highlight under-told stories of African American achievement, and she has also published fiction and picture books. She may not be on screen much, but she is still shaping culture in a different, meaningful way. That work keeps the Banks family spirit alive in a new form.