THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR
The hilarious Banks family hit our screens back in 1990, with Will as the lead character.
Let start with:
Will Smith
Fresh-faced Will Smith Bound onto our screens as Will "The Fresh Prince" Smith. His character was that of a lovable rogue, always finding himself in hilarious situations. This role became the springboard for his fantabulous career in Hollywood. Will is part of one of the most famous families in the world. A day rarely passes when you don't see news about Will, his actress wife Jada, or his celebrity offspring; Jaden, Willow and Trey.
Alfonso Ribeiro
Actor Alfonso Ribeiro played uber-rich Carlton Banks in the sitcom and was famous for his trademark 'Carlton dance'. In 2014, Alfonso won the US show Dancing with the Stars' nineteenth season, where he paired with professional dancer Witney Carson. In 2006, he was crowned the winner of American TV show Celebrity Duets, after singing with musical greats like Chaka Khan and Little Richard. Alfonso, still friends with Will, has directed several episodes of American TV sitcom Are We There Yet? in 2011-12. The actor married Angela Unkrich in October 2012 and has a son, Alfonso Jr. In April 2015 Angela gave birth to a second son Anders Reyn. Alfonso has certainly made a few A-list friends along the way. Here he is with Eve and Hulk Hogan's daughter Brooke.
Karyn Parsons
The actress Karyn Parsons portrayed the role of Carlton's sister Hilary Banks. Hilary was a ditsy, shopping-obsessed teenager who eventually had her own chat show. After starring in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the actress went on to play roles in other TV shows including Gulliver's Travels and Melrose Place. Although the actress remained good friends with her co-stars, she never took to the limelight like Will or Alfonso. Rarely seen on red carpets, the actress co-created, co-produced and co-starred in an American sitcom Lush Life in 1996. It was later cancelled. Karyn's first marriage was to Reservoir Dogs actor Randy Brooks but they divorced in the 1990s. The actress then went on to marry her current husband Alexandre Rockwell in 2003, with whom she has two children, Lana and Nico.
James Avery
James Avery played Will Smith's uncle Phillip Banks. James went on to lend his voice to the character of Shredder in the animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and for War Machine in the animated series Iron Man. He is pictured here with a furry friend at an Animal Society fundraiser in 2004. He featured in the 2011 movie Valediction, and played a minor role in TV series Grey's Anatomy. The actor passed away in 2013, at the age of 68, due to complications following heart
surgery.
Tatyana M. Ali
Tatyana M. Ali played Will's youngest cousin, Ashley Banks, Hilary and Carlton's sister. The actress was just 11 years old when she joined the cast in 1990. After The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Tatyana tried a career in music. The teenager released her debut album Kiss The Sky in 1999, which was certified gold in America. In 2002, she graduated from Harvard University. In 2013, Tatyana won Best Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the 44th NAACP Image Awards, for her role in American series The Young and the Restless. Her latest films include Dear Secret Santa, released in 2013, in which she played the lead role. She also appeared in a the American comedy series called Second Generation Wayans in 2013.
Joseph Marcell played the British butler Geoffrey. The St. Lucian-born actor was renowned for his brilliant portrayal of straight-laced Geoffrey - but returned to England after the show to pursue his classical acting dreams of performing Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre in London. The British actor appeared in a production of King Lear at the Globe Theatre in London in 2013, then toured the production in the US in 2014.Not one for the glitz and glamour of red carpets, Joseph is rarely seen at star-studded events. Here's a rare picture of the actor with his friend Michael Lewis in Los Angeles.
DJ Jazzy Jeff, real name Jeffrey Allen Townes, frequently appeared in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Jazz, Will's best friend. Best friends in real life, Will and Jazz had a number of worldwide hits as hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. Their biggest success was Summertime, released in 1991. And Jazz hasn't aged one bit. The 50-year-old musician is still working the music industry, and has released collaborations with De La Soul, Method Man and Jill Scott. Jazz married Lynette Jackson in 2010, with guests including Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, and rapper T.I. The hip hop mogul tweeted: "Iz married now... Yeah to Mr n Mrs Townes," after the ceremony.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Could there be a reunion on the cards for the extended Banks family? With news of a reboot in the works perhaps the old cast will come together again.
No comments:
Post a Comment