Thursday, March 24, 2011

'”FRESH PRINCE OF BELAIR” – WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?

 

The-Fresh-Prince-Of-Bel-Air-Reunion The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. The show starred Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in wealthy Bel Air in their mansion, where his lifestyle often clashes with that of his relatives. 148 episodes were produced over six seasons

Carlton Banks
The ultimate preppy student, Carlton was brainy, arrogant and very conservative. Obsessed by his future, Carlton couldn't stop talking about which university he was going to attend. He and Will often clashed, but ultimately came to feel like brothers. Annoying to everyone, Carlton was often slapped across the head in episodes.

ALFONSO 01Now: Alfonso Ribeiro has had an OK career as an actor, presenter and director over the years. Most notably he appeared in the video to Will Smith's Wild Wild West record and he won Celebrity Duets, a US reality show that teamed celebs with professional singers. Alfonso is also a keen racer and has taken part in Gumball 3000.

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Philip Banks
Uncle Phil was a lawyer and judge who became the father Will never had. Stern but fair Phil was famously mean with his money, paying butler Geoffrey a pittance. He was rather fond of food and Will constantly poked fun at his portly figure. In a weird twist, Phil was a master pool player with his own cue, known as Lucille.

JAMES 001Now: Standing six feet five inches tall, James Avery is an imposing actor. He's appeared in That 70s Show, That's So Raven and CSI as well as voicing numerous cartoons and films, including Teenage Nutant Ninja Turtles. He's due to voice the character Silverbolt in next year's Transformers 3 movie.

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Vivan Banks (number 2)
Aunt Viv started life as a powerful doctor and career woman, but after a change of actress in season 4 she became more of a homemaker and all-American mom. She supported her children no matter what they did, much to the annoyance of Uncle Phil, who was more of a disciplinarian.

DAPHNE 001Now: Fresh Prince remains Daphne Maxwell Reid's most celebrated role. She's had bit parts in US shows including Sister Sister and Eve but nothing particularly exciting. Interestingly, in her youth, Daphne had a successful modelling career and was the first black woman to grace the cover of US Glamour magazine.

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Hilary Banks
Hilary was very spoiled and very stupid. She may have looked pretty but there was very little going on in that head of hers, although she did have the power to manipulate Geoffrey. She ended up with her own daytime talk show, cunningly entitled 'Hilary'.

KARYN 001Now: After Fresh Prince, Karyn Parsons went on to create and star in US sitcom Lush Life. Alas for Karyn, the show was cancelled after the first season, with some episodes left unaired. Rumoured to be starring in next year's Transformers 3, Karyn's current project is an animated series about unsung black heroes.

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Ashley Banks
A real mommy's girl Ashley adored her cousin Will and spent a lot of her time following him around like a puppy. A rebellious teen, Ashley dropped out of her posh school to go to the local school, made a pop record and was desperate to become a model.

TATYANA 001Now: Tatyana M Ali released an album at the end of her time in Fresh Prince that produced three hits in the UK. About to release her second album, Tatyana also featured on Will.i.am's song Yes We Can which supported Barak Obama's presidential campaign. The talented lass also has a degree from Harvard University

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Nicky Banks
Nicky was born in season 5 of the show and matured rather quickly - jumping from newborn to schoolkid a bit too swiftly. Still, he became a central character in the show's final seasons. Nicky's full name was Nicholas Andrew Michael Shawn Nathan Wanya Banks - he was named after the members of Boys II Men.

ROSS 001Now: Ross Bagley has spent most of his time since Fresh Prince actually growing up... he's had the odd TV role in Judging Amy and The Wild Thornberrys, and also appeared alongside Will Smith in the movie Independence Day. However, like all sensible young 'uns he's currently attending university.

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Geoffrey the butler
Butler Geoffrey was very polite and very British with a wicked and sarcastic sense of humour. He looked after the Banks family but wasn't afraid to point out their worst points or stick up for himself - famously leaving when Phil gave him a measly bonus.

JOSEPH 001Now: British actor Joseph Marcell has appeared in a range of UK and US TV shows since Fresh Prince, including EastEnders, Brothers & Sisters, Holby City and A Touch Of Frost. He's also on the board of the famous Globe Shakespearean theatre in London.

JOSEPH 002

Jazz
Will's best mate, Jazz had a huge crush on Hilary but she rebuffed his advances. A truly daft lad Jazz was always being thrown out of the house by Phil - although even Will ended up chucking his mate out for being such a fool. Famously, Jazz gave Phil his grandmother's dentures for his 50th birthday. It didn't go down well.

JAZ 001Now: DJ Jazzy Jeff (or Jeffrey Arnold Townes as his mother knows him) had a very successful musical career alongside Will Smith as Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. When the partnership ended, Jazzy Jeff continued in the music biz and became an extremely successful producer and a well respected figure in the world of hip-hop.

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Lisa Wilkes
Lisa arrived in season 5 where she famously tamed Will and got him to forsake his ladykiller ways. The two tried to get married twice, despite the fact Will didn't even know her real first name (Beulah, fact fans). Lisa's dad eventually married Will's mum, making the whole thing even more complicated.

NIA 001

Now: Nia Long's been in popular US cop show Third Watch as well as co-starring in movies like Big Momma's House, The Best Man and Alfie. Once voted one of the most beautiful woman in the world by People magazine she also co-directed one of Ashanti's music videos.

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Will Smith
Will was sent to live with his posh aunt and uncle after getting into trouble in his home town of Philadelphia. The show centred on Will adapting to his new lifestyle (and his very conservative cousins). Cheeky, funny and a real ladies' man, Will also had a brain and was offered a place at Princeton university.

WILL 001 Now: Will Smith has definitely had the most success since leaving Fresh Prince. Now one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, Smith's starred in some class movies like Ali, I Am Legend and Enemy Of The State, as well as some duds (Wild Wild West anyone?) The multi-talented Will has been voted one of the most powerful men in the world. And you can't get much better than that, can you?

WILL SMITH 01

AND for fans of the original Vivan Banks:
Janet Hubert-Whitten left her role as 'Auntie Viv' in 1993, after the show's first three seasons (the Banks kids got a new mom, Daphne Maxwell). Hubert pops up in TV guest roles from time to time - you may have seen her on 'Gilmore Girls,' "Friends' or 'One Life to Live.'

JANET 001

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