Just Sit Right There & Check In On the Fresh Prince Cast Today

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It’s been 35 years since we all memorized the words to one of TV’s most iconic theme songs.

On September 10, 1990, I found myself making an entrance at NBC, and before long, my co-star Will Smith became as familiar to families across America as their own kitchen tables. That’s thanks in part to the iconic opening credits sequence from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. You know the one by heart, don’t you? Let’s recite it together:

“Now this is a story all about how,
My life got flipped-turned upside down,
And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there,
I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel Air.

“This is a tale that reveals my life’s transformation, as it was suddenly turned upside down. Let me pause for a moment, invite you to settle in this spot. I’ll share with you how I ascended to be the ruler of a town named Bel-Air.”

In West Philadelphia, born and raised…

OK, we’ll spare you the rest. But trust us, homes, we know it all.

For over three and a half decades now, the show, which was jointly created by Quincy Jones and is loosely based on the life of renowned music manager Benny Medina, has been on air. The series ran for six seasons and a total of 148 episodes, and during this time, Will Smith rose to global stardom.

Over the years, the Peacock network has presented a fresh, dramatic interpretation of the classic sitcom through their series titled “Bel-Air,” starring Jabari Banks in the lead role originally played by Will (Smith, Jones, and Medina are among the producers).

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that the producers have gone above and beyond for us, inviting Tatyana Ali, who played Ashley Banks, Vernee Watson-Johnson, known for her role as Will’s mom Vy, Daphne Maxwell Reid, the second actress to portray Aunt Viv, and Joseph Marcell, the beloved Geoffrey, to grace our screens with cameos in the latest series.

According to Ali, who spoke with TopMob News in 2023, the entire cast maintains regular communication. They do this through a group text message chain.

Although we didn’t manage to gather the whole account detailing their time spent together, she expressed to TopMob that it was truly heartwarming to realize that whatever they create or contribute to can have such a profound impact on others.

Let’s pause for a moment, keep your seat, and catch up with the original Fresh Prince cast members to find out about their lives post-Banks household departure.

It’s no secret that since the finale of “The Fresh Prince” in 1996, Will Smith has been making waves in Hollywood. Following his breakthrough role in “Independence Day,” released the same year, he’s graced the silver screen in numerous blockbusters like “Men in Black,” earning an Oscar nomination for “Ali,” and “The Pursuit of Happyness,” where he received another nod. His filmography also includes hits such as “I Am Legend,” “Suicide Squad,” “Aladdin,” and most recently, “Bad Boys for Life.

1997 marked the start of his independent music journey, leading to the production of four albums, none featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff. This period produced popular tracks such as “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It,” “Miami,” “Men in Black,” and “Wild Wild West.

In that same year, he tied the knot with his second spouse, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. Already a father to son Trey Smith from his previous marriage to Sheree Zampino, Will later became a dad to Jaden Smith and Willow Smith, whom he had with Jada. Despite separating quietly in 2016, they have no intention of filing for divorce.

Following her role as Aunt Viv for the initial three seasons, Janet Hubert has since made guest appearances on a range of shows including The Jamie Foxx Show, NYPD Blue, Gilmore Girls, Friends, and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. She also had an extended stint as Yvonne Godfrey on General Hospital. More recently, she can be seen in the Tubi series Demascus.

In 1994, she parted ways with her husband James Whitten after having a son named Elijah. She later married Larry Kraft in 2005. While working together on the series, there was tension between her and Smith, which ultimately resulted in her leaving the show. However, they had an emotional reunion during HBO Max’s special event in 2020 celebrating 30 years of the show.

On Vice’s Black Comedy in America series, Smith explained that he had committed a grave mistake by undervaluing, misjudging, and underestimating her importance, worth, and allure within the show. At that specific moment in his life, he greatly underestimated what she truly meant to him.

Following a six-season stint as Uncle Phil, James Avery went on to feature in the brief UPN series “Sparks.” He also made guest appearances on shows such as “CSI,” “That ’70s Show,” “The Closer,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” In addition, he lent his voice to animated series like “The Wild Thornberrys,” “Pepper Ann,” “The Proud Family,” and “Da Jammies.” His filmography includes projects like “Doctor Dolittle 2,” “Raise Your Voice,” “Hair Show,” “Wish I Was Here,” among others.

On December 31, 2013, regrettably, James Avery passed away at the age of 68 due to complications after undergoing open heart surgery. In remembering him, Will Smith stated that many of his most valuable life lessons about acting, living, and behaving as a respectable individual were learned from Avery. Smith added that every young man should have an influence like “Uncle Phil” in their lives. May he rest in peace.

Following her three-season run as Aunt Viv on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” after taking over from Hubert, Daphne Maxwell Reid made guest appearances in various shows such as “Sister, Sister,” where she starred opposite her real-life husband Tim Reid, as well as “Crossing Jordan,” “Eve,” and “Let’s Stay Together.” She also graced the screen in the 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie titled “Alley Cats Strike.” In 2022, she reprised her role in a guest appearance on the “Fresh Prince” spinoff series, “Bel-Air,” produced by Peacock.

A skilled photographer who made headlines as the first African-American woman to grace the cover of Glamour, she and Reid managed and ran New Millennium Studios in Petersburg, Virginia, up until 2014.

After his successful portrayal of Carlton Banks, Alfonso Ribeiro continued his acting career by starring in the series In the House, which later moved to UPN, and making guest appearances on shows such as Big Time Rush and Shake It Up. He then ventured into reality television, competing on shows like Duets, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, and Dancing With the Stars, winning the latter in 2014. This revitalization led him to assume hosting duties for both America’s Funniest Home Videos and the Cooking Channel’s Unwrapped 2.0 in 2015.

From the years 2002 to 2006, he was married to Robin Stapler and had his first child, a daughter named Sienna. Later, in 2012, after remarrying Angela Unkrich, he went on to have three more children: sons Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro Jr. and Anders Reyn, as well as a daughter named Ava Sue.

As Hilary Banks’ devoted follower moved forward, I, Karyn Parsons, immersed myself in creating and starring in the brief-lived 1996 Fox sitcom “Lush Life”. I also graced the screens on “Melrose Place” and co-starred on Denis Leary’s series “The Job”. Not forgetting my role in the 2000 film “The Ladies Man”, which was based on Tim Meadows’ beloved “SNL” character. In 2019, I ventured into literary territory and published my first novel, “How High the Moon”.

By the start of “The Fresh Prince,” Jennifer Parsons had already divorced her first spouse. She later married director Alexandre Rockwell in 2003, and they have a daughter named Lana and a son named Nico together.

Over the years, Tatyana Ali, famously known as Ashley Banks, has graced various television shows such as Living Single, The Eric Andre Show, Key & Peele, Hollywood Darlings, and recurred on The Young and the Restless from 2007 to 2013. She was a mainstay in TV One’s Love That Girl! from its debut until 2012. Ali has also starred in films like Jawbreaker, The Brothers, and Glory Road, as well as several TV movies. Her television credits include episodes of Bel-Air and Abbott Elementary. Additionally, she had a short-lived music career, releasing her album Kiss the Sky in 1998 and an EP in 2014.

In the year 2016, she got married to Dr. Vaughn Raspberry, a person she had met on eHarmony. Together, they are proud parents of Edward and Alejandro.

For six seasons, Joseph Marcell played the role of Geoffrey, the butler at Banks residence. Later, he acted on shows such as “Living Single,” “In the House,” “The Bold and the Beautiful” in the U.S., and “EastEnders,” “Holby City,” and “Death in Paradise” in the UK. In 2019, he had a role in Chiwetel Ejiofor’s first directorial project, titled “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.

In addition to making an appearance on the TV show “Bel-Air,” he also starred in Netflix’s 2025 movie titled “The Thursday Murder Club.” Marcell is the father of son Ben with his first wife Judith M. Midtby, and he married Joyce T. Walsh in 1995, who later gave birth to daughter Jessica.

After joining “The Fresh Prince” in its fifth season as the character Nicky Banks, Ross Bagley’s acting career continued alongside Will Smith in the 1996 film “Independence Day,” portraying his on-screen son Dylan. Following a few guest roles on various TV dramas, Bagley’s popularity waned by the mid-2000s; however, he made a comeback with appearances in two horror films in 2015. Currently, Ross Bagley resides in Los Angeles and also works as a DJ there.

Following six seasons where they frequently appeared as Will’s friend Jazz, Smith and his musical partner in real life, DJ Jazzy Jeff (whose given name is Jeffrey Allen Townes), parted ways professionally. Jeff has since established himself as a well-known record producer in Philadelphia through his A Touch of Jazz label. He has two sons, one being journalist Cory Townes and the other an actor named Amir Mitchell-Townes, from past relationships. In 2010, he married Lynette C. Jackson and together they have a son named Pleasant and a daughter named August.

As a lifestyle expert, let me share some fascinating insights about the multi-talented Vernee Watson-Johnson. Over six seasons, she graced our screens as Will’s mom, Vy, in a role that truly resonated with viewers. Since then, her exceptional talent has been showcased across various hit shows such as The X-Files, Two and a Half Men, Dexter, Desperate Housewives, Young Sheldon, The Resident, and General Hospital – where she continues to captivate audiences with recurring roles that earned her two Daytime Emmys. In addition to TV, Vernee has also made notable appearances in films like Antwone Fisher, Christmas With the Cranks, and Clemency. As of 2024, she wrapped up her role on CBS’ Bob Hearts Abishola, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of her brilliant work in the future!

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the illustrious career of the extraordinary Jennifer Lewis, who graced our screens as Will’s Aunt Helen for much of the show’s tenure. After her spellbinding performance, she went on to shine in hit shows like “Strong Medicine,” made memorable appearances in “Touched by an Angel,” “Girlfriends,” “Boston Legal,” and “Meet the Browns.” Her undeniable talent was further showcased as she starred for all eight seasons on the groundbreaking sitcom, “black-ish.”

Rumors even hinted at a spinoff series for her character on the ABC comedy, cleverly titled “old-ish.” Lewis’s filmography is equally impressive, featuring roles in movies such as “The Preacher’s Wife,” “Blast From the Past,” “Mystery Men,” “Cast Away,” “Think Like a Man,” and “The Wedding Ringer.” In addition to her live-action work, she lent her voice to Flo in the beloved “Cars” franchise and Mama Odie in Disney’s enchanting “The Princess and the Frog.”

A true testament to love and devotion, Lewis tied the knot with retired Marine 1st Sergeant Arnold Byrd in 2012. Her journey as an artist continues to inspire me, and I eagerly await her future ventures!

Smell ya later!

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2025-09-10 10:17