Alfonso Ribeiro On The Secret Sauce Of Why He Became So Popular On Fresh Prince Of Bel Air

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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is still considered one of the greatest sitcoms ever to air on NBC, despite finishing its run nearly 30 years ago. While the show revolved around Will Smith, who played a character also named Will, many of the Fresh Prince actors gained recognition for their roles, notably Alfonso Ribeiro. His character, Carlton Banks, became a beloved favorite among viewers, and Ribeiro recently shared what he believes made the character so popular.

As a huge fan of Fresh Prince, I always loved Carlton! He had so many amazing moments over the show’s six seasons, but of course, everyone remembers his iconic Carlton dance – Alfonso Ribeiro even did it on Dancing With the Stars! But it wasn’t *just* the dancing that made him so popular. In an interview with Parade, Ribeiro explained that his time on another NBC sitcom, Silver Spoons, actually gave him the experience he needed to really shine on Fresh Prince.

I was the only person on the show with experience in sitcoms. If you tell a joke during rehearsal, even if you deliver it as well as possible, and it doesn’t get a laugh, it’s removed from the script. But if you don’t give it your best shot, and they think you didn’t, it stays in, even if it’s still not funny.

Ribeiro played Alfonso Spears in Seasons 3-5 of Silver Spoons. The show aired from 1982 to 1987 over five seasons and marked Ribeiro’s very first acting job. He was a naturally charismatic child actor, so it’s easy to see why he landed Fresh Prince shortly after the series concluded. He clearly remembered the lessons from Silver Spoons, and that experience allowed him to build on what he’d learned and successfully apply it to Fresh Prince, which proved beneficial in the long term.

I was originally listed as third or fourth in the cast, but I moved up to second place because my scenes consistently improved each week. The writers started to see I could reliably deliver a good performance – if they wrote a funny line, I’d nail it. As I kept delivering, the writers, producers, and the rest of the cast began to trust me with more.

Will Smith has spoken about his experience working with Ribeiro, highlighting Ribeiro’s dedication and great sense of humor, and even shared that he learned a lot from him. Since Fresh Prince, they’ve stayed close friends, and the pair, who have birthdays close together, often support each other’s work, which is wonderful to see.

Despite his experience with sitcoms, Alfonso Ribeiro wasn’t initially sure about auditioning for Fresh Prince. He felt his first audition didn’t go well, as he hadn’t yet adopted the style or mannerisms of Carlton. However, the producers recognized his potential and were convinced he was the right person for the role, even if it didn’t come easily to him at first. It’s difficult to picture Fresh Prince without Ribeiro playing Carlton, and thankfully, fans won’t ever have to consider that possibility.

Alfonso Ribeiro remains a popular and beloved figure today thanks to his role in Fresh Prince, and he sometimes playfully looks back on his time on the show. While he continues to be well-known as a co-host on DWTS and the host of AFV, his popularity has evolved. Should he choose to star in another sitcom, he certainly has the experience needed to succeed. Currently, fans can re-watch The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with an HBO Max subscription.

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2025-10-02 03:44