Where are they now: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

now this is the story all about how this show got flipped, turned upside down and i’d like to take a minute just sit right there and i’ll tell you what became of the stars of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air

haha.

Will Smith ("Will Smith")

Post-Fresh Prince, the Fresh Prince’s career exploded. Over the next four years, Smith appeared in Independence Day, Men In Black, Enemy of the State.

Since 2000, Will Smith has appeared in several more successful films, such as the sequel to Men In Black, Bad Boys II, I, Robot, Hitch, The Pursuit of Happyness, and even lending his voice to the enjoyable animated film, Shark Tale. He also starred in I am Legend and Hancock.

As a rapper, Smith has released five albums since 1997, including Willenium, which sold over 2 million copies in the U.S., and Big Willie Style,
which sold over 9 million and claimed the No. 8 spot on the U.S.
charts. To date, his total album sales exceed 16 million. Not bad for a
jug-eared kid from West Philly.

You can see Will Smith in the upcoming film, Seven Pounds.

Will Smith could possibly be considered  one of the most successful sitcom-to-movie stars of all time.

Alfonso Ribeiro ("Carlton Banks")

After Fresh Prince, it appeared he may only be meant for voice acting, as he lent his voice to the animated shows Spider-Man and Extreme Ghostbusters. He then landed a role on the LL Cool J sitcom, In the House.
The role lasted for four years, and he appeared in 51 episodes. It’s
rare to see a sitcom star land another successful sitcom role.

In the House ended in 1999, and since then, Ribeiro has appeared in the Amanda Bynes film, Lovewrecked, and had a few one-episode roles on various TV shows. He also hosted the talent show, Your Big Break in 1999. He then managed to land a role on reality shows Celebrity Duets in 2006, and the incredibly popular Dancing with the Stars in 2007, which  put him back in the spotlight.

James Avery ("Uncle Phil")

James Avery voiced “Shredder” on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
cartoon…and lent his voice to other shows such as Gargoyles, Duckman, Spider-Man, Extreme Ghostbusters, The Wild Thornburry’s, The Prince of Egypt, among others.

He has also appeared on many TV shows including Murder
One, In the House, C.S.I., Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, The
Jamie Foxx Show, Strong Medicine, Dharma & Greg, Judging Amy, That
70’s Show, Crossing Jordan, Reba, Charmed, NYPD Blue, My Wife &
Kids, The Closer and many, many more.

Karyn Parsons (”Hilary Banks”)

In 1995, just before Fresh Prince finished, Parsons had a significant role in the film Major Payne. Besides a two-episode role on Melrose Place in 1999, and a bit part on the 2000 film Ladies Man.

But Karyn Parsons now plays a much different role: working mother.
Following the show, Parsons co-produced and starred in the short-lived
sitcom "Lush Life" and starred in the independent film "Finding Nia."
But after daughter Lana’s birth in 2004, Parsons, who also has a son,
Nico, 1, with husband Alexandre Rockwell, started the production
company Sweet Blackberry, which produces black history DVDs for
children. The former actress recently posed with her two kids for the
May issue of Ebony magazine in which she talks about her biracial
heritage. Referencing the current racial environment, Parsons told the
magazine, "When I saw Barack’s speech on race, I cried and I felt like
there’s the speech I’ve been wanting to write."

Tatyana Ali (”Ashley Banks”)

Once the show ended, Will Smith encouraged Ali to pursue a singing carrer. in 1998, she released her album "Kiss the Sky" and her one-hit-one status became official when her ONE hit single, "Daydreamin’" peaked at #6 on the Billboard Top 100 Singles chart.

Tatyana spent 4 years at Harvard and graduated in 2002. She appeared in several movies: National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze and Nora’s Hair Salon and Glory Road.

She’s now working on an independent album, "The Light," which is
previewed on her MySpace page. In addition to singing in Will I. Am’s
"Yes, We Can" video, Ali has has lent her support to Barack
Obama’s campaign.

Joseph Marcell (”Geoffrey Butler”)

oh, how i loved Geoffrey.

After Fresh Prince ended, Marcell has appeared in a few TV shows, such as Living Single,  Brothers & Sisters, Jericho and like many other Fresh Prince characters, he also appeared in In the House.

In 2003, he landed a role in The Bold & The Beautiful, where he appeared in 12 episodes over two seasons. In 2006, he had a role on the UK hit EastEnders, where he appeared in 7 episodes. Currently, he’s not doing the acting thing, but instead is serving on the board of the Globe Theater in London, where he lives with his wife, Joyce, and his two children.