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will smith with alfonso ribeiro © Getty

DWTS host Alfonso Ribeiro's relationship with Will Smith in his own words

The Dancing with the Stars host and the Hollywood actor were co-stars on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Hannah Hargrave
US Deputy Editor
September 22, 2023
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It's been more than 30 years since Alfonso Ribeiro became a household name as Will Smith's preppy cousin Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Over the sitcom's six-years on-the-air the pair formed a friendship that extended far beyond when the director yelled 'cut'. 

But as Will went on to navigate the dizzy heights of fame as a blockbuster movie star, and Alfonso - in his own admission 'struggled' to further his acting career - what happened to their friendship?

Here's what the DWTS host has said about Will and their relationship.

WATCH: Trailer for The Fresh Prince of Bel Air reboot

What happened to Alfonso Ribeiro after The Fresh Prince of Bel Air?

When the show wrapped in 1996, Alfonso had high hopes that being a star on the show would help further his career. 

However, he later confessed that playing Carlton - and becoming famous for his iconic dance - almost derailed his future in acting. 

Alfonso was so good as his portrayal of his character that he ended up getting typecast. 

Alfonso and Will Smith during their Fresh Prince days© NBC/Getty
Alfonso and Will Smith during their Fresh Prince days

"When you do a role like Carlton and people love the role and you do the job so well that they essentially tell you that you can’t do it anymore because we can’t see you as anything else," he told Pop Culture

"It is a very difficult thing to deal with. It was like, ‘Wait a minute, but I did it well. I did my job. I did what I was asked to do. I made you believe that that’s who I am.’ That’s what any actor is supposed to do."

Tatyana Ali as Ashley Banks; Will Smith as William 'Will' Smith; Alfonso Ribeiro as Carlton Banks; Karyn Parsons as Hilary Banks; James Avery as Philip Banks; Daphne Reid as Vivian Banks; Joseph Marcell as Geoffrey on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air© Getty
Alfonso said he was typecast due to his appearance as Carlton on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Did Will help Alfonso to boost his career?

After Alfonso told of his struggles to find work after The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, many criticized Will for not using his fame and fortune to help his friend and his fellow co-stars.

But Alfonso jumped to his defence during an appearance on Sway In The Morning, when he took a different perspective.

Alfonso Ribeiro, Angela Unkrich and their kids Alfonso Ribeiro, Jr., Ava Ribeiro and Anders Ribeiro attend the Holiday Road Friends & Family Preview Night 2021 at King Gillette Ranch on December 04, 2021 in Calabasas, California© Getty
Alfonso and his family are still friends with Will and Jada

"Will Smith has helped me in many ways beyond what we have seen on camera," Alfonso said. "But he has supported me in ways beyond anybody could understand." 

Alfonso said he wouldn't read Will's memoirs

Will's self-titled memoir, Will, may have landed on millions of bookshelves around the world, but one of them wasn't Alfonso's.

The book laid bare Will's life with his longtime wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and their children, including touching upon their son Jaden Smith's emancipation request.

Photo shared by Jada Pinkett-Smith on Instagram August 2023 posing by the beach with her husband Will Smith, stepson Trey Smith, and kids Jaden and Willow Smith© Instagram
Will with his family

When asked if he would read his friend's candid work, Alfonso said: "For many, many, many years, people speculated about them as a family. They are laying it out there in a way that is their truth. I don't know if I'll read the book because I know the people."

Is Alfonso Ribeiro still friends with Will Smith?

It is fair to say that their 30-year friendship is still going strong. "[I’ve known] Will… maybe 24, 25 years. Something like that. It’s been a long time," he told Access in 2018.

"We’ve spent many years working together, hanging together, playing together, you know, having families together. 

View post on Instagram
 

“Will is just a wonderful individual and we have such a great time whenever we're together."

Ahead of the show's 30th-anniversary special, Alfonso addressed fan excitement at seeing the cast back together, when he told Cinema Blend: "At the end of the day, I know everyone always likes to make whenever we get together a big moment. But I look at it very simply as we always get together. We constantly chat. We're family.

Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough © Art Streiber
Alfonso is now a celebrated host of DWTS

 "It'll be interesting and fun. I think it's going to be a great special. But for us, it was the same as how we always get together."

Will's most recent social media post is also a tribute to Alfonso as he celebrated his 52nd birthday on September 21.

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