Alfonso Ribeiro is widely recognized for his role as Carlton Banks on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” In a recent interview with Closer Weekly, Ribeiro opened up about how this iconic role impacted his acting career.
“Playing Carlton on ‘Fresh Prince’ became a sacrifice,” Ribeiro admitted. “I used to always say doing Carlton was the greatest and worst thing that ever happened to me.”
A Blessing and a Curse
Ribeiro explained that while playing Carlton was one of the greatest roles he ever had, it also hindered his acting career. “It was the role that stopped me from acting again because people couldn’t see me as anything else. The sacrifice was not having an acting career anymore,” he shared.
Cherished Memories
Despite the challenges, Ribeiro does not resent the series. He fondly recalled some of his favorite memories from filming. “It was about the cast and spending time with them. Before every show, we would go into Will Smith’s dressing room, play music, and dance to build up energy for the show. Those are some wonderful memories of just being together,” he said.
A Shift in Career
Although Ribeiro has not taken on any major acting roles recently, he finds fulfillment in his current role as a host. “I’m enjoying being a host and am very happy with it,” he said.
However, he did not rule out a return to acting if the right opportunity came along. “But, yes, I would go back to acting if it was exactly the right thing,” he added.
Current Endeavors
At 52 years old, Ribeiro is thriving as a co-host on “Dancing with the Stars” alongside Julianne Hough. He previously won season 19 of the show in 2014. Additionally, he hosts “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Jack Hanna’s Passport,” both on ABC.
Reflecting on his career highlights, Ribeiro said, “My happiest moments, career-wise, are winning ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and now becoming host of ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ And after winning ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ I got the opportunity to do the show that I always wanted to do – ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos.’”
Early Career and Inspirations
Ribeiro’s career began at a young age. He landed the lead role in Broadway’s “The Tap Dance Kid” at age 8, which led to an appearance in a 1984 Pepsi commercial with Michael Jackson. He also played Rick Schroder’s best friend on “Silver Spoons” that same year. Working with Jackson was a memorable experience for Ribeiro. “It was amazing. I was a huge fan and ended up becoming friends with him. It was quite special,” he recalled.
Family and Future Generations
Ribeiro is a father of four, sharing one daughter with his first wife, Robin Stapler, and three children – two sons and another daughter—with his current wife, Angela Unkrich.
At least one of his children seems interested in following in his footsteps. “I think my girls will,” he said. “My oldest daughter has been in a movie. I don’t know about my boys, but I’ll be supportive of whatever they want to do.”
Ribeiro is supportive of his children’s interests and enjoys coaching them in their activities. “I’ve coached them in their baseball, and that’s been fantastic. I’m all for letting them do their thing,” he shared.
Alfonso Ribeiro’s role as Carlton Banks on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” remains a significant part of his life. While it brought both opportunities and challenges, Ribeiro continues to cherish the memories and experiences it provided.
His current success as a host, as well as his dedication to his family, highlight his resilience and versatility in the entertainment industry.
The Information is Taken from Dealine and Fox News
