Will Smith (Will Smith) Born in 1968, Smith was 22 years old when the series first aired in 1990, potentially 21 if his September birthday hadn't yet arrived (and likely 21 when filming began). By definition, then, he was already an adult and much older than the high school-aged teenager he was purporting to be.
How old was Will Smith on Season 1 of Fresh Prince?
Like many scripted shows, Smith was quite a few years older than the teenage character he was playing. When the first episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered in September 1990, Smith was 22 years old.
When did they start filming Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
Smith. The television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which began in 1990, was loosely based on Smith's real-life persona. It ran on NBC for six successful seasons, ending at the star's request, and during its run Smith garnered two Golden Globe Award nominations and served as an executive…
In trouble and hopeless, his then-girlfriend suggested Smith just hang around Paramount near The Arsenio Hall Show studio in hopes of meeting someone influential. Listening to his girlfriend led him to Quincy Jones' home who asked him to audition on the spot.
They briefly met in 1994 when Pinkett Smith auditioned for a role as Smith's character's girlfriend on the '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Unfortunately, the five-foot actress didn't get the part because she was too short. Instead, the role went to Nia Long.
Will Smith | Biography | Born in 1970, Fresh Prince in 1990 to Action Star & A-List Celeb in 2020
Was Jada Pinkett Smith in Fresh Prince?
1994: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett meet on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air when Jada auditions to play Smith's girlfriend. She ultimately loses the part to Nia Long because she's too short (heightism strikes again), but a connection is made.
Avery, who played the Banks' towering and strict patriarch, was born in 1945 and thus was 45 when the first season was on the air. This falls in line with how old his character, a successful judge, was supposed to be as well.
Fan reaction and letters to Will Smith and NBC persuaded them to renew the show. It ran for two more seasons and ended when Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey the Butler) said he intended to quit his role and return to the UK, prompting the rest of the cast to quit their roles and end the series.
In the pilot episode, Will's character is 17 years old and Ashley is only 9. By a few episodes into the second season, Will is still only 17 yet Ashley has aged to 13.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Will Smith's net worth is $350 million as of 2023. These earnings are thanks to an entertainment career spanning over three decades, from his work as a rapper to his many roles as an actor and producer behind the scenes.
Sheree Zampino was married to Will Smith for three years, and the two share one son, Trey Smith. Both went on to marry other people — Smith tied the knot with actress Jada Pinkett Smith in December 1997, while Zampino married former NFL player Terrell Fletcher in 2007 (although they divorced in 2014).
“These are two Black men who are the same age but from completely different walks of life, but Carlton's life experience doesn't make him any less Black than Will,” says Cooper of the cousin characters.
Ribeiro was born in New York City in the Riverdale neighborhood of The Bronx to Afro-Trinidadian parents. His paternal grandfather was Albert Ribeiro, a Trinidadian calypsonian of African and Portuguese descent, known professionally as Lord Hummingbird.
He even revealed why his character on the show was famously named after him. Smith's play cousin Alfonso Ribeiro actually suggested that the actor use his own name. “We had talked and I said, 'Look, if you're ever gonna do this show, you've gotta be Will Smith,” Ribeiro recalled.
The two were locked in that epic embrace when Avery doled out even more encouragement. “While he's hugging me, he whispers in my ear, 'That's f---ing acting right there,” recalled Smith, who also revealed the motivation behind that performance. “I wanted him to want me. I wanted him to approve of me.”
Fans of the iconic '90s sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air remember Uncle Phil (James Avery) as the head honcho, the man of the family, the big kahuna. Well, how about a little fun and super nostalgic fact for you? Will Smith is now older than Avery was when the TV series began. Mindblown.
How old was Jada Pinkett when she married Will Smith?
Jada Pinkett Smith thinks she was too young when she married Will Smith in 1997 at the age of 25. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith thinks she was too young when she married Will Smith in 1997 at the age of 25.
Who is Will Smith's best friend in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
Alfonso Ribeiro played Carlton Banks, Smith's preppy and conservative cousin. Though Carlton was Will's best friend in the show, the two often got into disagreements as Carlton was rational, but naive, while Will was carefree, but street-smart. They each learned from each other over the show's six seasons.
