Alfonso Ribeiro

Alfonso Ribeiro
Name	Alfonso Ribeiro
Caption	Ribeiro in 2014
Birth date	21 September 1971
Birth place	New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, television host, dancer
Years active	1980–present
Spouse	Robin Stapler (m. 2002; div. 2006), Angela Unkrich (m. 2012)

Alfonso Ribeiro is an American actor, television host, and dancer widely recognized for his role as Carlton Banks on the iconic sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His career spans over four decades, beginning as a child actor on Broadway and in television commercials before achieving mainstream fame. Beyond acting, he has hosted popular television shows like America's Funniest Home Videos and won the nineteenth season of Dancing with the Stars. Ribeiro is also known for his signature dance, The Carlton.

Early life and education

Alfonso Ribeiro was born in the Bronx borough of New York City to parents of Afro-Trinidadian descent. He began his career as a child performer, landing a role in a Pepsi commercial with singer Michael Jackson and appearing in the Broadway production of The Tap Dance Kid. His early television work included a starring role on the PBS children's series The Electric Company. Ribeiro later moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time, balancing his education with his burgeoning career in the entertainment industry.

Career

Ribeiro's breakthrough came in 1990 when he was cast as the preppy and lovable Carlton Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring alongside Will Smith. The role made him a household name, particularly for his performance of a distinctive dance that later became a pop culture phenomenon. Following the show's conclusion, he starred in and produced the UPN sitcom In the House and hosted the MTV game show MTV's Top Pop Group. He later transitioned into hosting, taking over as the presenter of America's Funniest Home Videos in 2015. Ribeiro showcased his dancing prowess by winning the mirrorball trophy on the nineteenth season of Dancing with the Stars with professional partner Witney Carson. He has also directed episodes of television series, including Meet the Browns and Are We There Yet?.

Personal life

Ribeiro married actress Robin Stapler in 2002; the couple had one daughter before divorcing in 2006. He married his second wife, Angela Unkrich, in 2012, and they have three children together. The family resides in Los Angeles. An avid golfer, Ribeiro has participated in numerous celebrity golf tournaments and has served as a host for Golf Channel programming. He is also involved in various charitable endeavors, supporting organizations focused on children and health.

Filmography

Ribeiro's film work includes roles in features such as Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight and A Kiss So Deadly. He provided voice work for the animated series Spider-Man and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. His directorial credits extend to television movies and series, including work on All of Us and Eve.

Television appearances

Beyond his defining role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ribeiro has made numerous television appearances. He was a series regular on shows like Silver Spoons and In the House, and hosted reality competition series such as Catch 21 and Spell-Mageddon. He has been a frequent guest on programs like Rachael Ray, The Talk, and Entertainment Tonight. Ribeiro also competed on and won the first season of the Food Network series Food Fighters.

Awards and nominations

For his performance on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ribeiro received a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. His victory on the nineteenth season of Dancing with the Stars earned him the coveted mirrorball trophy. In 2016, he received a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice TV: Personality for his work hosting America's Funniest Home Videos.

Category:American male television actors Category:American television hosts Category:American dancers Category:1971 births Category:Living people