Alfonso Ribeiro talks close bond with co-star Will Smith: ‘lot of love’

Alfonso Ribeiro spoke about his strong bond with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star Will Smith as the hit TV series marks its 35th anniversary.

The comedy sitcom, which aired for six seasons from 1990 to 1996, stared Smith as a fictionalised version of himself, a street smart teen from Philadelphia sent to live with his rich relatives in Bel Air, Los Angeles.

Ribeiro starred as Carlton Banks, Will's preppy and politically conservative cousin.

During a conversation with the People magazine at the red carpet of Disney Upfront 2025 event in New York City, the Silver Spoons actor said that he and Smith "talk every once in a while."

"I talk to everyone when I can," he said of the cast of the ’90s show. "We're all obviously doing many different things, but there's a lot of love and 35 years is pretty special."

Previously, Smith revealed on an episode of VICE's Black Comedy in America that his bond with Ribeiro was one of the "creative relationships" that "totally transformed [his] life."

He said that Ribeiro was one of those people, who are "able to understand you, then craft things for you to create and shine and explode."

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air catapulted Will Smith to global stardom and introduced audiences successful Black family in a positive light. Decades later, it is still seen as a classic with big cultural impact.