Alfonso Ribeiro
Alfonso Ribeiro is an American actor and television personality. He played Alfonso Spears on the sitcom Silver Spoons, Carlton Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with Will Smith, and Maxwell Stanton on In the House.
His break-out moment arrived in 1990 when he was cast as Carlton Banks in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, a groundbreaking television show led by rap sensation and actor, Will Smith. The synergistic relationship between Smith and Ribeiro, over the six-season run till 1996, crafted one of television’s most beloved duos, demonstrating a winning blend of comedic timing and touching camaraderie. A few years later, in 1997, Ribeiro found himself working alongside another future star, Jessica Biel, in the sitcom “In The House”, where their vibrant dynamic added an extra layer of entertainment to the show.
Ribeiro’s adaptability saw him smoothly transition into reality TV. In 2014, he emerged victorious on “Dancing with the Stars”, his jive and samba captivating audiences and the renowned professional dancer, Witney Carson. Their tandem left an indelible mark in the show’s history, thanks to their impeccably synchronized routines that earned top marks consistently. In the same vein, Ribeiro’s knack for presenting was further solidified when he took over the helm as host for “America’s Funniest Home Videos” in 2015. In this role, he worked closely with Vin Di Bona and Todd Thicke, maintaining the show’s popularity through his effervescent personality and unique brand of humor.
He is the current host of ABC’s America’s Funniest Home Videos, replacing Tom Bergeron, who left after 15 years. Ribeiro has hosted the GSN game show Catch 21, the ABC Family show Spell-Mageddon, and the television show Dance 360. He also starred in the title role of the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid and took part in the 13th season of the British reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! .
A testament to Alfonso Ribeiro’s remarkable talent is the number of recognitions he has received in the industry. His captivating dance routines with Witney Carson in 2014 led him to clinch the coveted Mirrorball Trophy on the 19th season of “Dancing with the Stars”. Ribeiro’s footwork was reminiscent of his iconic “Carlton Dance” from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, a performance that has since achieved pop culture immortality. His hosting skills, on the other hand, were given due credit in 2018, when he won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment News Program for his work on “America’s Funniest Home Videos”. Ribeiro’s contributions to the entertainment world were further solidified in 2019 when he became the first Afro-Latino host to receive the Reality Host of the Year at the Critics’ Choice Real TV Awards.