Alfonso Ribeiro first gained fame playing Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but he's by no means vanished from Hollywood since. While every actor probably entertains thoughts of becoming an A-list superstar, the fact is most people won't reach those heights. However, in an industry as hard to navigate as show business, even just making a long-term career out of being in front of the camera is in many ways its own triumph.
There's no denying that Ribeiro has done that, and almost entirely thanks to his work on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. That's not to say it's the only time he's performed well, but Carlton was one of those rare characters that becomes so well-known in pop culture that it's almost impossible for an actor to escape. Such a character is a double-edged sword, as the good will surrounding them can help an actor land further work, but can also lead to type-casting in roles of that ilk.
Perhaps that's why Ribeiro's Hollywood career since Fresh Prince has been almost as much about turning his name and personality into a brand as it has been landing actual acting roles. Ribeiro is now a full-fledged "TV personality," appearing on reality shows, and working as a host, all while continuing to act.
What Alfonso Ribeiro Has Done Since Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Immediately following the end of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1996, Alfonso Ribeiro spent some time voice acting. Ribeiro voiced Randy Robertson on two episodes of Spider-Man: The Animated Series, and Roland Jackson on Extreme Ghostbusters, one of the new team of young Ghostbusters recruited by Egon Spengler. Ribeiro also joined the cast of the sitcom In the House, which starred LL Cool J as Marion Hill, a cash-strapped former pro football player who rents out his spare rooms to a family. Ribeiro played Dr. Maxwell Stanton starting in season 3, who helps Marion runs the sports clinic he owns. Interestingly, Ribeiro had previously appeared as Carlton Banks in a brief crossover during season 2.
In more recent years, Ribeiro has shifted away from acting, although he's played guest roles on Nickelodeon's The Brothers Garcia and Big Time Rush, TBS' Are We There Yet?, and Disney Channel's Shake It Up. Instead, the former Carlton has been doing all kinds of other gigs. Since 2015, Ribeiro has hosted ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos, and also hosted the game show Catch 21 from 2008 to 2016. He currently hosts The New Catch 21, a revival that premiered in 2019. Riberio also earned acclaim for his performance on Dancing with the Stars, actually winning season 19 alongside dance partner Witney Carson. As if all that wasn't enough, Ribeiro has directed dozens of TV episodes, including for most of the shows he's appeared on. Truly, Ribeiro is a sitcom success story.