actor
Personal Information
Born in New York City, September 21, 1971; son of Michael and Joy Ribeiro.
Education: Attended University of California and Valley Professional School in Los Angeles.
Memberships: "Say No to Drugs;" "Hands Across America."
Career
Actor, dancer, singer. Lead role in The Tap Dance Kid on Broadway, 1983-84. Television series: Silver Spoons, 1984-87; The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, 1990-96; In The House, 1997-. Television appearances: Oye Willie; Mr. Foster's Field Trip; Mighty Pawns (PBS); Magnum, P.I. (CBS, 1984); Circus of the Stars; The Andy Williams Christmas Special; Star Cruise. Recordings: "Dance Baby;" "Time Bomb;" "Not Too Young (To Fall in Love);" "Sneak Away with Me" (Prism).
Life's Work
The hot-spotlight life of an actor began at the early age of eight for Alfonso Ribeiro when he landed a part in the PBS series, Oye Willie. With a few lulls between projects, he has been on the stage, on television, or in the recording studio continuously ever since, gaining nationwide fame playing the character of Carlton Banks on the hit sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. While other child actors have been derailed into drugs or outlandish behavior by the temptations that wealth gained too soon can bring, Ribeiro has managed to stay on-track.
Alfonso Ribeiro was born in New York City on September 21, 1971, to Michael and Joy Ribeiro. After Oye Willie, Ribeiro was selected by his junior high school to audition for The Tap Dance Kid, an upcoming Broadway musical, in response to a request from the show's casting agency. Ribeiro was tapped to play one of the leading roles--a child who aspires to be a dancer--even though he had never had any formal acting or dance training. In preparation for the role, he trained for one year with professional choreographers, and when the show opened, Ribeiro found his free time eaten away by performances and schoolwork, a schedule that quickly became a routine for the talented boy. Ribeiro remarked on his childhood in an Upscale interview, saying, "I missed out on a lot of things like going to high school football games or hanging out with other kids. It's a 'Catch 22.' I've been very fortunate in the things I've had in my life. But, at the same time, I wish I had the same types of memories as everyone else."
But with the hard work and sacrifice came success. The show went on to win a Tony Award and Ribeiro was singled out as a dancing dynamo, earning a nomination for an Outer Critics Circle Award for his passionate performance. One Newsweek reviewer wrote of Ribeiro that he "looks like a miniature Michael Jackson and dances like an urban whirlwind, not only tapping but disassembling his bone structure in that joyous human puppetry of the streets known as 'breakdancing.'" His performance drew the attention of Michael Jackson himself when the singer made a rare public appearance to see the young talent. Ribeiro recalled in an Upscale interview, "That was the most amazing thing ... Michael Jackson was my idol. I loved him to death. I could dance like him. I could sing like him, and it was great career-wise."
Jackson found the imitation flattering and invited the boy to Los Angeles, where Ribeiro had lunch at Jackson's compound and played video games with the superstar. The friendship led to a professional relationship as Ribeiro joined Jackson in a Pepsi commercial that featured the two of them dancing. Alongside of his acting career, Ribeiro also signed a contract with Prism Records and, between the ages of ten and 13 released several singles, including "Dance Baby," "Not Too Young (To Fall in Love)," "Time Bomb," and "Sneak Away with Me."
In 1984, Alfonso Ribeiro made his first break into sitcoms when he became a regular cast member on the hit show, Silver Spoons, starring Ricky Schroeder. For three years, he played the character Alonso Spears on the show. He also logged acting credits with appearances on Magnum, P.I., Circus of the Stars, The Andy Williams Christmas Special, and Star Cruise.
In 1990, Ribeiro began playing the role that would earn him nationwide recognition--that of Carlton Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show's star, character Will Smith (played by the actor of the same name) was a poor Philadelphia youth living with an affluent aunt and uncle in California. Ribeiro played the spoiled, preppy cousin of Will Smith, and the comic duo were largely responsible for the success of the show. Fresh Prince ran for six years and consistently boasted the highest ratings for a prime-time comedy series among teenage viewers, regularly breaking into the top 20 for overall ratings. For his role as Carlton, Ribeiro earned an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1996.
Ribeiro now plays Dr. Maxwell Stanton, a sports-injury doctor, on the UPN sitcom, In The House. The series, taped before a studio audience in Hollywood, California, is produced by Quincy Jones and David Salsman Entertainment in association with UPN Studios. Ribeiro has not neglected his singing career, however, and actually said in an Internet interview that singing is his "real love." He is currently working on an album, which is being produced by Grammy Award-winner Will Smith.
In addition to acting and singing Ribeiro is involved with the "Say No to Drugs" and the "Hands Across America" programs. His off- camera passions include motorcycles and car racing, and he's won the Toyota Grand Prix on two occasions. But behind all the glamor of the actor's life, Ribeiro affirmed in an Internet interview, "If you want to be an actor, you have to do it because you love acting, not because you want to be a celebrity." After 19 years in show business, Ribeiro knows whereof he speaks.
Awards
Hollywood Press Club's Rising Star Award, 1985; NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actor, 1996.
Further Reading
Books
- Contemporary Theatre, Film, and Television, Vol. IV., Gale Research, Detroit, 1987.
- Ebony, Jan 1996, p. 68.
- Entertainment Weekly, April 17, 1992, p. 44.
- Jet, Jan 13, 1997, p. 38; April 29, 1996, p. 58.
- People Weekly, July 16, 1984, p. 121.
- Upscale, Sept/Oct 1997, p. 48.
— Marilyn Williams and Rebecca Parks
