Alfonso Ribeiro
Encyclopedia
Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro is an American
actor
, director
, dancer, game show host, and comedian. While he received attention for his performance in the title role of the Broadway
musical The Tap Dance Kid
and his appearance as a dancer in a Pepsi
commercial featuring Michael Jackson
, Ribeiro is best known for his role as Carlton Banks on the NBC
sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
and host of GSN
show Catch 21
.
, the son of Joy and Michael Ribeiro, a manager. His parents are from Trinidad & Tobago. Ribeiro is the grandson of the late Roaring Lion
, noted as one of the greatest Calypsonian
s.
Ribeiro and actress Robin Stapler met in 1999. They were married in 2002. Divorce papers were filed August 9, 2006 in Los Angeles
Superior Court
, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple share joint custody
of their daughter, Sienna Ribeiro.
, receiving positive reviews for his performance. He also appeared in one of Michael Jackson's Pepsi television commercials
as a dancer in 1984, after which he was the subject of rumors that he broke his neck during the making of one of the commercials.
The same year, Ribeiro was cast as Rick Schroder
's best friend on the TV series
Silver Spoons
. He also sang in a commercial for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and promoted his own "Breakin' and Poppin'" dance instruction package on television which included the famous "breakin" board.
Ribeiro's most notable role was spoiled rich-kid Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
from 1990 to 1996, in which he played the cousin to Will Smith
's lead character; Ribeiro also directed some episodes of Fresh Prince. The Carlton character frequently danced to Tom Jones
's "It's Not Unusual
". His most common move was his version of Eddie Murphy's "white guy" dance from Raw and one scene in Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" video.
Further demonstrations of his dancing came alongside Will Smith in several episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, including a tap dance
routine in the show's Soul Train
episode that featured a moonwalk
.
It also featured the famous Apache
Dance, the song by the Sugarhill Gang, when Will and Carlton go into a dance competition in Las Vegas
after blowing all their money in the casino.
Ribeiro also starred in a small horror movie in 1993 entitled Ticks (also known as Infested), in which he turns into a giant tick. The feature was one of the more well-received B-grade movies of the decade.
Ribeiro is also known for his appearance at Synergy
in Warrington
on June 13, 2008. He was seen at the Arirang Festival
in Pyongyang
as part of a Gumball 3000
group on August 13, 2008.
He is also known for his role on LL Cool J
's show In the House and as the host of Your Big Break. Ribeiro has acted and been part of the crew on many movies
and TV shows.
In 1997, he performed the voice of Roland Jackson in Extreme Ghostbusters
. He has also appeared in Smith's "Wild Wild West" video
in 1999 and in a McDonald's
commercial in 2003. Ribeiro also appeared in a cameo for the Fergie music video "Glamorous
".
In 2001, he appeared on a special "TV Child Stars Edition" episode of the Anne Robinson
Version of The Weakest Link
.
Beginning in August 2006, Ribeiro was a contestant on Fox's new reality show Celebrity Duets
which teamed up entertainers not known for singing with famous singers. Ribeiro promised to do "the Carlton Dance" if he made it to the show's finale. He kept his promise when he became one of the three finalists. On September 29, 2006, Ribeiro was announced as the winner of the show. Lucy Lawless
and Hal Sparks
finished second and third, respectively.
For his victory, Ribeiro's charity of choice, Fresh Start, which provides personal development, family law support, career, mentoring, educational, and other services to women, received $100,000. Ribeiro also participated in the Mario Lemieux
Celebrity Invitational to benefit cancer research.
In 2008, Ribeiro hosted Nick At Nite
's "crush week" of classic television, offering romantic advice and commentary between episodes. He also was a talent scout in NBC's Last Comic Standing's
Houston episode which aired May 29, 2008. He also began hosting the game show Catch 21
on GSN
. Most recently Ribeiro was a featured performer aboard the Disney Cruise Line
ship M/V Disney Magic
during that vessel's TransAmerican Crossing through the Panama Canal
.
Ribeiro currently lives in Los Angeles
and is married to singer and songwriter Kathleen Virginia. He is a two-time winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
(in 1994 and 1995).
Ribeiro directed episodes of All of Us
until its cancellation in early 2007.He hosted a morning interactive TV show on GSN called GSN Live
with Heidi Bohay
(and on occasion with Debra Skelton
when she fills in for Fred Roggin or Heidi Bohay) from September 15, 2008 to August 11, 2009 (and on occasion filling in for Fred Roggin
on his day off).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
, dancer, game show host, and comedian. While he received attention for his performance in the title role of the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical The Tap Dance Kid
The Tap Dance Kid
The Tap Dance Kid is a musical based on the novel Nobody's Family is Going to Change by Louise Fitzhugh. It was written by Charles Blackwell with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics by Robert Lorick.-Productions:...
and his appearance as a dancer in a Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
commercial featuring Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Ribeiro is best known for his role as Carlton Banks on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their...
and host of GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
show Catch 21
Catch 21
Catch 21 is an American game show centered around blackjack, created by Merrill Heatter and taped at the Hollywood Center Studios...
.
Personal life
Ribeiro was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of Joy and Michael Ribeiro, a manager. His parents are from Trinidad & Tobago. Ribeiro is the grandson of the late Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion was a calypsonian...
, noted as one of the greatest Calypsonian
Calypsonian
A calypsonian , originally known as the chantwell is a musician, from the Anglophone Caribbean, who sings songs called calypso. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot tradition...
s.
Ribeiro and actress Robin Stapler met in 1999. They were married in 2002. Divorce papers were filed August 9, 2006 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple share joint custody
Joint custody
Joint custody is a court order whereby custody of a child is awarded to both parties. In joint custody both parents are custodial parents and neither parent is a non-custodial parent, or, in other words, the child has two custodial parents. In the United States, many states recognize two forms of...
of their daughter, Sienna Ribeiro.
Occupation/Career
Ribeiro began his career in the drama "Hit Me Again Dad" at the age of eight. By the time he was ten, he had released such songs as: "Dance with Me", "Not Too Young", & "Sneak Away with Me." His first brush with true stardom came in 1983, when he originated the title role of the Broadway musical The Tap Dance KidThe Tap Dance Kid
The Tap Dance Kid is a musical based on the novel Nobody's Family is Going to Change by Louise Fitzhugh. It was written by Charles Blackwell with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics by Robert Lorick.-Productions:...
, receiving positive reviews for his performance. He also appeared in one of Michael Jackson's Pepsi television commercials
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
as a dancer in 1984, after which he was the subject of rumors that he broke his neck during the making of one of the commercials.
The same year, Ribeiro was cast as Rick Schroder
Rick Schroder
Richard Bartlett "Rick" Schroder, Jr. is an American actor and film director.He debuted in the 1979 hit film The Champ, going on to become a child star on the sitcom Silver Spoons...
's best friend on the TV series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982 to May 11, 1986 and in first-run syndication from September 15, 1986 to March 4, 1987...
. He also sang in a commercial for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and promoted his own "Breakin' and Poppin'" dance instruction package on television which included the famous "breakin" board.
Ribeiro's most notable role was spoiled rich-kid Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their...
from 1990 to 1996, in which he played the cousin to Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
's lead character; Ribeiro also directed some episodes of Fresh Prince. The Carlton character frequently danced to Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
's "It's Not Unusual
It's Not Unusual
"It's Not Unusual" is a song written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills, first recorded by a then-unknown Tom Jones after having first been offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded what was intended to be a demo for Shaw, but when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones' delivery that she declined the...
". His most common move was his version of Eddie Murphy's "white guy" dance from Raw and one scene in Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" video.
Further demonstrations of his dancing came alongside Will Smith in several episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, including a tap dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
routine in the show's Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
episode that featured a moonwalk
Moonwalk (dance)
The moonwalk or backslide is a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward. A popping move, it became most popular around the world after Michael Jackson executed the dance move during a performance of "Billie Jean" on Motown 25:...
.
It also featured the famous Apache
Apache (instrumental)
"Apache" is an instrumental written by Jerry Lordan. It has been recorded by many people, but the first released version was recorded by British group The Shadows in June 1960 and released the following month. The song topped the UK singles chart for five weeks...
Dance, the song by the Sugarhill Gang, when Will and Carlton go into a dance competition in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
after blowing all their money in the casino.
Ribeiro also starred in a small horror movie in 1993 entitled Ticks (also known as Infested), in which he turns into a giant tick. The feature was one of the more well-received B-grade movies of the decade.
Ribeiro is also known for his appearance at Synergy
Synergy
Synergy may be defined as two or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable.The term synergy comes from the Greek word from , , meaning "working together".-Definitions and usages:...
in Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
on June 13, 2008. He was seen at the Arirang Festival
Arirang Festival
The Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Arirang are held in the Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea...
in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
as part of a Gumball 3000
Gumball 3000
The Gumball 3000 is an annual international road rally which takes place on public roads, with a different route around the world each year. Founded in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, it sees an annual entry of 120 cars, which are mostly exotic and powerful sports cars. However, more unusual entries ...
group on August 13, 2008.
He is also known for his role on LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
's show In the House and as the host of Your Big Break. Ribeiro has acted and been part of the crew on many movies
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and TV shows.
In 1997, he performed the voice of Roland Jackson in Extreme Ghostbusters
Extreme Ghostbusters
Extreme Ghostbusters is an animated television series and a follow-up to the animated series Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters. It is a part of the film/TV Ghostbusters franchise...
. He has also appeared in Smith's "Wild Wild West" video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
in 1999 and in a McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
commercial in 2003. Ribeiro also appeared in a cameo for the Fergie music video "Glamorous
Glamorous (song)
"Glamorous" is a R&B single taken from R&B singer Fergie's solo debut album, The Dutchess. In March 2007, the song became Fergie's second number-one single in the United States. The single was released on March 19, 2007 in the UK and was the second single taken from the album...
".
In 2001, he appeared on a special "TV Child Stars Edition" episode of the Anne Robinson
Anne Robinson
Anne Josephine Robinson is an English journalist and television presenter, known for her assertive views and acerbic style of presenting. She was one of the presenters on the long-running British consumer affairs series, Watchdog, from 1993 to 2001 before returning in 2009...
Version of The Weakest Link
Weakest Link (US game show)
The Weakest Link is an American game show that aired on NBC from April 16, 2001 to July 14, 2002. It is based on the British show of the same name. Ten episodes were left unaired until appearing on PAX in 2002, with the remainder eventually airing on GSN...
.
Beginning in August 2006, Ribeiro was a contestant on Fox's new reality show Celebrity Duets
Celebrity Duets
Celebrity Duets was an American reality television show of the progressive game-show type, which combined celebrities of different backgrounds with professional singers in a weekly elimination competition....
which teamed up entertainers not known for singing with famous singers. Ribeiro promised to do "the Carlton Dance" if he made it to the show's finale. He kept his promise when he became one of the three finalists. On September 29, 2006, Ribeiro was announced as the winner of the show. Lucy Lawless
Lucy Lawless
Lucy Lawless, MNZM is a New Zealander actress and singer best known for playing the title character of the internationally successful television series Xena: Warrior Princess....
and Hal Sparks
Hal Sparks
Hal Harry Magee Sparks III is an American actor, comedian, musician and television personality. He is known for his contributions to VH1, hosting E!'s Talk Soup, and the role of Michael Novotny on the American television series Queer as Folk.-Early life:Sparks was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but...
finished second and third, respectively.
For his victory, Ribeiro's charity of choice, Fresh Start, which provides personal development, family law support, career, mentoring, educational, and other services to women, received $100,000. Ribeiro also participated in the Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
Celebrity Invitational to benefit cancer research.
In 2008, Ribeiro hosted Nick At Nite
Nick at Nite
Nick at Nite is the nighttime Cable network that broadcasts over the channel space of Nickelodeon on Sundays from 8.p.m.-7.am., Monday through Fridays from 9 p.m.-7 a.m. and Saturdays from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. . Though it shares channel space with Nickelodeon, A.C. Nielsen Co...
's "crush week" of classic television, offering romantic advice and commentary between episodes. He also was a talent scout in NBC's Last Comic Standing's
Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing is an American reality television talent show that has aired from 2003 through 2010.The goal of the program is to select a comedian from a group, who will receive a development contract with the NBC network, and a television special first to air on the cable-TV network Comedy...
Houston episode which aired May 29, 2008. He also began hosting the game show Catch 21
Catch 21
Catch 21 is an American game show centered around blackjack, created by Merrill Heatter and taped at the Hollywood Center Studios...
on GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
. Most recently Ribeiro was a featured performer aboard the Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line is an American cruise line company owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a division of The Walt Disney Company and is headquartered in Celebration, Florida. The business is run by President Karl Holz. Disney Cruise Line operates the Disney Cruise Line Terminal,...
ship M/V Disney Magic
Disney Magic
The Disney Magic is a cruise ship operated by the Disney Cruise Line, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Its sister, the Disney Wonder, was launched in 1999....
during that vessel's TransAmerican Crossing through the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
.
Ribeiro currently lives in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and is married to singer and songwriter Kathleen Virginia. He is a two-time winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is an annual 10-lap auto race held each April since 1977 as part of the United States Grand Prix West, and later the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend at Long Beach, California...
(in 1994 and 1995).
Ribeiro directed episodes of All of Us
All of Us
All of Us is an American sitcom that premiered on the now-defunct UPN network in the United States on September 16, 2003, where it aired for its first three seasons. October 1, 2006, the show moved to The CW, a new network formed by the merger of UPN and The WB All of Us is an American sitcom that...
until its cancellation in early 2007.He hosted a morning interactive TV show on GSN called GSN Live
GSN Live
GSN Live is an American live interactive show on Game Show Network that premiered on February 25, 2008 at noon ET and officially ended its 3 year run on July 29, 2011. The last "live" edition aired May 13, 2011...
with Heidi Bohay
Heidi Bohay
Heidi Bohay is an American actress and television presenter.Born in South Bound Brook, New Jersey, Bohay is best known for her role as Megan Kendall from 1983 to 1987 on the prime-time ABC drama Hotel. She appeared as a celebrity guest on game shows, including The $25,000 and $100,000 Pyramid,...
(and on occasion with Debra Skelton
Debra Wilson
Debra Wilson Skelton , professionally known as Debra Wilson or Debra Wilzon, is an American comedienne and actress. Wilson is likely most famous for being the second longest-serving original cast member on the sketch comedy series MADtv, having appeared for the show's first eight seasons...
when she fills in for Fred Roggin or Heidi Bohay) from September 15, 2008 to August 11, 2009 (and on occasion filling in for Fred Roggin
Fred Roggin
Fred Roggin is the sports anchor at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, California. He was also a sports talk radio host at KMPC in Los Angeles, and until Fall 2007 hosted a morning sports show on KLAC with Los Angeles Times sports columnist T.J. Simers and Simers' daughter, Tracy Simers...
on his day off).