Alfonso Ribeiro

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Alfonso Ribeiro

Birth name	Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro
Born	September 21, 1971 (age 35) New York, New York, United States of America
Spouse(s)	Robin Ribeiro
Notable roles	Willie in The Tap Dance Kid Alfonso Spears in Silver Spoons Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Dr. Maxwell Stanton in In the House

Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro (born September 21, 1971 in New York City) is an American actor, singer, and dancer of Afro-Dominican descent. His parents emigrated to New York from the Dominican Republic. He is best known for his role as Carlton Banks on the TV sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air".

[edit] Career

Ribeiro began his acting career in the drama Oye Willie at the age of eight. By the time he was ten, he had released such songs as: "Dance Baby", "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 Kid, receiving rave reviews for his performance. He also appeared in one of Michael Jackson's Pepsi commercials as a dancer in 1984. 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.

Ribeiro is best known for his role as spoiled rich-kid Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1996, in which he was mercilessly teased by Will Smith's lead character, often targeting his height. He also was the director of some episodes of Fresh Prince. The Carlton character was often called upon to do a comic, usually improvised dance routine to Tom Jones's "It's Not Unusual." Ribeiro is in fact a very good dancer; he showed some skills with 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.

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, 35, filed for divorce from Robin Ribeiro on August 9, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences. He is seeking joint custody of the couple's 3-year-old daughter Sienna, with physical custody going to the child's mother. He intends to maintain visitation rights. [1]

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 plastic surgery to children with birth defects, received $100,000. [2]

Ribeiro currently lives in Los Angeles. He is a two-time winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race (in 1994 and 1995). Ribeiro now directs episodes of his former castmate's brain child All of Us [3]

[edit] Trivia

Ribeiro guest-starred in Hi-Jinks.
He is the first season winner of Fox's Celebrity Duets. (Crowned September 29, 2006).
Alfonso made a cameo appearance in Fergie's music video of Glamorous.
Alfonso has also played a character in The 2007 TV Movie "Love-Wrecked" As a Hotel Manager.