Bel-Air Cast & Character Guide

Summary

• Bel-Air reimagines The Fresh Prince with a new cast, darker tone, and deeper character development.
• Familiar names, different stories:
  Bel-Air
  explores the Banks family dynamics in a grittier, more dramatic way.
• Jabari Banks shines as the new Will Smith in Bel-Air, adding his own flair to the West Philly-raised character.

Bel-Air is a reimagined version of The French Prince of Bel-Air, with a new ensemble cast taking on the familiar, beloved characters. There are some differences between the Bel-Air characters and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air characters, even though they may share the same name. The 2022 Peacock series is much darker and more dramatic than the 1990 sitcom. Yet, even when approached differently, they share some similarities in storylines and character traits.

Both series focus on the Banks family and their cousin Will, who moves to Bel-Air after, as the original theme song states, “got in one little fight and [his] mom got scared.” Will is initially out of place in the privileged area of Bel-Air, having grown up in West Philly, which is a big part of his personality. Will’s charisma helps him find his place, but he never loses his West Philly spirit. Bel-Air also features multiple Fresh Prince Easter eggs for fans of the original.

Jabari Banks As Will Smith

Date Of Birth: August 2, 1998

Actor: Jabari Banks was born in West Philadelphia and earned his bachelor’s degree in fine arts and theatre art from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. Banks’ first major role was as Will Smith in Bel-Air. Growing up in West Philly, Banks has a lot of similarities with actor-rapper Will Smith, who originated the role. Like Smith, Banks is also a rapper. In addition to Bel-Air, he has appeared in two films, Bad Genius and American Dream: The 21 Savage Story.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Jabari Banks stars in Bel-Air as Will Smith, a 16-year-old from West Philly whose world is turned upside down when he moves to live with his distant family in Bel-Air. He’s a talented basketball player and immediately likely, but his temper can get him into trouble.

Cassandra Freeman As Vivian Banks

Date Of Birth: October 1, 1978

Actor: Writer and actor Cassandra Freeman was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and has appeared in numerous television shows and movies. Freeman’s first notable role was as Sylvia in Spike Lee’s Inside Man. Other notable projects of Freeman’s include the television series Single Ladies, Luke Cage, and The Enemy Within. Freeman has her own non-profit, Kassandra Arts Project, that empowers disadvantaged children by helping them unlock their creativity.

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Character: Cassandra Freeman plays Vivian Banks, Will’s aunt and the matriarch of the Banks family. She does her best to keep the family together and has a soft spot for Will. Throughout Bel-Air, Vivian returns to her roots as an artist, adding depth to her character outside the home.

Adrian Holmes As Philip Banks

Date Of Birth: March 31, 1974

Actor: Adrian Holmes was born to Bajan parents in Wrexham, Wales, and moved to Vancouver, Canada when he was five. He studied nursing at Langara College to appease his mother who wanted him to have a backup plan for acting. Adrian Holmes’ first major role was as Griff and Basqatt in Smallville. From there, he’s appeared in shows like True Justice, Continuum, Arrow, 19-2, and more. Holmes’ film credits include Elysium, Vendetta, and Chained.

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Character: The patriarch of the Banks family, Philip Banks, is played by Adrian Holmes. Philip is a well-connected lawyer who has made himself into a wealthy man after humble beginnings in the South. Though stricter than Vivian, he just wants what’s best for his family.

Coco Jones As Hilary Banks

Date Of Birth: January 4, 1998

Actor: Singer and actor Coco Jones was born in Columbia, South Carolina and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee. Jones started her career as a singer and was the runner-up in Radio Disney’s The Next Big Thing season 3. In 2012, Coco Jones had her first lead acting role as Roxie in the Disney Channel musical movie Let it Shine. Since then, Jones has mostly focused on her music, with Bel-Air being her biggest television role to date. In 2024, she won her first Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance.

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Character: Coco Jones plays the eldest Banks child, Hilary Banks, in Bel-Air. Hilary is a cooking influencer who is trying to figure out how to make a name and career for herself outside her family’s name.

Olly Sholotan As Carlton Banks

Date Of Birth: April 5, 1998

Actor: Actor and musical actor Olly Sholotan was born in Atlanta, Georgia and lived in Nigeria until the age of 10 when he and his family moved to Houston, Texas. In 2019, he graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and soon after, Sholotanappeared in his first film, Run Hide Fight. Bel-Air is his most notable television role, and he was part of the supporting cast of Gigi & Nate. Sholotan has released multiple songs through his independent record label Lamintin Records.

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Character: Olly Sholoton plays the middle Banks child, Carlton Banks. Carlton initially doesn’t take warmly to having Will living with them in Bel-Air, seeing him as a through. Carlton deals with anxiety and the pressures of trying to fit in at a predominantly white school.

Akira Akbar As Ashley Banks

Date Of Birth: October 2, 2006

Actor: Akira Akbar was born in Los Angeles, California. Akbar had her breakthrough role as young Monica Rambeau in Captain Marvel. That same year, she played Young Beth in one of the most well-known episodes of This Is Us, season 3, episode 13, “Our Little Island Girl.” Akbar has a few other acting credits, including Good Trouble, but Bel-Air gave the young actor her biggest role in her career thus far.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Akira Akbar plays the youngest Banks child in Bel-Air, Ashley Banks. She sometimes gets overlooked thanks to the trouble her siblings and cousins frequently find themselves in, but Ashley is a passionate young activist.

Jimmy Akingbola As Geoffrey Thompson

Date Of Birth: April 7, 1978

Actor: Nigerian-British actor Jimmy Akingbola was born in Plaistow, London, England to parents who had emigrated from Nigeria. Though he’d been acting onstage and onscreen for a few years, Jimmy Akingbola rose to fame as PC Neil Parker in HolbyBlue. He has also appeared in Rev., Holby City, Arrow, In the Long Run, and hosted Sorry, I Didn’t Know. Akingbola has performed in multiple plays on the West End, having started his career at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Jimmy Akingbola plays a revamped version of Geoffrey in Bel-Air, the Banks family’s house manager. He works closely with Phil to do the more unsavory things required to keep the family’s status and reputation.

Bel-Air Supporting Cast & Characters

Bel-Air Has A Strong Ensemble Cast

Simone Joy Jones as Lisa Wilkes – Simone Joy Jones, who plays Lisa, is known for The Son of No One, Anything’s Possible, and The Chair. Lisa is Carlton’s ex-girlfriend and one of Will’s love interests in Bel-Air.

Jordan L. Jones as Jazz – Known for Snowfall and Rel, Jordan L. Jones plays Jazz in Bel-Air. Jazz is a taxi driver, record store owner, and Will’s first friend when he arrives in Bel Air.

April Parker Jones as Viola “Vy” Smith – American actor April Parker Jones has previously appeared in Jericho, If Loving You Is Wrong, and Supergirl. In Bel-Air, Jones plays Will’s mother, Vy, who sends him to California to keep him out of trouble.

Joe Holt as Fred Wilkes – Joe Holt is an American actor born in Tokyo, Japan, known for The Punisher, Delilah, and The Walking Dead: World Beyond. Holt is featured in Bel-Air as Fred Wilkes, Lisa’s dad and the Bel Air Chief of Police.

Tyler Barnhardt as Connor Satterfield – Outside his role in Bel-Air, Tyler Barnhardt has been in Underground, 13 Reasons Why, and Senior Year. In the Peacock original series, Barnhardt plays Connor, one of Carlton’s lacrosse teammates who has an issue with Will.

Charlie Hall as Tyler Laramy – Charlie Hall is best known for his roles in Love, Victor, Big Shot, and The Sex Lives of College Girls. In Bel-Air, Hall takes on the role of Tyler, Will’s basketball teammate and one of his few friends at Bel-Air Academy.

Brooklyn McLinn as Doc Hightower – Brooklyn McLinn, who was introduced in Bel-Air season 2 as Doc Hightower, has had roles in Black-ish, Goliath, and Cloak and Dagger. Doc is the coach of a local AAU basketball team that Will plays for.

Karreuche Tran as Ivy – Socialite and actor Karreuche Tran is known for Claws and The Bay. In Bel-Air, Tran plays Ivy, Hilary’s influencer friend and occasional rival who helps her build her brand and house.

Jazlyn Martin as Jackie – Jazlyn Martin, who has appeared in All American: Homecoming, This Is Us, and The High Note was introduced as Jackie in Bel-Air season 2. Jackie is Doc’s niece and one of Will’s love interests.

Riele Downs as Yazmin Staats – Canadian actor Riele Downs began her career as a child actor with roles in The Best Man Holiday and Henry Danger and has since starred in Darby and the Dead. Downs plays Yazmin in Bel-Air, the head of Bel-Air Academy’s Black Student Union and one of Carlton’s love interests.