The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is one of the most iconic and beloved sitcoms to come out of the '90s era of television. The series has remained so popular all these years later due to the strength of its core cast of characters, and the incredible casting choices that went into bringing the extended Banks family to life.
Sitcom characters often get defined by familiar tropes, such as the best friend or the nerd. Fresh Prince finds ways to take these tropes and deconstruct them, producing some of the most unique characters in sitcom history, from Jazz to Carlton to Will himself.
Jazz: "We're Gonna Have 10 Kids: One For Every Month Of The Year."
From the moment Jazz arrives in the series, he quickly becomes Will's partner in crime in their many misadventures. Though Jazz and Will's friendship is complicated, Jazz is always the dimmer of the two and is usually slow on the uptake when it comes to figuring out what is going on or what he has done wrong.
Jazz's personality is essentially defined by three traits: flirtatiousness, over-confidence, and resounding stupidity. Though he can sometimes be selfish and oblivious, he usually means well, which makes it hard to root against him at any time. He just wants someone to love him for who he is, many quirks and all.
Nicky Banks: "You Just Don't Get It, Do You? I'm 5, You Dork."
Nicky is one of the series' last additions to its main cast when he is born at the end of season 3. But in one example of things that make no sense about Fresh Prince, Nicky goes from an infant to a snarky five-year-old in the blink of an eye during season 5. It's a choice that benefits the series in the long run, as Nicky has some of the series' funniest moments.
Nicky is far wiser than his years, and he has no problems telling off all of the teenagers and adults in his family. He has no time for nonsense and makes his needs and demands known quite loudly, but also isn't afraid to use his youth to his advantage when he gets in trouble.
Geoffrey Butler: "Madam, I Went To Private School. And Then I Went To Therapy."
In a cast full of hilarious characters, Geoffrey still manages to be one of Fresh Prince's most amusing players. As the family butler, Geoffrey is frequently taken advantage of, but he never shies away from offering his signature brand of sarcastic commentary.
Geoffrey often discusses his upbringing in a lineage of butlers, and how his family's repressed personalities have shaped him into the man he is. Although he has many neuroses, some of which he is very open about, Geoffrey is a much louder and bolder man with a love of women, dancing, and PBS mysteries.
Hilary Banks: "How Can I Put This Nicely? I'm Too Good For You."
Although she isn't one of 's smartest characters, Hilary is nevertheless one of the series' most iconic ones. From the very beginning of the series, she is depicted as a spoiled girl with a love of shopping and, above all else, herself. She is incredibly conceited and vain, but she does still have a soft spot for her family.
Even as Hilary grows into a somewhat more mature adult with a real career and a life outside of her socialite circle, she remains an incredibly arrogant young woman who thinks she is better than everyone else around her. But fans of the beloved sitcom wouldn't have her any other way.
Ashley Banks: "I'm Intelligent And Competent And I Can Handle My Own Affairs."
As the original youngest Banks child, Ashley spends much of the series trying to prove that she can take care of herself, especially when it comes to the interference of the overbearing male figures in her life. The arrival of Will in her life makes Ashley realize that there are different paths out there for her, which also puts her in frequent conflict with her parents.
But time and again, Ashley proves just how grown up she actually is. In addition, she is incredibly witty, which allows her to have a great rapport with Geoffrey. She is also one of the most comionate of the Banks family, which makes her bond with Will one of 's best relationships.
Vivian Banks: "Oh, Honey, We Are About To Get Very Busy."
As the fierce matriarch of the Banks family, Vivian Banks is a complete mother bear who will do whatever it takes to defend her children and her family's best interests. She is an accomplished university professor who worked harder than most to get there, given that her upbringing was very similar to Will's.
That urban background blends with her current high society lifestyle to make Vivian one of the series' more nuanced characters. She is able to see both sides of all arguments, which makes her a strong ally to both Will and Uncle Phil at different times.
Philip Banks: "I'd Like To Impart Some Words That I've Always Lived By: Mo' Money, Mo' Money, Mo' Money."
Fans agree that Philip Banks is one of television's best dads. He makes a strong impression on viewers from the series' first episode, commanding attention in every scene he's in and imparting invaluable pieces of wisdom to all of his children, and Will by extension.
Having lived through the civil rights movement, Uncle Phil uses his firsthand experience of injustice to shape his career in law. But he also shows that he has been changed by his wealthy lifestyle, as he is frequently out of touch and not willing to listen to the changing ideologies of the younger generations.
Carlton Banks: "Being Black Isn't What I'm Trying To Be. It's What I Am."
Perhaps even more than Will himself, Carlton Banks is the most iconic character to come out of the Fresh Prince. Carlton is an unabashed nerd, a shrewd fiscal genius, and Will's total opposite. He is also routinely mocked, by Will and Jazz and others, for not meeting their self-defined expectations of what it means to be Black.
But Carlton rejects that critique soundly every time, proudly proclaiming that he's Black and challenging society's expectations of young Black men every time he does. Carlton may be best ed for his awkward dancing and love of Tom Jones, but there's so much more to his character than meets the eye.
Will Smith: "Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall... Jean-Claude Van Damme, I'm Fine."
As the series' main character, Will is also Fresh Prince's greatest comedic asset. Even though he has a few heavier storylines, including ones dealing with racial profiling and his absentee father, Will spends most of his character journey in typical cocky teenager fashion.
He might not be the best at school, but in his own mind, he's the best lover, the most desirable man, and the funniest person to ever walk the face of the earth. Will is rarely humble, but his larger-than-life personality and flair for making jokes even in the most unexpected of moments make him a lovable character all the same.
