Alfonso Ribeiro

Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro (born September 21, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, and television host. In a career spanning over four decades, he first gained notability for his role as Carlton Banks on the NBC television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996), as well as his performances on Silver Spoons (1984–1987) and In the House (1996–1999).

Ribeiro started his career as a child actor and gained recognition for his titular performance in the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid. He later competed in the thirteenth season of the British survival show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. Ribeiro currently hosts ABC's video clip series America's Funniest Home Videos and co-hosts its reality competition series Dancing with the Stars with Julianne Hough. He won the latter program's nineteenth season alongside professional dancer Witney Carson, with whom he presented the GSN game show Catch 21.

Early life Ribeiro was born in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City and raised in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx to parents of Trinidadian descent. His paternal grandfather was Albert Ribeiro, a professional calypsonian dancer known as Lord Hummingbird. His aunt had been a dancer on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In in the 1960s and 1970s. He received positive reviews for his performance and was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award. Ribeiro appeared as a dancer in a Pepsi commercial that featured Michael Jackson and the Jacksons in 1984; a rumor spread that Ribeiro died from snapping his neck while dancing in the commercial. The same year, Ribeiro was cast as Ricky Schroder's best friend on the TV series Silver Spoons, after which he and his family moved to Los Angeles. He also released four 12-inch singles on Prism Records, including the 1984 track "Dance Baby". After Silver Spoons ended, Ribeiro took a hiatus from acting to finish high school and attend California State University, Los Angeles. Ribeiro based "The Carlton" on Eddie Murphy's "white man dance" and Courteney Cox's dance from Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" music video. He graduated from the New York Film Academy in 1999 and would go on to direct episodes of One on One, All of Us, Meet the Browns, Are We There Yet?, Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover. He made it into the final round but lost to Keshia Knight-Pulliam.

In 2002, Ribeiro returned to the stage in an Encores! revival of the musical Golden Boy, starring as Joe Wellington.

Ribeiro competed as one of the celebrity singers on the reality television show Celebrity Duets in September 2006, winning over the runner-up Lucy Lawless. From 2008 to 2016, Ribeiro hosted the game show Catch 21 on GSN. On July 24, he began hosting his second game show, Spell-Mageddon, on ABC Family. On November 17, Ribeiro became a contestant in the thirteenth series of the British reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here. He was eliminated from the show on December 5, finishing in seventh place.

On September 4, 2014, Ribeiro was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 19 of Dancing with the Stars. He partnered with professional dancer Witney Carson and became the fourth celebrity dancer in the show's history to receive a 9 from each judge in week one. On November 25, 2014, Ribeiro and Carson won the competition. After his victory, he hosted the nationwide live tour for the show. In July, Ribeiro made a cameo appearance in the music video for "All Night" by pop-rock band R5. In September, he returned to Dancing with the Stars as a guest judge in week three of season 21, and he substituted for Bergeron as host the following week, after Bergeron's father became ill.

In October 2018, he was announced as the host of the British game show Money Tree. That month, it was also announced that Ribeiro would sit in for Bruno Tonioli as guest judge on Strictly Come Dancing for week 5, joining regular judges Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, and Shirley Ballas. This would also occur in week 5 of the 2019 series.

Catch 21 was revived in 2019, and Ribeiro returned as the host, with his former Dancing with the Stars partner Witney Carson joining as co-host. His role earned him a 2020 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Game Show Host, but he lost to Alex Trebek. He earned another nomination the following year, but again lost to Trebek.

In 2020, Ribeiro starred in a series of commercials for State Farm Insurance as a Chris Paul impersonator.

In 2022, Ribeiro joined season 31 of Dancing with the Stars as co-host of the show, alongside host Tyra Banks. After Banks departed the show following season 31, Ribeiro became the main host of the show, with Julianne Hough joining as co-host, assuming Ribeiro's previous role.

The '90s with Alfonso Ribeiro On July 6, 2019, the syndicated radio show The '90s with Alfonso Ribeiro launched on multiple radio stations across the country via Sun Broadcast Group, co-hosted by radio veteran Daena "DK" Kramer. The three-hour weekly show celebrates 1990s music and culture while Ribeiro and Kramer share their stories, pop culture facts and memories from the 1990s.

Personal life Family

Ribeiro was married to Robin Stapler from January 2002 until August 2006. They have a daughter, born in October 2002.

Ribeiro married Angela Unkrich on October 13, 2012, following a three-month engagement. The two live in Los Angeles and have three children, born in 2013, 2015, and 2019.

Motorsports Ribeiro competed in several editions of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race car race in Long Beach, earning an overall win in 2015 and celebrity class wins in 1994, 1995 and 2016. He also worked as radio spotter for CART racecar driver Bryan Herta, and performed the national anthem at CART and IndyCar Series races.

Lawsuit against Epic Games In December 2018, Ribeiro, along with Instagram star Russell Horning, aka Backpack Kid, and rapper Terrence Ferguson, aka 2 Milly, brought a lawsuit against Epic Games for their decision to feature respective choreographies in the popular game Fortnite. In Ribeiro's case, his "Carlton dance", which he made popular in the 1990s as a cast member of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, is one of the many dances that Fortnite players can purchase for their avatars. Epic Games declined to comment on the lawsuits. The U.S. Copyright Office denied him a copyright for his dance on January 13, 2019. On March 7, 2019, Ribeiro dropped the lawsuit.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1986 John Grin's Christmas Rocky TV movie 1987 Mighty Pawns Frank TV movie 1989 Out on the Edge Jesse TV movie 1993 Ticks Darrel "Panic" Lumnley 1996 Kidz in the Wood Morgan TV movie 2004 Seek & Hide Dr. Grone Short 2005 Love Wrecked Bert Hernandez

Television Year Title Role Notes 1983–87 Silver Spoons Alfonso Spears Main Cast: Season 3–5 1985 NBC Special Treat Himself Episode: "Kids Just Kids" 1986 One to Grow On Himself Episode: "Responsible Spending" Magnum, P.I. Kenneth Recurring Cast: Season 7 1988 CBS Schoolbreak Special Buddy Episode: "Home Sweet Homeless" 1990 A Different World Zach Duncan Episode: "Hillmann Isn't Through With You Yet" 1990–96 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Carlton Banks Main Cast 1992 An Evening at the Improv Himself/Host Episode: "Episode #9.16" Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Himself Episode: "She Took the Notes Right of My Mouth" 1993 Scattergories Himself/Panelist Episode: "Episode #1.24" 1994 Soul Train Himself/Guest Host Episode: "R. Kelly/Gabrielle" Bill Nye, the Science Guy Himself Episode: "Food Web" 1995–99 In the House Carlton Banks/Dr. Maxwell Stanton Guest: Season 2, Main Cast: Season 3–5 1996–97 Spider-Man: The Animated Series Randy Robertson (voice) Guest Cast: Season 3–4 1997 Wild On! Himself Episode: "Wild on the Bermuda Triangle" Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Kephra (voice) Episode: "King Midas and the Golden Touch" Extreme Ghostbusters Roland Jackson (voice) Main Cast 1999 V.I.P. Himself Episode: "The Last Temptation of Val" 2000–01 Your Big Break Himself/Host Main Host: Season 2 2001 The Test Himself/Panelist Episode: "The Voyeur Test" The Weakest Link Himself/Contestant Episode: "TV Child Stars Edition" 2002 I Love the '80s Himself Recurring Guest One on One Lenny Episode: "Me and My Shadow" The Rerun Show Dwayne Episode: "Bewitched: Divided He Falls/What's Happening!!: Rerun Gets Married" For Your Love Ray Episode: "The Professionals" 2002–03 The Brothers García Mr. Sweets Guest Cast: Season 3-4 2004 I Love the '90s Himself Main Guest 2003 Cedric the Entertainer Presents Himself Episode: "Episode #1.16" 2006 Celebrity Duets Himself/Contestant Main Guest Robot Chicken Himself (voice) Episode: "Veggies for Sloth/Blankets in a Pig" 2007 E! True Hollywood Story Himself Episode: "Will Smith" The Singing Bee Himself Episode: "Episode #2.8" Dancing with the Stars Himself Episode: "Round 5 Results" 2008 Last Comic Standing Himself/Talent Scout Episode: "Auditions 2" Gumball 3000: Off Road Himself/Host Main Host 2008–09 GSN Live Himself/Host Main Host 2008–11 Catch 21 Himself/Host Main Host 2010 Gylne tider Himself Episode: "Episode #4.7" 2011 Are We There Yet? Skinner (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 2 Things We Do for Love Darren Main Cast 2012 Kendra on Top Himself Episode: "Fore Play" Kitchen Cousins Himself Episode: "A Fresh Perspective" Big Time Rush Captain McAllister Episode: "Bel Air Rush" 2013 Spell-Mageddon Himself/Host Main Host I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Himself/Contestant Contestant: Season 13 Shake It Up Mr. Zigfeld Episode: "My Fair Librarian it Up" 2013–17 Access Hollywood Himself/Guest Co-Host Recurring Guest Co-Host 2014–present Dancing with the Stars Himself/Contestant/Host Contestant: Season 19, Guest: Season 20–21 & 25 & 28, Main Host: Season 31– 2015 #DanceBattle America Himself/Host Main Host 2015–17 Unwrapped 2.0 Himself/Host Main Host 2015–present America's Funniest Home Videos Himself/Host Main Host: Season 26– 2016 Whose Line Is It Anyway? Himself Episode: "Alfonso Ribeiro" Guilty Pleasures Himself Recurring Guest The $100,000 Pyramid Himself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Alfonso Ribeiro vs. Mario Batali" Celebrity Family Feud Himself/Contestant Episode: "Episode #3.10" 2018–19 Strictly Come Dancing Himself/Guest Judge Recurring Guest Judge: Season 16–17 2019–20 Entertainment Tonight Himself/Guest Co-Host Guest Co-Host: Season 39–40 Catch 21 Himself/Host Main Host 2020–21 To Tell the Truth Himself/Celebrity Panelist Guest Panelist: Season 5–6 2021 Wheel of Fortune Himself/Celebrity Contestant Episode: "Robert Herjavec, Chris Harrison and Alfonso Ribeiro" 2021–22 America's Funniest Home Videos: Animal Edition Himself/Host Main Host 2022 The Golden Goofs Awards Himself/Host Main Host Jay Leno's Garage Himself Episode: "Premiere Cars" Big City Greens Mr. Extras (voice) Episode: "Virtually Christmas" 2023 Celebrity Family Feud Himself/Contestant Episode: "Episode #10.9" 2023–24 Catch 21 Himself/Host Main Host 2024 The Talk Himself/Guest Co-Host Episode: "Chandra Wilson/Natasha Rothwell/Alfonso Ribeiro"2024–presentJack Hanna's PassportHimself/Host

Directing +Television Year Title Notes Ref. 1995 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Episode: "I, Ooh, Baby, Baby" 1997–98 In the House 4 Episodes 2003 The Brothers García 1 episode 2004–07 All of Us 26 episodes 2005–06 One on One 8 episodes 2006 Cuts 1 episode 2006 Eve 1 episode 2009–10 Meet the Browns 8 episodes 2010 True Jackson, VP 1 episode 2011 Things We Do for Love 4 episodes 2011–12 Are We There Yet? 20 episodes 2012–13 Shake It Up 7 episodes 2013–14 Let's Stay Together 4 episodes 2014 Mighty Med 1 episode 2015 Young & Hungry Episode: "Young & Part Two" (season 2) 2015–18 K.C. Undercover 2 episodes

Dancing with the Stars performances Ribeiro was partnered with Witney Carson for season 19. On November 25, 2014, Ribeiro and Carson were declared the season's champions.

In November 2017, Ribeiro returned to 25th season in Week eight, to participate in a trio Jive with Frankie Muniz and his professional partner Witney Carson.

1 Score given by guest judge Kevin Hart in place of Goodman.

2The American public scored the dance in place of Goodman with the averaged score being counted alongside the three other judges.

3This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Ribeiro performed with Cheryl Burke instead of Carson.

4Score given by guest judge Jessie J in place of Goodman.

5Score given by guest judge Pitbull in place of Goodman. Stage Year Title Role Venue Notes Ref. 1983The Tap Dance Kid Willie Broadhurst Theater, Broadway Broadway debut 2002 Golden Boy Joe Wellington New York City Center

Discography

Singles Title Year Peak chart positions US "Dance Baby" 1984 104 "Ooh Child" — "Not Too Young (To Fall in Love)" 1985 — "Time Bomb" 1986 — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.