Janet Hubert

Janet Louise Hubert (born January 13, 1956) is an American film and television actress and dancer. She is best known for playing the role of the original Vivian Banks on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from its first season in 1990 until the end of its third season in 1993. Hubert was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in 1991. Her performance as Mignon on the digital series King Ester garnered her first Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2020.

Early life Hubert was born in Chicago, Illinois and spent her early days growing up on Chicago's South Side. Hubert made her Broadway debut in 1981, in the ensemble of The First, a short-lived musical about Jackie Robinson. Hubert created the role of Tantomile in the original Broadway production of Cats, and also understudied Grizabella and Demeter. She left Cats in April 1983 to star in the national tour of Sophisticated Ladies, opposite Dee Dee Bridgewater and Gregg Burge. Hubert played Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the role she is most known for. After she was allegedly fired by the makers of The Fresh Prince, Hubert's character was recast and played by Daphne Maxwell Reid for the remainder of the show's run. At the time, Will Smith, the show's star, claimed that Hubert "brought her problems to work." Rumors then speculated that Smith had fired her following her departure. Hubert has since denied this, explaining that she had left the show after being informed that she had two months and a half of remaining on set and that she could not work on another project. Her role as Aunt Viv was subsequently played by actress Daphne Maxwell Reid.

Hubert was featured in a 2002 episode of Friends as Chandler's boss. In 2005, she began playing the recurring role of Lisa Williamson, mother of attorney Evangeline Williamson, on One Life to Live. Her character has made occasional appearances since then. She was featured as Michel Gerard's mother in an episode of the CW show Gilmore Girls. She has made appearances on episodes of All My Children, NYPD Blue, The Bernie Mac Show, and Tyler Perry's House of Payne, among others. In November 2018, it was announced that Hubert had been cast on the daytime soap opera, General Hospital; she made her debut as Yvonne on December 7, 2018.

Hubert appeared in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion on HBO Max in November 2020. During the special, she and Smith spoke for the first time since her departure from the show. Hubert discussed issues regarding her personal life, which included domestic violence, and revealed she had not been fired from the show as largely believed. Smith admitted that he was neither "sensitive" nor "perceptive" to Hubert's situation and attributed his behavior to being "very young" and "immature" at the time. He has insisted that being a parent has taught him how to understand what she was dealing with and apologized for his actions. Hubert then joined the rest of the guests at the reunion.

Hubert appeared on FX's Pose in season 3 as a family member of Billy Porter's character, Pray Tell, alongside Jackée Harry and Anna Maria Horsford. In 2022, she appeared on The Ms. Pat Show as the title character's mother-in-law, Jewell.

Personal life Hubert suffers from osteoporosis and is the ambassador of the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 Agent on Ice Lola 1994 New Eden Ashtarte TV movie 1995 White Man's Burden Dinner Guest 1999 California Myth Lysistrata 2001 30 Years to Life Joy's Mom2004 Proud Larry's Mother Christmas at Water's Edge Mrs. Turner TV movie Neurotica The Neighbor 2013 Mom Judy Curtains 2015 No Letting Go Dr. Stacey Slater 2016 Not Another Black Movie Aunt Gloria 2019 Christmas Belles Whitley TV movie 2020 JG and the BC Kids Narrator/Blackbird/Stanley Leroy Also screenplay writer2022 Single Black Female Denise TV movie Fever Grace Short Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story Aunt Duke 2023 The Perfect Find Monica 2024 Snatched Carolyn

Television

Year Title Role Notes1988 Hunter Vanessa Riley Episode: "The Fourth Man" 21 Jump Street Councilwoman Travers Episode: "Fun with Animals"1989 Hooperman Loretta Todd Episode: "Look Homeward, Dirtbag" A Man Called Hawk Serita Episode: "Poison" One Life to Live Miriam Episode: "Episode #1.5370" 1990 Tales from the Crypt Psyche Episode: "Till Death" 1990–1993 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Vivian Banks Main role 1992 Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Herself Episode: "She Took the Notes Right of My Mouth" 1992–1993 Reasonable Doubts Judge Mary Sims Recurring role 1993 An Evening at the Improv Herself/Host Episode: "Janet Hubert, Glenn Super, Mary Anne Kelly, and more!"1994 Dave's World Elise Episode: "Shel in Love" Coach Karen Williams Episode: "Blue Chip Blues" 1995 CBS Schoolbreak Special Elaine Baham Episode: "What About Your Friends"1996 The Faculty Annette Freeman Episode: "Somewhere There's Music" The Pretender Madam Director Episode: "The Paper Clock"1997 The Jamie Foxx Show Edwina DuBois Episode: "Act Like You Love Me" Goode Behavior Dr. Pamela Fordham Episode: "Goode Lovin'" Lawless Esther Hayes Episode: "Pilot" 1998 NYPD Blue Hiruut Kebede Episode: "Weaver of Hate" 1999 All My Children Alice Dawson Episode: "May 20, 1999" 2001–2002 The Job Adina Phillips Recurring role2002 Weakest Link Herself Episode: "TV Moms Edition" Gilmore Girls Gisele Gerard Episode: "Back in the Saddle Again" Friends Ms. McKenna Episode: "The One Where Emma Cries" 2003–2004 The Bernie Mac Show Leora Guest 2005–2010 One Life to Live Lisa WilliamsonMain role 2007 E! True Hollywood StoryHerself Episode: "Will Smith" 2010 Life After Episode: "Janet Hubert" 2011 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Evelyn Episode: "A Mother's Payne" 2016–2017 If Loving You Is Wrong Diane Recurring role 2018–2020 General Hospital Yvonne Godfrey Main role 2020 54 Below Premieres Herself Episode: "Norm Lewis: Christmastime Is Here!"2021 Pose Latrice Episode: "Take Me to Church" Love Life Donna WatkinsRecurring role The Last O.G. Miss May Miller 2022 New Amsterdam Dr. Palpa Episode: "Two Doors" 2022–2024 The Ms. Pat Show Jewell Carson Guest: season 2, recurring: season 42023 Sweet Magnolias Bev Decatur Episode: "Someone I'm Longing to See" My Dad the Bounty Hunter Empress Gurira (voice) Recurring role 2025 Demascus Dr. Bonneville Main Role 2025 Bel-Air Iris Episode: "Soulmates"

Music videos Year Artist Song Role 1986 Sylvester "Someone Like You" Dancer

Stage + Year(s) Title Role(s) Notes 1980 Dancin' Performer 1981 The First Passenger/Opal/fan 1982 Cats Tantomile 1983 Sophisticated Ladies Performer 1984 Sleeping Beauty Carameen 2002 Crowns Wanda

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2013 Grand Theft Auto V Denise Clinton

Awards