Alfonso Ribeiro was born on September 21, 1971, in the Bronx, New York, to parents who emigrated from Trinidad and Tobago. He began performing professionally at just eight years old, and later landed the lead role in the Tony-winning Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid. His early success in dance led to a Pepsi commercial alongside Michael Jackson in 1984 and a role on Silver Spoons.

In 1990, Ribeiro chose the pilot The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air over an established role on A Different World. His portrayal of the prissy, dance-loving Carlton Banks for six seasons made him an instant pop culture icon. Behind the camera, he also built an impressive television directing résumé, with credits including Shake It Up, Are We There Yet?, and In the House.

After winning Dancing with the Stars in 2014, Ribeiro transitioned into hosting. He took over America’s Funniest Home Videos from Tom Bergeron beginning with Season 26 in 2015. He also became co-host of Dancing with the Stars in 2022. Currently, he is in his eleventh season hosting AFV and simultaneously helming Dancing with the Stars, cementing his status as one of ABC’s most versatile on-air talents.