Fans of America’s Funniest Videos recognize Alfonso Ribeiro as the current host of the show, but Alfonso has had a solid track record of being on our tv screens for quite a while. This iconic tv personality was on Dancing With The Stars and was a famous sitcom star in the 90’s. Curious about Alfonso? Check out his full bio and learn more about how he ended up as the newest host of Amerca’s Funniest Home Videos!
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America’s Funniest Home Videos: Alfonso Ribeiro Biography
Alfonso was born Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro on September 21, 1971, in Bronx, NY. He is an actor, game show host, dancer and television director. He is known for his roles as Alfonso Spears on Silver Spoons from 1984-1987 and Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990-1996. Currently, Alfonso is the host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, taking over for Tom Bergeron when he left the show in 2015. He is also the Season 19 winner of Dancing with the Stars, with pro dancer Witney Carson.
Alfonso first gained recognition playing the lead role in Broadway’s The Tap Dance Kid in 1983. That role earned him a nomination for an Outer Critics Circle Award. In 1984, he was in a Pepsi commercial with Michael Jackson. Also in 1984, Alfonso got the role of Alfonso Spear on the hit TV show Silver Spoons. However, his breakout role came in 1990 when he landed the role of Carlton Banks on the hit TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He founded the Carlton Dance, which became a huge phenomenon.
After The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ended in 1996, Alfonso had a role in the TV show In the House from 1996-1999, playing the role of Dr. Maxwell Stanton. He was also the host of several television shows including as a guest host for one episode Soul Train in 1994, host of Your Big Break in 2000, host of Catch 21 from 2008-2011 and host of Spell-Mageddon in 2013.
Alfonso directed several television shows throughout his career including one episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1995, 26 episodes of All of Us in 2006-2007, eight episodes of Meet the Browns in 2009-2010, 19 episodes of Are We There Yet? in 2011-2012 and one episode of Mighty Med in 2014.
Alfonso has been married twice. He married Robin Stapler in 2002, but they divorced four years later in 2006. They had one child together, Sienna. He married his second wife, Angela Unkrich, in 2012 and they have two children together, Alfonso Jr and Anders.
He was great on Dancing with the Stars! I only remembered that and the show with Will Smith. He obviously is much more talented then I thought.
I have to be honest: I knew nothing about him. So this was all brand new information to me. Nice to know.
I watched him on Fresh Prince and on Dancing with the Stars he is a wonderful talent.
Carlton, Carlton, Carlton! I love him – such talent he has in so many different areas!
He’s also a great host, but nothing beats the original of course. He’s quite funny though and I enjoy watching him as well.
I didn’t even know the show was still on. Now that I do and that he’s hosting, I’m watching!
He’s fabulous. I haven’t seen him on AFHV yet though. I really don’t know much about him beyond he was on Fresh prince and dancing with the stars so this was neat to read.
Great host… He is quite funny, I really enjoy watching him!!!