Karyn Parsons

Karyn Parsons began her acting career at 13, making her television debut in the NBC drama ‘The Bronx Zoo’ in 1987. Her breakthrough came with the prominent role of Hilary Banks, Will Smith’s cousin, on the hit NBC sitcom ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’, which ran from 1990 to 1996. During this period, she also appeared in films such as ‘Class Act’ (1992) and ‘Major Payne’ (1995). Following ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’, she co-created, co-produced, and co-wrote the Fox sitcom ‘Lush Life’ in 1996, where she also co-starred. In 1998, Parsons took on her first lead role in the award-winning film ‘Mixing Nia’, and later starred in ’13 Moons’ (2002).

Beyond her acting career, Karyn Parsons has become a dedicated advocate for education and literacy. In 2005, she founded Sweet Blackberry, a non-profit organization focused on producing animated films and books that highlight the stories of unsung Black heroes. The initiative aims to provide educational content for children, with narrations by notable figures like Alfre Woodard, Queen Latifah, Chris Rock, and Laurence Fishburne. Her work with Sweet Blackberry has led to films being screened on platforms like HBO and Netflix, making these stories accessible to a wide audience in schools and libraries across the country.

As an author, Parsons has published several books for children. Her middle-grade novel, ‘How High the Moon’ (2019), was inspired by her mother’s personal experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South. She has also authored picture-book biographies through Sweet Blackberry, including ‘Flying Free’ (2020), which tells the story of aviator Bessie Coleman, and ‘Saving the Day’ (2021), about inventor Garrett Morgan. Her upcoming YA debut novel, ‘Blue Beach’, is scheduled for release in the summer of 2026, further expanding her contributions as a writer.