Karyn Parsons

Karyn Parsons, widely recognized for her iconic role as Hilary Banks on the hit NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996), has cultivated a dynamic career across acting, authorship, and philanthropy. Her professional journey began with a television debut in the NBC drama The Bronx Zoo in 1987, quickly followed by her breakthrough as a series regular on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. During her six-season tenure on the critically acclaimed show, Parsons also expanded her film credits, appearing in Class Act (1992) and Major Payne (1995). Following the sitcom’s conclusion, she transitioned into a multi-hyphenate role, co-creating, co-producing, co-writing, and co-starring in the Fox sitcom Lush Life in 1996.

Sweet Blackberry’s educational films have been screened on major platforms including HBO and Netflix, extending their reach to a wide audience through distribution in schools and libraries nationwide. As an author, Parsons debuted with the middle-grade novel How High the Moon in 2019. She has further contributed to children’s literature with picture-book biographies released through Sweet Blackberry, including Flying Free (2020), which chronicles the life of aviator Bessie Coleman, and Saving the Day (2021), focusing on inventor Garrett Morgan. Parsons also made recent acting appearances in the film On Monday of Last Week (2018) and Sweet Thing (2020).

Looking ahead, Parsons continues to build on her literary career with her upcoming YA debut novel, Blue Beach, scheduled for release in the summer of 2026. Through her ongoing contributions as an acclaimed actress and a dedicated author and founder of Sweet Blackberry, Karyn Parsons remains committed to inspiring and educating audiences while championing important narratives of Black history and excellence.