Karyn Parsons

Best known for her iconic role as Hillary Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Karyn Parsons is an American actress with a decorated history. In addition to appearing in nearly 150 episodes of Fresh Prince, Parsons has also appeared in Lush Life, The Job, and Melrose Place.

Born in Los Angeles in 1966, Parsons attended Santa Monica High School in California. She made her professional acting debut in two episodes of The Bronx Zoo in 1987, followed by appearances in Hunter, Death Spa, Blossom, Class Act, and Major Payne. Her most widely recognized role is undoubtedly Hillary Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990-1996. Starring alongside Will Smith and Alfonso Ribiero, Parsons portrayed the oldest daughter in the Banks family.

Following her success in Fresh Prince, Parsons co-created, co-produced, co-wrote, and co-starred in the Fox sitcom Lush Life in 1996. In 2001, she made several appearances in The Job, an ABC series starring Denis Leary. She then provided voiceover work for the animated series Static Shock and appeared in 13 Moons with Steve Buscemi and Peter Dinklage.

In 2008, Parsons produced Sweet Blackberry, an animated series featuring stories of unsung black heroes. She recently published her first novel, How High The Moon, a story loosely based on her mother’s childhood during the Jim Crow era. A widely recognized actress with a passion for equality, Karyn Parsons is a talented actress with a one-of-a-kind career.