What is the name of the character played by Alfonso Ribeiro?

The character played by Alfonso Ribeiro is Carlton Banks. Carlton is Will Smith’s cousin on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and one of the Banks family’s children.

Carlton is introduced as Will’s sharply contrasting counterpart: he is preppy, academically focused, disciplined, and comfortable within Bel-Air’s wealthy social world. Their opposing personalities drive much of the show’s comedy, but Carlton gradually becomes more than a one-dimensional foil. Beneath his polished image, he is insecure, loyal, and capable of significant personal growth.

Ribeiro’s performance also made Carlton famous for his energetic dance, later known as “the Carlton.” The role became Ribeiro’s breakout television performance, and he played Carlton throughout the sitcom’s original run from 1990 to 1996. A frequent mistake is answering “Will Smith,” because Smith plays the central character and narrator, but Ribeiro plays Will’s cousin Carlton Banks.