The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is remembered for a lot of reasons, but one of the most heartwarming legacies of the show is the friendship between Will Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro. Their bond did not just stay on screen; it carried over into real life and has lasted for decades. Even though they worked together on the show for six years, their friendship runs much deeper than most fans realize. Ribeiro was much more than just a co-star or buddy to Smith. He was a game-changer for Will Smith’s career.

Ribeiro completely shifted the way Smith approached acting, especially when it came to comedy.

Will Smith recently appeared on Vice’s docuseries Black Comedy in America, where he gave a shoutout to the co-stars and collaborators who influenced him creatively and supported him as true friends. Out of everyone, the one person he says "totally transformed" his life was Alfonso Ribeiro. Smith told Black Comedy in America that Ribeiro had a unique understanding of him that only few others shared. But what really stood out to Smith was Ribeiro’s fearless approach to comedy- he was never afraid to go out on a “comedic limb”.

Ribeiro was not afraid to take risks with jokes, even when they had the potential to fall flat. Smith learned from him that “the willingness to crash and burn is the only way you can be funny.” Ribeiro’s philosophy was simple- “You commit so the writers can know it doesn’t work.” That mindset stayed with Smith and influenced how he tackled characters and humor throughout his career. But it was not a one-sided friendship.

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Smith was there for Ribeiro too, something the television host has spoken about.

Will Smith, who had his big break in the 1990s with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, went on to carve out space for himself in Hollywood with bigger and bigger roles. Ribeiro, on the other hand, did not see the same level of award-winning success as the King Richard star. This sparked criticism that Smith had not done enough to help his friend. But in 2020, Ribeiro set the record straight.

Speaking on the Sway in the Morning show, Ribeiro shut down the naysayers by saying the Smith had helped him “in many ways beyond what we have seen on camera.” Their friendship, which has lasted over 30 years, remains as strong as ever. And it is heartwarming to see Smith still crediting Ribeiro for shaping his career and outlook as an actor.

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