The 27 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actors who have died since the show ended as spin-off finale airs
A total of 27 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actors have died since the show finished airing in 1996.
The sitcom starred Will Smith as a teenager adjusting to a new life with his distant family in the wealthy Californian neighborhood of Bel-Air.
In 2022, Peacock launched its own re-imagined version of the classic, titled Bel Air.
Starring Jabari Banks as Smith, the 'darker, unique' spin-off saw some original characters make special appearances, including Daphne Maxwell Reid (the second Aunt Viv), Vernee Watson-Johnson (Will’s mom, Vy) and Tatyana Ali (the original Ashley Banks).
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After four seasons, the TV show concluded with its finale on Monday night (December 8).
Here's a look back at those who have sadly died since Fresh Prince wrapped up almost 30 years ago.
John Wesley - Dr Hoover
Wesley played him play the father of a bully who targeted Wills' cousin, Ashley Banks.
He died on September 7, 2019, weeks after turning 72 years old.
He passed away from complications of blood cell cancer, multiple myeloma.
Galyn Görg - Helena
Actress and dancer Görg played a woman who famously boxed with Will in the aptly-named 1996 episode, Boxing Helena.
She died the day before her 56th birthday on July 14, 2020.
A week prior, Görg had been diagnosed with cancer, which had spread throughout her body and lungs.
James Avery - Uncle Phil
Avery played Philip Banks, better known as Uncle Phil, in all 148 episodes of Fresh Prince.
The beloved family patriarch helped Will transition from West Philadelphia to wealthy Bel-Air life, earning adoration for his stern yet loving attitude towards all his children.
Avery was the first core cast member to die.
On December 31 2013, aged 68, he died from complications from open-heart surgery.
Milton Berle - Max Jakey
Comedian Berle played Max Jakey, a man Will meets at the hospital in Season 3's episode, Boyz in the Wood.
The actor revealed he'd been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his colon in April 2001.
He had declined surgery, believing the tumor was growing so slowly it would take up to 12 years to become life-threatening.
He died less than a year later, age 93 on March 27 2002 from colon cancer.
Robert Guillaume - Pete Fletcher
Actor and singer Guillaume played Pete Fletcher, the owner of a car dealership where Will briefly worked as a car salesman in the season four's episode, You'd Better Shop Around.
He died on October 24, 2017 of prostate cancer at the age of 89.
Floyd Roger Myers Jr - Young Will
Myers made his acting debut as a young version of Will in a 1992 episode of Fresh Prince.
He died on 29 October 2025 at the age of 42 from a heart attack.
He had reportedly been battling heart issues for a number of years.
John Witherspoon - Augustus Adams
Witherspoon played the overprotective father of Will's girlfriend, Lisa, in Fresh Prince.
Witherspoon died age 77 of a heart attack at his Sherman Oaks home on October 29, 2019.
Pat Morita - Mr Yoshi
Comedian and actor Morita played karate instructor Mr Yoshi in season five's Love Hurts episode.
Morita died of kidney failure after a urinary tract and gallbladder infection on November 24, 2005.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner - Hilary's boyfriend
Warner guest starred in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, playing the boyfriend of Will's cousin, Hilary, in 1991.
He died on July 20, 2025 at the age of 54.
Warner had been out with a group learning to surf at Playa Cocles in Limón Province, Costa Rica when he disappeared.
He was rescued from the water and given CPR for 45 minutes but pronounced dead at the scene.
The Judicial Investigation Agency confirmed Warner had been caught in a strong current.
His cause of death was determined to be accidental asphyxia by submersion (drowning).
Isaac Hayes - Singing Minister
Hayes starred as the musical minister officiating Will and Lisa's wedding in Season four finale, The Wedding.
On August 10, 2008, aged 65, Hayes was found unresponsive at his home. He is thought to have died from a stroke.
B.B King - Pappy
The legendary blues musician played famous musical artist Pappy in the 1995 episode, Bourgie Sings the Blues.
King died at the age of 89 on May 14, 2015.
He died in his sleep from vascular dementia, caused by a series of small strokes as a consequence of type 2 diabetes.
Naya Rivera - Cindy
She may be best know for her role as Santana Lopez in musical drama Glee, but as a child Rivera featured in an episode of Fresh Prince.
At six years old, she played Cindy, Hilary's imagined 'perfect' baby sister, in season three's Bundle of Joy episode.
Rivera died at the age of 33 on July 8, 2020.
She drowned while on a boat trip with her four-year-old son on California's Lake Piru.
Hugh Hefner - Himself
Playboy founder Hefner appeared as himself in the 1993 Fresh Prince After Dark episode, where Hilary poses for the famous magazine, leading to Will and Carlton visiting the Mansion - all while Will tries to balance it with a date with Jackie.
Hefner died at his infamous mansion on September 27, 2017, at the age of 91.
He died from a heart attack and respiratory failure, after going into sepsis brought on by an E. coli infection.
Don Cornelius - Himself
Soul Train creator and host Cornelius appeared as himself for the 1994 episode Soooooooul Train, where Phil and Vivian are invited to take part in a special episode.
The TV show host died of suicide on February 1, 2012, at the age of 75.
Virginia Capers - Hattie Banks
Capers played Hattie Banks, Uncle Phil's mom and the grandmother of Hilary, Carlton, Ashley and Nicky.
She takes a liking to Will, and even sneaks him out to a Heavy D concert in one memorable episode.
Capers died on May 6 2004 at the age of 78 from complications from pneumonia.
Dick Clark - Himself
The iconic TV presenter appeared as himself in 1994's The Philadelphia Story episode.
Clark died on April 18, 2012 after suffering a heart attack following a surgical procedure.
Regis Philbin - Himself
Famed TV presenter Philbin appears as himself in the 1996 episode, I, Stank Hole in One.
He died aged 88 on July 25 2020 from heart disease due to coronary artery disease.
Heavy D - himself
Jamaican rapper Dwight Arrington Myers - better known as Heavy D - guest starred as himself in two episodes of Fresh Prince.
He lead Heavy D & the Boyz, an influential hip-hop group featuring DJ/producer Eddie F, and dancers Trouble T-Roy and G-Whiz.
He died on November 8 2011 after collapsing outside his Los Angeles home.
An autopsy ruled his cause of death a pulmonary embolism - where a blood clot, usually from the leg, travels to the lungs and blocks the pulmonary artery.
He also suffered from heart disease.
Los Angeles County Department of Coroner chief, Craig Harvey, said the blood clot 'most likely formed during an extended airplane ride.'
Conrad Bain - Philip Drummond
Bain reprised his role of Diff'rent Strokes' Phillip Drummond for season six's episode, I, Done, Part One.
He died at the age of 89 on January 14, 2023. His cause of death was a stroke.
Gary Coleman - Arnold Jackson
Coleman also appeared as his famous character, Arnold Jackson from Diff'rent Strokes, in the special crossover episode.
Gary Coleman was hospitalized in critical condition on May 26, 2010, after falling at his Utah home and suffering a head injury from an epidural hematoma, possibly caused by a seizure. Though he was initially awake and coherent, his condition quickly declined. He fell unconscious on May 27 and was placed on life support. Coleman died the following day, May 28, 2010, at the age of 42.
Sherman Hemsley - Judge Carl Robertson
Sherman Hemsley played Judge Carl Robertson, Uncle Phil's rival and fellow judge, in Fresh Prince.
He also briefly cameoed as George Jefferson, his iconic role from CBS sitcom The Jeffersons.
Hemsley died at his home in El Paso, Texas on July 24, 2012, at age 74.
He lost his life to to superior vena cava syndrome, a complication associated with lung cancer.
Charlie Robinson - Ernest
Robinson played Uncle Phil's old college friend Ernest in the 1995 episode, To Thine Own Self Be Blue... and Gold.
He died from a heart attack on July 11, 2021 at age 75.
Robinson had multisystem organ failure due to septic shock and glandular cell cancer that had spread to other parts of the body.
Richard Roundtree - Dr Mumford
Roundtree played Will's therapist, Dr Mumford, in an episode of Fresh Prince.
He died from prostate cancer at the age of 81 on October 24, 2023.
Isabel Sanford - Louise Jefferson
Isabel Sanford reprised her iconic role as The Jeffersons' Louise Jefferson as the on-screen wife of George Jefferson on Fresh Prince.
Louise "Weezy" Jefferson on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, reprising her iconic role from All in the Family and The Jeffersons, appearing as a guest star in two episodes where she and George offered marital advice to Will and Hilary.
Sanford died on July 9 2004 of 'natural causes' after being hospitalized five days prior.
Macon McCalman - Dr Baylor
Star of stage, screen and TV, McCalman appeared as Dr Baylor in 1992's Ill Will episode, where Will has to go to hospital to get his tonsils out.
McCalman died a month before his 73rd birthday in 2005 from complications of a serious stroke.
Sullivan Walker - Reverend Boyd
Walker played the church minister who makes a pass at Vivian in the 1996 episode, Hare Today.
He died of a heart attack on February 20, 2012, just three months after turning 65.
Zsa Zsa Gabor - Sonya Lamor
Hungarian socialite and actress Gabor played famous movie star Sonya Lamor in season two's Hi-Ho Silver episode.
Will and Carlton are convinced she is stealing the family's silverware.
Gabor died on December 18 2016 at the age of 99.
She was in a coma when she suffered a cardiac arrest.
Coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease were listed as contributing causes on her death certificate.
Topics: Film and TV, Nostalgia
Ellie Kemp