Who is Alfonso Ribeiro? The Fresh Prince star's height, wife and career revealed

20 October 2018, 18:55 | Updated: 20 October 2018, 18:56

Alfonso Ribeiro became a cult hero in the 1990s for playing Will Smith's cousin Carlton in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

He will make a surprise appearance on Strictly Come Dancing this weekend, as he fills in for judge Bruno Tonioli.

But why is he appearing on the show and what has he been up to since the '90s sitcom? Here are all the big facts:

1. Who is Alfonso Ribeiro?

   Alfonso Ribeiro is an American comedian, director, singer, dancer, TV personality and actor.

   Among various acting roles, he is best known for playing Carlton Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and was particularly famous for his Tom Jones-inspired 'Carlton dance'.

   He is also the host of America's Funniest Home Videos. In 2013, he appeared as a contestant on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, finishing seventh. He will also soon host UK game show Money Tree.

2. Why is Alfonso Ribeiro appearing on Strictly?

   

   Alfonso Ribeiro doing the Carlton on DWTS!!!! (HD 720p)

   Alfonso actually began his career as a child dancer. In 1983, he played a leading role in the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid, and later appeared as a dancer in a Pepsi commercial that featured Michael Jackson.

   In 2014, he appeared as one of the celebrities competing in season 19 of Dancing with the Stars, the US equivalent of Strictly (where Bruno Tolioni is also a judge).

   He became the fourth celebrity dancer in the show's history to receive a 9 from each judge in week one. He went on to win the competition. A year later, he returned as a guest judge for one week.

3. Alfonso Ribeiro height: How tall is he?

   Alfonso Ribeiro stands at around 5ft 6 (167.6 cm).

4. Alfonso Ribeiro wife: Is he married and does he have any children?

   

   Alfonso married Robin Stapler in 2002, but they divorced four years later. The couple share joint custody of their daughter, Sienna.

   He then became engaged to writer Angela Unkrich in 2012, and married later in the year. A year later, his wife gave birth to their first son, Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro Jr, known as AJ. In 2015, their second son, Anders Reyn Ribeiro, was born.