Hilary from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: what is she up to now?

For those who look back fondly on the hit shows of the '90s, one of the most memorable characters from late-millennium TV comedy is Hilary Banks.

Hilary was Will Smith's cousin in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' sometimes garnering fame spikes that rivaled the show's main star.

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Much of the character's success can be attributed to Karyn Parsons, who portrayed the spoiled and often-annoying Hilary Banks for 146 episodes over six seasons... but her cultural imprint makes it seem like there were even more.

Parsons' outstanding acting prowess led the show's creators, Andy and Susan Borowitz, to develop her character in a way that endeared her to fans even more.

Who can forget the dramatic scene where Trevor proposed to Hilary and she said yes, even as her boyfriend lay flattened on the ground after his parachute failed to open?

By the time the series ended in 1996, Karyn Parsons, at 30, was a queen of comedy and seemed poised to take on Hollywood, be it in film or TV. But that didn't pan out.

In fact, can you recall any of her roles outside of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?' It's hard to even find a memorable cameo.

The truth is, Karyn Parsons' career would continue until 2002, albeit with no role coming anywhere close to the stature of Hilary Banks.

Right after 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' ended, Karyn Parsons ventured to create, write, and produce her own show — a sitcom titled 'Lush Life.'

It was a notable flop, and Fox canceled it after airing just four episodes, even though only three more had been filmed. Clearly, it wasn't quite 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.'

Her last role before taking a 16-year break came in 2002 with 'The Job,' a critically acclaimed police drama that was cancelled after a 10-episode season. Here, she is seen alongside Denis Leary, the show's star.

After yet another professional setback, Karyn Parsons decided to take a break from her acting career. After she did a 360, the magnetic star found much more success as a mother and educator.

In February 2003, she tied the knot with director Alexander Rockwell. It was her second marriage, as she had previously been married to actor Randy Brooks from 1987 to 1990.

Together with Alexander Rockwell, they formed a beautiful family unit, welcoming Lana (born in March 2003) and Nico (born in May 2007).

As she said in a 2017 'Cryptic Rock' interview, her departure from acting was linked to the typecasting she experienced post-Hilary. "That's happened, it's a drag," she said, adding: "I can't complain too much because I think I've had more doors open because of Fresh Prince than doors closed."

"I've have had that happen where I wanted to see someone for a part that I knew I could do and they just said, 'No, we know what she does and what she is like.' They thought I was like Hilary."

Karyn Parsons didn't work as an actress again until 2018, when she took part in an exceptional short film titled 'On Monday of Last Week,' an adaptation of a short story. She later starred in the full-length version in 2020 titled 'Sweet Things,' sharing the screen with her children.

So, what has Karyn Parsons been up to over the years? She's been publishing children's books with big success. Titles include 'Clouds over California,' 'How High the Moon,' and the 'A Sweet Blackberry' collection.

Photo: karynparsons / Instagram

The mostly former actress also founded and is the president of Sweet Blackberry, an organization that brings little-known stories of African American achievements to kids. "They are stories that are really inspiring for children. It can really empower them and teach them how great obstacles are actually opportunities for greatness, that's their purpose," she told Cryptic Rock.

Photo: karynparsons / Instagram -

And while Karyn Parsons hasn't ruled out returning to acting, she admits that right now, she has "other things to attend to that are more important to me."

Photo: karynparsons / Instagram

The world may have lost Hilary Banks, but it gained Karyn Parsons, who, in a totally different way, is making the world a better place too.

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