Tatyana Ali and Alfonso Ribeiro brought The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air nostalgia to the Dancing with the Stars ballroom as they reunited for an emotional tribute to their late television father, James Avery.
Ali, who played Ashley Banks in the popular 1990s sitcom, dedicated her Viennese waltz to Avery during the programme’s Dedication Night on Tuesday.
Avery, remembered by millions of viewers as family patriarch Philip “Uncle Phil” Banks, died in December 2013 from complications following heart surgery. He was 68.
Ali performs to her own vocals
Ali and her professional partner Jan Ravnik performed their routine to Nancy Wilson’s “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am”.
The actress made the performance even more personal by recording her own version of the song.
Ribeiro, who played her on-screen brother Carlton Banks and now co-hosts Dancing with the Stars, joined them on the dance floor for the tribute.
Ali said the performance would not have felt complete without Ribeiro beside her because they had both shared such a close relationship with Avery.
The routine received 32 points out of a possible 40 from the judges.
James Avery was a father figure
Before entering the ballroom, Ali became emotional while explaining the influence Avery had on her life.
She described him as a father figure to the young actors on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and credited him with teaching her that acting could be more than simply a job.
According to Ali, Avery showed her how artists could use their work to contribute something meaningful and connect themselves to a wider cultural history.
He also introduced her to jazz and encouraged her to understand the responsibilities that came with being a performer.
“I loved him a lot,” Ali said as she explained why she wanted to honour him during Dedication Night.
Ribeiro joins rehearsals
Ribeiro participated in rehearsals throughout the week as Ali and Ravnik prepared the dance.
He described the performance as an opportunity to thank the man who had played such an important role in their lives both on and off screen.
The tribute concluded with a photograph of Avery and loving messages to his family.
Ali and Ribeiro portrayed siblings throughout all six seasons of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran from 1990 until 1996.
Although Will Smith led the sitcom, Avery’s Uncle Phil became one of its most beloved characters, remembered for his authority, humour and emotional support for the Banks family.
Ribeiro has previously described Avery as a “second dad”, while Ali said his lessons continued to shape her life long after the series ended.
Their Dancing with the Stars reunion offered fans a touching reminder of the close relationships formed behind the scenes of the classic sitcom.
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