Karyn Parsons
About
Biography
Biography
Assured young TV actor who gained exposure playing Hilary Banks, the spoiled, self-centered cousin of Will Smith on the hit sitcom, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (NBC, 1990-96). Parsons had previously worked as a model and appeared in nearly two dozen TV commercials before making her TV debut in "Roughhouse" (CBS, 1988), a busted pilot directed by Martha Coolidge. She began to branch out into a feature career playing the female lead in "Class Act" (1992), a teen comedy starring pop rappers Kid 'N' Play. Parsons was selected to perform similar chores opposite Damon Wayans in "Major Payne" (1995). She returned to series TV in 1996 co-starring with Lori Petty in the short-lived Fox sitcom "Lush Life," in which the two played roommates.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1988
TV debut, a supporting role in "Roughhouse", an unsold sitcom pilot directed by Martha Coolidge and broadcast on "CBS Summer Playhouse"
1990
Feature debut, "Death Spa/Witch Bitch" (filmed in 1987)
1990
Cast as Hilary Banks on the hit NBC sitcom, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"
1992
Played the female lead in the feature, "Class Act"
1995
Acted in the feature "Major Payne"
1996
Co-starred with Lori Petty in the short-lived Fox sitcom "Lush Life"; also co-created the series
1998
Starred as a biracial woman in the independent film "Mixing Nia"
Family
