Karyn Parsons

Karyn Parsons
Born (1966-10-08) October 8, 1966
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality American
Education Santa Monica High School
Occupation Actress, producer, television writer
Years active 1987–2002
Known for Hilary BanksThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Spouse(s) Randy Brooks (divorced)
Alexandre Rockwell (m. 2003)
Children 2

Karyn Parsons–Rockwell (born October 8, 1966)[1] is an American actress. Parsons is best known for her role as Hilary Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air which ran from 1990–96. She also starred in the 1995 film Major Payne playing Emily Walburn.

Early life

Parsons was born in Los Angeles, California. In an interview for Essence in 2008, she described her parentage as biracial.[2] Her mother, Louise Parsons, is an African American from Charleston, South Carolina and her father, Kenneth B. Parsons, is of Welsh descent and from Butte, Montana. She attended Santa Monica High School.[3]

Career

Parsons starred as Hilary Banks on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996. She co-created, co-produced, co-wrote, and co-starred on the Fox sitcom Lush Life in 1996, which was later canceled after four episodes. In 2001, she starred in the critically acclaimed but short-lived television series The Job with Denis Leary.

Besides television, Parsons has starred in several films, particularly in comedies such as Late Nights (1992), Major Payne (1995), and The Ladies Man (2000). Parsons' current project is Sweet Blackberry, producing a line of animated films about unsung black heroes. The first in the series is about Henry "Box" Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom.[4]

Personal life

Parsons' first marriage was to The Young and the Restless actor Randy Brooks, but they later divorced in the 1990s. Parsons married director Alexandre Rockwell in 2003. Together they have a daughter, Lana (born March 2003), and a son, Nico (born May 2007).[5]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role
1989 Death Spa Brooke
1992 Class Act Ellen
1995 Major Payne Emily Walburn
1998 Mixing Nia Nia
2000 Ladies Man, TheThe Ladies Man Julie Simmons
2002 13 Moons Lily
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1987 Bronx Zoo, TheThe Bronx Zoo Girl Episode: "Changes"
1987 Bronx Zoo, TheThe Bronx Zoo Student #2 Episode: "The Power of a Lie"
1988 Hunter Elizabeth Childs Episode: "Renegade"
1988 CBS Summer Playhouse Lynette Episode: "Roughhouse"
1990–96 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, TheThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Hilary Banks Main cast; 146 episodes
1992 Blossom Hilary Banks Episode: "Wake Up Little Suzy"
1992 Out All Night Hilary Banks Episode: "The Great Pretender"
1995 John Larroquette Show, TheThe John Larroquette Show Annie Episode: "Several Unusual Love Stories"
1996 Gulliver's Travels Lady-in-waiting Miniseries
1996 Lush Life Margot Hines Main cast; 4 episodes
1999 Melrose Place Jackie Zambrano 2 episodes
1999 Linc's Elaine Episode: "Dog Day Afternoon"
2001–02 Job, TheThe Job Toni 10 episodes
2002 Static Shock Tracy Voice; episode: "Static Shaq"

References

External links

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