Why didn't Karyn Parsons have a bigger career post-"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 10-29-2019, 12:24 AM

I don't know for sure if Karyn was expected to be the "breakout star" among the supporting cast. I mean, Alfonso Riberio among the Banks kids, was already known thanks to Silver Spoons. But Karyn's career more or less, "began and ended" with Fresh Prince.

I wonder if a big part of the problem is that Karyn kind of got typecast as Hilary Banks. She played the part of a ditsy, spoiled, young valley girl so well that she became too acquainted by it to the general public. Also, a lot of her non-Fresh Prince work like Major Payne (which has since gone on to be kind of a cult hit) and Ladies Man underwhelmed at the box office.

And right after Fresh Prince ended, she did this sitcom with Lori Petty called Lush Life. Think of it as the 2 Broke Girls of its time period. The show however, was ultimately cancelled after four episodes and Karyn Parsons never front-lined or was a major player on a sitcom again.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 10-29-2019, 02:40 AM

Good points.

I don't think her image as the snobby stuck up Hillary helped. She was probably typecast.

TMC · 06-18-2021, 03:16 AM

I was just reading comments elsewhere on online that debated whether or not Karyn was likely typecast. One thing to keep in mind is that Karyn was already 30 (presumably playing a girl at least three years younger) when The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ended its run in 1996. Maybe had Karyn been a more convincing actress, she would've been able to transcend the concerns about being "too old" or to work as a leading lady.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 06-19-2021, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

I was just reading comments elsewhere on online that debated whether or not Karyn was likely typecast. One thing to keep in mind is that Karyn was already 30 (presumably playing a girl at least three years younger) when The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ended its run in 1996. Maybe had Karyn been a more convincing actress, she would've been able to transcend the concerns about being "too old" or to work as a leading lady.

LOL..at 30 for a woman in Hollywood you're only a few years away from being over the hill! Plus what roles are there for a shallow, money hungry snob anyway??

10-29-2019, 12:24 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,225	Why didn't Karyn Parsons have a bigger career post-"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" I don't know for sure if Karyn was expected to be the "breakout star" among the supporting cast. I mean, Alfonso Riberio among the Banks kids, was already known thanks to Silver Spoons. But Karyn's career more or less, "began and ended" with Fresh Prince. I wonder if a big part of the problem is that Karyn kind of got typecast as Hilary Banks. She played the part of a ditsy, spoiled, young valley girl so well that she became too acquainted by it to the general public. Also, a lot of her non-Fresh Prince work like Major Payne (which has since gone on to be kind of a cult hit) and Ladies Man underwhelmed at the box office. And right after Fresh Prince ended, she did this sitcom with Lori Petty called Lush Life. Think of it as the 2 Broke Girls of its time period. The show however, was ultimately cancelled after four episodes and Karyn Parsons never front-lined or was a major player on a sitcom again.
	Last edited by TMC; 06-18-2021 at 03:17 AM.

10-29-2019, 02:40 AM	#2
SitcomsHeydayfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2018 Location: The Show Me state Posts: 2,966	Good points. I don't think her image as the snobby stuck up Hillary helped. She was probably typecast.

06-18-2021, 03:16 AM	#3
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,225	I was just reading comments elsewhere on online that debated whether or not Karyn was likely typecast. One thing to keep in mind is that Karyn was already 30 (presumably playing a girl at least three years younger) when The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ended its run in 1996. Maybe had Karyn been a more convincing actress, she would've been able to transcend the concerns about being "too old" or to work as a leading lady.