Karyn Parsons Rockwell (born October 8, 1966) is an American actress, author and comedian. She is best known for her role as Hilary Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1996. Parsons also starred in the 1995 film Major Payne opposite Damon Wayans, and in ABC sitcom The Job (2001–2002) as Toni.
Early life Parsons was born on October 8, 1966, in Los Angeles, California. In an interview for Essence in 2008, she described her parentage as biracial. Her mother, Louise (née Hankerson) Parsons, was an African-American from Charleston, South Carolina, and her father, Kenneth B. Parsons, was of English and Welsh descent, from Butte, Montana. She attended Santa Monica High School.
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 is the founder of the Sweet Blackberry Foundation, which produces animated films and books about unsung black heroes. The first video in the series was about Henry Box Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom.
Parsons has also published three books for children: a middle-grade novel, How High the Moon (2019), which was loosely inspired by stories of her mother's childhood in the Jim Crow South; and two Sweet Blackberry picture-book biographies about black historical figures, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie: Flying Free (2020) about pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman, and Saving the Day (2021) about inventor Garrett Morgan.
Personal life Parsons was married to Randy Brooks from 1987 until their separation in 1990. She married director Alexandre Rockwell in 2003. Together they have a daughter, Lana, and a son, Nico. The couple live in Brooklyn, New York.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 Death Spa Brooke Her film debut 1992 Class Act Ellen 1995 Major Payne Emily Walburn 1998 Mixing Nia Nia 2000 Julie Simmons 2002 13 Moons Lily 2019 On Monday of Last Week Tracy Short film 2020 Sweet Thing Eve 2026 The Projectionist Rosa
Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 Amelia 2 episodes 1988 Hunter Elizabeth Childs Episode: "Renegade" CBS Summer Playhouse Lynette Episode: "Roughhouse" 1990–1996 Hilary Banks Main role; 147 episodes 1992 Blossom Episode: "Wake Up Little Suzy" Out All Night Episode: "The Great Pretender" 1995 Annie Episode: "Several Unusual Love Stories" 1996 Gulliver's Travels Lady-in-waiting Episode: "February 4, 1996" Lush Life Margot Hines Lead role 1999 Melrose Place Jackie Zambrano 2 episodes Linc's Elaine Episode: "Dog Day Afternoon" 2001–2002 Toni Main role 2002 Static Shock Tracy Flackman Voice, episode: "Static Shaq"
Books written How High the Moon (2019) Flying Free (2020) Blue Beach (2026)
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