Born: January 13, 1956
Age: 67
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Janet Louise Hubert (born January 13, 1956)[1] is an American film and television actress. She is best known for playing the role of the original Vivian Banks on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from its first season 1990 until the end of its third season in 1993. Hubert was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in 1991.[2]
Hubert was born in Chicago, Illinois and spent her early days growing up on Chicago's South Side.[1] At the age of nine she moved with her family to rural Chicago.[1] She won a scholarship to the Juilliard School in New York City, but did not complete her studies.[1]Hubert was married to James Whitten from 1990 to 1994; they had a son, Elijah Isaac Whitten. She has been married to Larry Kraft since 2005. She suffers from osteoporosis and is the ambassador of the National Osteoporosis Foundation.[3]
Hubert was the original Tantomile in the first Broadway run of Cats.[4] Hubert played Aunt Viv on Fresh Prince, the role she is most known for. After she was fired from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Hubert's character was played by Daphne Reid for the remainder of the show's run. According to Will Smith, the show's star, he and Hubert had difficulties working together long before her pregnancy.[5]
She was featured in a 2002 episode of Friends as Chandler's boss. In 2005 she began playing the recurring role of Lisa Williamson, mother of attorney Evangeline Williamson, on One Life to Live. Her character has made occasional appearances since then. She was featured as Michel Gerard's mother in an episode of the CW show Gilmore Girls. She has made appearances on episodes of All My Children, Friends, NYPD Blue, The Bernie Mac Show, and Tyler Perry's House of Payne, among others.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | 21 Jump Street | Councilwoman Travers | Episode: "Fun with Animals" |
1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Serita | Episode: "Poison" |
1990 | Tales from the Crypt | Psyche | Episode: "Till Death" |
1992 | Reasonable Doubts | Judge Mary Sims | Episode: "Brother's Keeper" |
1990-1993 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Vivian Banks | 73 episodes |
1994 | Dave's World | Episode: "Shel in Love" | |
1995 | White Man's Burden | Dinner Guest | |
1996 | The Faculty | Annette Freeman | Episode: "Somewhere There's Music" |
1997 | The Jamie Foxx Show | Edwina DuBois | Episode: "Act Like You Love Me" |
1997 | Goode Behavior | Dr. Pamela Fordham | Episode: "Goode Lovin'" |
1998 | NYPD Blue | Hiruut Kebede | Episode: "Weaver of Hate" |
1999 | All My Children | Alice Dawson | Selected episodes |
2001 | 30 Years to Life | Joy's mother | |
2001-2002 | The Job | Adina Phillips | 4 episodes |
2002 | The Weakest Link | Herself | 4th one voted off |
2002 | Gilmore Girls | Gisele Gerard | Episode: "Back in the Saddle Again" |
2002 | Friends | Ms. McKenna | Episode: "The One Where Emma Cries" |
2004 | Neurotica | The Neighbor | |
2003-2004 | The Bernie Mac Show | Leora | 2 episodes: "Meet the Grandparents" and "Make Room for Caddy" |
2004 | Proud | Larry's mother | |
2004 | Christmas at Water's Edge | Mrs. Turner | TV film |
2005, 2010 | One Life to Live | Lisa Williamson | 9 episodes |
2011 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Evelyn | Episode: "A Mother's Payne" |
2015 | Life Twirls On | Aunt Lorraine | TV series |
2016 | No Letting Go | Dr. Stacey Slater | Film |
Ward of the State | Diana Ward | Film | |
Not Another Black Movie | Aunt Gloria | Film | |
2017 | Marcus Garvey Biopic | Sarah Jane Richards | Film |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | Denise Clinton |
Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | |||
Grand Theft Auto V | Behind the Voice Actors Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game | Nominated |
[ Source: Wikipedia ]