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Karyn Parsons AKA Hilary Banks of ‘Fresh Prince’ Has 2 Kids with Talented Film Director Alexandre Rockwell – Meet Him

Busayo Ogunjimi
Sep 24, 2021
11:00 A.M.

Karyn Parsons, who starred in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," is now a mother to two kids and loving wife to the renowned director Alexandre Rockwell. Here is everything about her real-life family.

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Karyn Parsons brought her character of Hilary Banks to life in one of the most iconic Black dramas of the century. While playing Banks on "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air," she exhibited naivety, ambition, and loyalty, making her one of the most beloved personalities in the production.

It has been years since the series ended, and like most of the cast members who have evolved, Parsons has achieved an incredible feat and maintained relevance in the entertainment industry.

Picture of the cast of the season 4 of TV show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"  | Photo: Getty Images

Picture of the cast of the season 4 of TV show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" | Photo: Getty Images

She is an accomplished actress, a novelist, and runs a non-profit organization; she's also a brilliant activist with a thirst to reveal everything she knows about her race.

Among these titles, the actress is a happy and fulfilled family woman with pure dedication towards her family, including her talented film director husband, Alexandre Rockwell, and their two biracial kids.

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WHO IS KARYN PARSONS?

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Many associate her with "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," and rightly so as she distinguished herself among other cast members. However, she lives a reality with many intriguing details, one of which is that she has been married twice.

Now, Parsons is enjoying a sweet relationship with Rockwell, with everything going pretty well, but their happily-ever-after happened 13 years after her divorce from her first husband, Randy Brooks.

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Like his ex-wife, Brooks thrived in the acting industry as an actor and writer. Some of his film credits include "Assassination," "Colors," and "Reservoir Dogs."

While their marriage did not work, the actress kept on pursuing her career, waiting for her knight in shining armor to come and sweep her off the ground. It was not until after 13 years of divorce that she became a Mrs. for a second time.

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Parsons may be great at acting, but she decided to put it on hold to chase other dreams, which involve passionately talking about her heritage and history.

The author admitted that acting became a bit demanding, especially since she has to memorize scripts, describing it as a difficult dance. However, she also maintained that anything is possible, and she has not totally given up on her acting career.

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WHO IS PARSONS' SECOND HUSBAND?

Rockwell is a notable and reputable film director who was born into a talented family. His grandfather was a Russian-born animator, while his grandmother was an artist.

In the 1980s, Rockwell established himself in the film business by producing some short films. Over the years, he gained credibility through his works, including "Soup," "13 moons," "Little Feet," and a more recent one, "Sweet Thing."

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The director has also introduced his kids to the business of acting. His daughter, Lana, and son, Nico, starred in his 2013 film "Little Feet."

They later bagged roles in their dad's "Sweet Thing," which was more like a family project, as it also featured his wife. The film centered on two siblings plagued with bad and poor parenting, which were real-life experiences from Rockwell's childhood.

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KARYN PARSONS' MARRIAGE/FAMILY

Parsons, who often promotes her African American image, was born to a Black mother and white father, and she married a Caucasian man.

It took some time before the couple decided to have kids, and when they did, they pledged to raise their biracial kids with strong character rather than focus on their distinct mixed races.

During an interview, the mother of two explained that building a personality is not about race or looks, but about understanding one's background, history and also appreciate other people's history too.

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This has been her tool mechanism in raising her biracial kids. Parsons added that her daughter does not look black and gets frustrated because she is never heard or taken seriously in some issues relating to people of the race.

The actress gushed over her mini-me, who is also an actress, defining her as a lady with small power and desire to research and make contributions on some sensitive matters concerning the African-American race, despite how she is treated when it is time to speak about it.

The entire pack is often supportive of each other, and while Parsons is active in her parenting game, her husband is unrelenting in his quest to be a loving and appreciative family man.

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When Rockwell debuted a project last year and later attended the Berlin Film Festival, his kids and wife graced the event with their presence. The film director shared a sweet post that captured their time on the red carpet and quipped:

"Wonderful moments at our World Premiere in Berlin. Thank you each and everyone for being with us during the festival and supporting our film making the way."

This year, he shared a throwback snap from her event featuring his family again and added, "Red carpet smiles right before meeting our incredible audience in Berlin. #throwback."

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PARSONS ON ATTITUDE TO LABELS

When speaking about her creativity, for example, in her first book "How High The Moon," dedicated to telling stories about identity and the African American race, and non-profit "Sweet Blackberry," she explained that her aim is not to attract any name tags or labels.

When asked if she sees herself as a social justice bringer or feminist, Parsons said, "It's so funny, I don't label myself. I don't reject being called some of these things. It's just that I'm human … I've had people introduce me as an activist … I never set out thinking that way. But I certainly don't reject it."

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Parsons may have kicked aside her passion for acting and is more focused on parenting, educating the younger generations, and telling the Black history, but she is also on great terms with her former cast members from the family drama.

Last year, the cast of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" reunited in a special way despite the coronavirus. This moment was recounted by Parsons, who described it as beautiful and emotional.

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