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Janet Hubert

Acting Born Jan 13, 1956 Chicago, Illinois, USA 24 credits

Biography

Janet Louise Hubert was born in Chicago, IL. She is best known for playing the sassy, witty, outgoing, protective mom on the hit TV sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990).

Janet Hubert spent most of her childhood growing up in Momence, IL. That changed when she won a scholarship to Julliard School in New York City. After Juilliard, Janet studied all forms of dance and studied with some of the best teachers including Alvin Ailey and David Howard. She debuted on Broadway in "The First". She went on to do shows such as "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Dancin'", and was a member of the original Broadway cast of "CATS", where she created the role of Tantomile, and was the understudy for Betty Buckley, singing the title role, in New York City. However, her most memorable role came in 1990 when she made her TV debut in "Fresh Prince". She has since guest-starred on numerous shows, including Gilmore Girls (2000), Friends (1994), The Bernie Mac Show (2001) and Tales from the Crypt (1989). She has also appeared on the Tyler Perry hit House of Payne (2006). Janet has been battling osteoporosis and has recently became an ambassador for the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Janet will forever be known as a versatile actress, dancer and singer. She was, to many, a woman who stood her ground, much like that of her character on "Fresh Prince"--the strong-willed yet elegant, original, one and only Vivian Banks.

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Known for

Friends

as Ms. McKenna

Gilmore Girls

as Gisele Gerard

New Amsterdam

as Dr. Palpa

Coach

as Karen Williams

21 Jump Street

as Councilwoman Travers

Sherri

as Self - Guest

Hunter

as Vanessa Riley

Sweet Magnolias

as Bev

Tales from the Crypt

as Psyche
Film

Return of the Jedi

as Vivian Banks

Bel-Air

as Iris
Film

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

as Edwina Dubois

Full filmography

  • Friends (1994) as Ms. McKenna
  • Gilmore Girls (2000) as Gisele Gerard
  • New Amsterdam (2018) as Dr. Palpa
  • Coach (1989) as Karen Williams
  • 21 Jump Street (1987) as Councilwoman Travers
  • Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
  • Hunter (1984) as Vanessa Riley
  • The Pretender (1996) as Madam Director
  • Sweet Magnolias (2020) as Bev
  • Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Psyche
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990) as Vivian Banks
  • The Bernie Mac Show (2001) as Leora
  • Bel-Air (2022) as Iris
  • The Jamie Foxx Show (1996) as Edwina Dubois
  • POSE (2018) as Latrice
  • Dave's World (1993) as Elise
  • Love Life (2020) as Donna Watkins
  • The Last O.G. (2018) as Miss May Miller
  • My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023) as Empress Gurira (voice)
  • The Job (2001)
  • Reasonable Doubts (1991) as Mary Sims
  • Goode Behavior (1996) as Dr. Pamela Fordham
  • The Perfect Find (2023) as Monica
  • A Man Called Hawk (1989)