"Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air" Had Some Of The Coolest Cameos Of Any Show Ever, And Here’s All The Proof You Need

One of the best things about sitcoms is how they often feature a stacked deck of guest-stars and cameos.

CBC

You know, the sort of people that make you go "Oh wow, it's so-and-so!" while you're watching (or rewatching years later)?

New Line Cinema

Well, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is no exception, and, unless you've rewatched the series relatively recently, there are probably a lot of celebrities you forgot popped up over the course of its six seasons!

NBC / Via giphy.com

So, with that in mind, here are 15 of the best (in chronological order):

1.Kathy Griffin

Season 1, Episode 4 — "Not With My Pig, You Don't"

Their Character: Griffin played Susan Klein, a journalist writing an article about Uncle Phil.

Here's Griffin in 2022:

2.Don Cheadle

Season 1, Episode 5 — "Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy"

Their Character: Cheadle played Ice Tray, an old friend of Will's who briefly gets together with Hilary.

Here's Cheadle in 2022:

3.Naomi Campbell

Season 1, Episode 10 — "Kiss My Butler"

Their Character: Campbell played Helen, a woman Will sets Geoffrey up with on a blind date.

Here's Campbell in 2023:

4.Vivica A. Fox

Season 1, Episode 19 — "It Had To Be You"

Their Character: Fox played Janet, Jazz's sister who Will briefly dates before introducing her to Carlton.

Here's Fox in 2023:

5.Queen Latifah

Season 1, Episode 25 — "Working It Out" AND Season 2, Episode 8 — "She Ain't Heavy"

Their Character: Latifah actually played TWO DIFFERENT CHARACTERS on the show. First, she appeared as Marissa Redman, Hilary's boss who makes Hilary get her a date with Will in the Season 1 finale. Then, in Season 2, she played Dee Dee Williams, Will's blind date who he gets along with, but won't ask out because she's not thin.

Here's Latifah in 2023:

6.Diedrich Bader

Season 2, Episode 6 — "Guess Who's Coming to Marry?" AND Season 2, Episode 13 — "Christmas Show"

Their Character: Bader played Frank, the fiancé and, later, husband of Will's Aunt Janice. ("Frank" also appeared in a Season 3 episode, though he was played by Robert Torti.)

Here's Bader in 2022:

7.Raven-Symoné

Season 2, Episode 21 — "Vying for Attention"

Their Character: Symoné played Claudia, the precocious daughter of Will's mother's boyfriend.

Here's Raven-Symoné in 2023:

8.Oprah Winfrey

Season 3, Episode 9 — "A Night at the Oprah"

Their Character: Oprah appeared as herself, with the Banks family coming on her show.

Here's Winfrey in 2023:

9.Naya Rivera

Season 3, Episode 16 — "Bundle of Joy"

Their Character: The late Rivera played Cindy, the hypothetical new Banks child Hilary fantasizes about using as her personal servant.

Here's Rivera in 2019:

10.Tom Jones

Season 3, Episode 18 — "The Alma Mater"

Their Character: Jones appeared as himself, who, in this universe, is Carlton's guardian angel, and appears after Carlton is rejected from Princeton and threatens the admissions representative.

Here's Jones in 2022:

11.Pam Grier

Season 4, Episode 22 — "M is for the Many Things She Gave Me"

Their Character: Grier played Janice, an old girlfriend of Uncle Phil's who sleeps with Will.

Here's Grier in 2022:

12.Elise Neal

Season 4, Episode 22 — "M is for the Many Things She Gave Me"

Their Character: Neal played Wendy, Janice's daughter who also likes Will.

Here's Neal in 2023:

13.Jay Leno

Season 5, Episode 10 — "Will's Up the Dirt Road" AND Season 6, Episode 5 — "The Script Formerly Known As…"

Their Character: Leno appeared as himself, first in Season 5 when he sues Will for slander after Will sells a photo of the talk show host to a tabloid. He later does an unflattering segment on Uncle Phil in Season 6.

Here's Leno in 2022:

14.Robin Givens

Season 5, Episode 23 — "Cold Feet, Hot Body"

Their Character: Givens played Denise, a classmate of Will's who tries to lure him away from his girlfriend.

Here's Givens in 2019:

And, last but not least:

15.Milo Ventimiglia

Season 6, Episode 4 — "Bourgie Sings the Blues"

Their Character: In his first-ever onscreen role, Ventimiglia played a not-great party guest of Ashley's.

Here's Ventimiglia in 2023:

Did we miss any? Who was your favorite Fresh Prince guest star or cameo? Sound off in the comments!

Oh! And you can watch all of your favorite episodes of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on HBO Max!