Tatyana Ali and Alfonso Ribeiro reunited on Dancing with the Stars for an emotional tribute to James Avery, the actor who played their beloved television father on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Ali dedicated her performance during the show’s Dedication Night on Tuesday, October 20, to Avery, who portrayed the iconic Philip Banks on the hit sitcom. She performed a Viennese waltz with professional dancer Jan Ravnik to Nancy Wilson’s “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am,” a song she also recorded for the tribute.
The moment became a reunion for the former co-stars when Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and now co-hosts Dancing with the Stars, joined Ali on the dance floor.
Speaking to PEOPLE at the 2026 InStyle Imagemaker Awards in Los Angeles, Ali explained why having Ribeiro participate was so important to the performance.
“It wouldn’t be the performance it needs to be without Alfonso on the stage with me,” she said.
Ribeiro also felt that joining his former co-star was the right thing to do, describing the opportunity as a chance to show gratitude. He participated in rehearsals ahead of the performance.
The tribute ended with a photograph of Avery appearing on a screen as Ali and Ribeiro looked up at the image, bringing the performance to a poignant close.
Avery died in December 2013 at age 68 following complications from open-heart surgery. His portrayal of the firm but loving family patriarch helped make The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air one of television’s best-known family sitcoms.
After the dance, Ali reflected on Avery’s influence, describing him as a mentor and father figure to the cast. She also sent her love to his wife, Barbara, and his family and friends, expressing hope that she had done him proud.
The actress had discussed Avery’s influence before the performance in a social media video, recalling how he encouraged her growth as a performer and introduced her to artists he believed she should know.
“He loved the arts, and he taught me all the artists he thought I needed to know,” Ali said.
Ali has also credited Avery with teaching her about the responsibility that comes with participating in a long tradition of storytelling through performance. His influence, she has said, extended beyond his work on screen and into her personal and professional development.
According to PEOPLE, Ali decided early on that Avery would be the person she wanted to honor for Dedication Night.
By bringing Ribeiro onto the stage, she transformed the performance into more than a dance competition routine. It became a tribute to a mentor, a reunion between longtime co-stars and a reminder of the lasting bond forged by a television family whose story continues to resonate with audiences years after the original series ended.
