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Tatyana Ali

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Tatyana Ali

Known For

Acting

Gender

Female

Birthday

Jan 24, 1979 (47 years old)

Place of Birth

Long Island, New York, USA

Biography

Tatyana Marisol Ali (born January 24, 1979) is an American actress and singer. She's best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. At the age of four she started singing and got a taste of fame when she begged her mother to take her to an audition for Sesame Street. In 1985, as a 6-year-old, she began her acting career as a regular performer on the PBS children's educational program Sesame Street. She went on to perform in many productions in her native city, New York, including the Broadway show Fences--with James Earl Jones and, later, Billy Dee Williams--and the off-Broadway show Orfeo del Campo. When she was seven, she appeared on Star Search and won twice, receiving a four-star rating when she appeared for a second time. At age 11, she moved from New York to Los Angeles to establish her career and not long afterwords landed her breakthrough role as Ashley Banks, Will Smith's character's cousin, on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996). While filming The Fresh Prince, she also had side projects, including guest roles in television shows such as The Cosby Show (1984), The All New Mickey Mouse Club (1989) (aka The Mickey Mouse Club), Kyno's Storytime (1992), Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1990), and Foster's Field Trip (1994). Her vocal talent was featured on several episodes of Fresh Prince in later seasons, prompting the show's star Will Smith to ask her if she would seriously consider pursuing a musical career. She ultimately decided, for the time being, to continue to concentrate on her acting career. In the series' final season, however, she performed several songs, and she began to be cleaned for her musical debut, the culmination of which was her debut album Kiss The Sky in 1998. It was certified gold in early 1999, only months after its release. "Boy You Knock Me Out" featuring Will Smith—which peaked at No. 3 and is her biggest hit to date. She made an appearance on Smith's album Willennium on the track "Who Am I" with MC Lyte. In early 2008, she performed on the song "Yes We Can", a will.i.am project supporting Barack Obama's presidential campaign. She also appeared in the subsequent music video, which garnered coverage on the "What the Buzz" segment of ABC's World News Now. In January 2014, she released an EP titled Hello. Apart from her musical career, she continued to land roles in films such as The Brothers, Glory Road, and Nora's Hair Salon (and its sequel), among others. From 2009 to 2010 she produced and starred in the BET web series Buppies. She was on recurring status on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless as Roxanne from 2007 to 2013. She starred in the TV One original series Love That Girl! as Tyana (whose name was derived from Ali's given name). In 2013, she co-starred as Maya in the BET comedy Second Generation Wayans, alongside Craig Wayans and Damien Dante Wayans. In 2011, she received the Living Legacy Award from the Caribbean Heritage Organization in Los Angeles.

Known For

Acting
2025Celebrity Weakest LinkSelf - Contestant
2024PerimeterConnie Dawn
2023Giving Hope: The Ni'cola Mitchell StoryNi'cola Mitchell
2023The Holiday Proposal PlanSonny Kravitz
2022Vanished: Searching for My SisterJada Stallworth/Kayla Davis
2022Bel-AirMs. Hughes
2021A Picture Perfect HolidayGaby
2021Celebrity Wheel of FortuneSelf - Contestant
2021Abbott ElementaryCrystal
2020The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ReunionSelf
2020The ReasonMacey
2020Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag RaceChakra 7 - Contestant
2019Deadly MatchProfessor Savoy
2019Christmas HotelErin
2018Christmas EverlastingLucy Toomey
2018Jingle BelleBelle Williams
2018DoeRachel Hutton
2018Fancy NancyBree’s Mom (voice)
2017The Good NannyMonica Thorne
2017Wrapped Up In ChristmasHeather Nash
2016Second SightClara
2015Light GirlsSelf
2015Fatal FlipRoslyn
2015November RuleLeah
2015SupermodelLauren
2015Dancing Man the DocumentarySelf
2015My Big Fat Fabulous LifeSelf - Event Host
2014Locker 13Lucy
2014A Very Larry ChristmasNicole
2014Comeback DadNima
2014The DivorceVictoria
201324 Hour LoveSimply
2013Dear Secret SantaJennifer
201323rd Psalm: RedemptionStacey Wayne
2013The Last LetterJillian
2013Second Generation WayansMaya
2012Dysfunctional FriendsAlex
2012Home AgainMarva Johnson
2012The Eric Andre ShowSelf
2012Key & PeeleHeresa
2010Pete Smalls Is DeadCocktail Waitress
2010PrivilegedTalia
2010Love That Girl!Tyana Jones
2009Mother and ChildMaria
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest
2008Nora's Hair Salon II: A Cut AboveLilliana
2008Hotel CaliforniaJessie
2007The ListCynthia
2006Glory RoadTina
2006Child Star ConfidentialSelf
2005Back in the DayAlicia
2005Domino OneLaeticia Richards
2004Nora's Hair SalonLilleana
2003National Lampoon Presents Dorm DazeClaire
2002Half & HalfOlivia
2002FastlaneShelly
2001The BrothersCherie Smith
2000BrotherLatifa
2000Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
1999JawbreakerBrenda
1999The Clown at MidnightMonica
1999Teen Choice AwardsSelf
1998The Magic HourSelf
1997Kiss the GirlsJanell Cross
1997Fakin' Da FunkKaryn
1996Fall into DarknessSharon McKay
1996Kidz in the WoodRita
1995In the HouseAshley Banks
1993Living Single
1993Getting By
1992The Jaleel White SpecialRamona
1992Are You Afraid of the Dark?Laura Turner
1992Name Your AdventureHost
1990The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirAshley Banks
1988Wow, You're A Cartoonist!Child Cartoonist
1988Crocodile Dundee IIPark Girl
1987Eddie Murphy RawSinging Child
1984The Cosby ShowGirl
1958Brains & BrawnHost
-Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?Linda Nelson
Production
2018Jingle BelleExecutive Producer