Janet Hubert
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.
Movies 16
The Perfect Find
as Monica
2023
Love on the Vineyard
as Shirely Evans
2026
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion
as Self
2020
White Man's Burden
as Dinner Guest
1995
30 Years to Life
as Joy's Mom
2001
Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story
as Aunt Duke
2022
New Eden
as Ashtarte
1994
Single Black Female
as Denise Harris
2022
Snatched
as Carolyn
2024
Christmas at Water's Edge
as Mrs. Turner
2004
Not Another Black Movie
as Aunt Gloria
2016
Christmas Belles
as Whitley
2019
No Letting Go
as Dr. Stacey Slater
2016
Agent on Ice
as Lola
1986
Mom
as Judy
2013
Fever
as Grace
2022TV Shows 27
Friends
as Ms. McKenna
1994
Gilmore Girls
as Gisele Gerard
2000
Sherri
as Self - Guest
2022
21 Jump Street
as Councilwoman Travers
1987
Coach
as Karen Williams
1989
New Amsterdam
as Dr. Palpa
2018
Hunter
as Vanessa Riley
1984
The Bernie Mac Show
as Leora
2001
The Pretender
as Madam Director
1996
Tales from the Crypt
as Psyche
1989
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
as Vivian Banks
1990
The Jamie Foxx Show
as Edwina Dubois
1996
Bel-Air
as Iris
2022
Sweet Magnolias
as Bev
2020
Dave's World
as Elise
1993
POSE
as Latrice
2018
The Last O.G.
as Miss May Miller
2018
My Dad the Bounty Hunter
as Empress Gurira (voice)
2023
Love Life
as Donna Watkins
2020
Reasonable Doubts
as Mary Sims
1991
The Job
2001
Goode Behavior
as Dr. Pamela Fordham
1996
Demascus
as Dr. Bonnetville
2025
A Man Called Hawk
1989
The Faculty
1996
Lawless
as Esther Hayes
1997
King Ester
as Mignon Pappion
2019