Edge Rewrite
pun Source code View original
Jump to content

Jabari Banks

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jabari Banks
Banks speaking onstage at CultureCon in 2025
Born
Patrick Jabari Campbell[citation needed]

(1998-08-02) August 2, 1998 (age 28)
Prince George's County, Maryland, U.S.[1]
Alma materUniversity of the Arts (attended)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2022–present

Patrick Jabari Campbell (born August 2, 1998), known professionally as Jabari Banks, is an American actor and musician.[2] He is best known for starring as Will Smith in the Peacock drama Bel-Air (2022–2025). In addition to acting, he releases music under the mononym Jabari, including the EP ULTRA (2025).[3]

Early life

[edit]

Banks was born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland.[1] He attended Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, where he first became involved in acting, singing, and writing music.[citation needed]

Banks has family in West Philadelphia and spent time there throughout his upbringing. After high school, he moved to Philadelphia full-time and lived in North Philadelphia for about six years while attending the University of the Arts.[1] He studied musical theater before leaving the program during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

According to Banks, he began using his middle name, Jabari, professionally in high school. He later chose the surname "Banks" as a stage name, inspired by his favorite television series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.[citation needed]

Career

[edit]

Acting

[edit]

Banks made his television debut in 2022 in the leading role of Will Smith in Peacock’s Bel-Air, a dramatic reimagining of the 1990 sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.[4][5] His performance earned him a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards.[6]

In 2024, Banks appeared in the heist thriller Bad Genius.[7]

Music

[edit]

Banks is also active as a musician, releasing work under the mononym Jabari. His official Spotify biography highlights his creative background, his early artistic development, and the importance of spiritual alignment in his work.[8]

He released his debut single "Something Else" in 2023, followed by "Weekend Drive" in 2024. In 2025, he released the 8-track EP ULTRA, which includes the songs:

  • "Lobby"
  • "No Trouble"
  • "that one laundromat"
  • "Makeup Sex"
  • "Eastside bb"
  • "In My Head"
  • "ULTRA"
  • "Amen."[9]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
YearTitleRoleNotes
2022–2025Bel-AirWill SmithMain role, 38 episodes
TBAMyron BolitarDwayne RichmondMain role, upcoming series

Film

[edit]
YearTitleRoleNotes
2024Bad GeniusBank AdedamolaFeature film[10][7]
2025Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last StrawLenwood Heath (voice)Feature film

Discography

[edit]

EPs

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
  • "Something Else" (2023)[12]
  • "Weekend Drive" (2024)[3]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Award YearCategoryWorkResult Ref.
BET Awards 2022Best ActorBel-AirNominated [13]
NAACP Image Awards 2023Outstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated [14]
NAACP Image Awards 2024Outstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated [6]
Black Reel Awards 2024Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama SeriesNominated [15]
NAACP Image Awards 2025Outstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated [16][17][18]
NAACP Image Awards 2026Outstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated [19][20][21]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 "From PG County to Bel-Air: Jabari Banks' Story". Sommer Time Podcast. October 1, 2025. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  2. ↑ Caruso, Skyler (February 11, 2022). "What to Know About 'Bel-Air's Breakout Star Jabari Banks". People.
  3. 1 2 3 Victoria, Kenyatta. "Jabari Banks drops debut EP as Bel-Air ends". EBONY. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  4. ↑ Petski, Denise (December 16, 2021). "'Bel-Air': Peacock's 'Fresh Prince' Drama Reboot Sets Super Bowl Sunday Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Peacock Announces 'Bel-Air' Cast". Essence. September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "NAACP Image Awards 2024: Complete Winners List". People. March 16, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Jackson, Angelique (March 23, 2023). "Benedict Wong, Jabari Banks and Callina Liang to Star in 'Bad Genius,' Directed by JC Lee". Variety. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Jabari – Artist Profile". Spotify. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Jabari Releases Debut EP ULTRA via Epic Records". Sheen Magazine. September 13, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ Mancini, Maggie (March 24, 2023). "Jabari Banks to star in his first movie, 'Bad Genius,' a remake of a 2017 Thai film". PhillyVoice. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ "New Music This Week: Jermaine Dupri, Mario, Coi Leray And More". Essence. September 12, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  12. ↑ Baker, Josh. "Jabari Banks Unveils 'Something Else' Album in TV Spotlight". EBONY. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  13. ↑ "BET Awards 2022: Jabari Banks' Fashion Is Nothing Short of 'Fresh'". BET. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (February 26, 2023). "NAACP Image Awards: Will Smith, Angela Bassett, 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Among Top Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  15. ↑ Complex, Valerie (June 15, 2023). "Black Reel 7th Annual Television Awards Featuring Gender Neutral Categories Announces Nominations; 'The Best Man: Final Chapters' Leads With 18 Noms". Deadline. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ "NAACP Image Awards 2025: See the Complete Winners List". People.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (February 23, 2025). "2025 NAACP Image Awards: Keke Palmer Named Entertainer of the Year as 'The Six Triple Eight' Nabs Two Wins". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  18. ↑ Dixon, Delaina. "NAACP Image Awards Reveal 2026 Nominees". EBONY. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  19. ↑ "'Sinners' Runs the Table at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards". BET. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  20. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (March 1, 2026). "2026 NAACP Image Awards: 'Sinners' Dominates With 13 Wins, Including Best Motion Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  21. ↑ "NAACP Image Awards Unveil 2026 Nominees, Led By Teyana Taylor, Kendrick Lamar, And Cynthia Erivo". Essence. January 12, 2026. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jabari_Banks&oldid=1367795635"