Jabari Banks
Birth namePatrick Jabari Campbell[citation needed]
Birth dateAugust 2, 1998 (age 28)
Birth placePrince George's County, Maryland, U.S.[1]
Alma materUniversity of the Arts (attended)
OccupationActor · 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

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

Acting

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

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

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2022–2025Bel-AirWill SmithMain role

Film

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

Discography

EPs

Singles

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

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryWorkResultRef.
BET Awards2022Best ActorBel-Air[13]
NAACP Image Awards2023Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series[14]
NAACP Image Awards2024Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series[6]
Black Reel Awards2024Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series[15]
NAACP Image Awards2025Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series[16][17][18]
NAACP Image Awards2026Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series[19][20][21]

References

  1. ^ "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. ^ Victoria, Kenyatta. "Jabari Banks drops debut EP as Bel-Air ends". EBONY. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  4. ^ Petski, Denise (2021-12-16). "‘Bel-Air’: Peacock’s ‘Fresh Prince’ Drama Reboot Sets Super Bowl Sunday Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  5. ^ "Peacock Announces 'Bel-Air' Cast". Essence. 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  6. ^ "NAACP Image Awards 2024: Complete Winners List". People. March 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Jackson, Angelique (2023-03-23). "Benedict Wong, Jabari Banks and Callina Liang to Star in ‘Bad Genius,’ Directed by JC Lee". Variety. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  8. ^ "Jabari – Artist Profile". Spotify. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  9. ^ "Jabari Releases Debut EP ULTRA via Epic Records". Sheen Magazine. 2025-09-13. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  10. ^ Mancini, Maggie (2023-03-24). "Jabari Banks to star in his first movie, 'Bad Genius,' a remake of a 2017 Thai film". PhillyVoice. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  11. ^ "New Music This Week: Jermaine Dupri, Mario, Coi Leray And More". Essence. 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  12. ^ Baker, Josh. "Jabari Banks Unveils 'Something Else' Album in TV Spotlight". EBONY. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  13. ^ "BET Awards 2022: Jabari Banks’ Fashion Is Nothing Short of ‘Fresh’". BET. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  14. ^ Lewis, Hilary (2023-02-26). "NAACP Image Awards: Will Smith, Angela Bassett, ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Among Top Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  15. ^ Complex, Valerie (2023-06-15). "Black Reel 7th Annual Television Awards Featuring Gender Neutral Categories Announces Nominations; ‘The Best Man: Final Chapters’ Leads With 18 Noms". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  16. ^ "NAACP Image Awards 2025: See the Complete Winners List". People.com. Archived 2025-07-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  17. ^ Lewis, Hilary (2025-02-23). "2025 NAACP Image Awards: Keke Palmer Named Entertainer of the Year as ‘The Six Triple Eight’ Nabs Two Wins". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  18. ^ Dixon, Delaina. "NAACP Image Awards Reveal 2026 Nominees". EBONY. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  19. ^ "'Sinners' Runs the Table at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards". BET. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  20. ^ Lewis, Hilary (2026-03-01). "2026 NAACP Image Awards: ‘Sinners’ Dominates With 13 Wins, Including Best Motion Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  21. ^ "NAACP Image Awards Unveil 2026 Nominees, Led By Teyana Taylor, Kendrick Lamar, And Cynthia Erivo". Essence. 2026-01-12. Retrieved 2026-03-18.