Will Smith was 21–22 years old when The Fresh Prince of Bel‑Air first aired in 1990.

Quick Scoop

  • Will Smith was born on September 25, 1968.
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel‑Air premiered in September 1990.
  • That means he was just shy of his 22nd birthday when the show debuted, so he was effectively 21 turning 22 during the very start of Fresh Prince.
  • His character “Will” is written as a mid‑teen (about 16–17 years old) in season 1, so the actor was several years older than the character he played.

In other words, if you were watching Fresh Prince in 1990 and thinking “he looks a bit older than a high school junior”…you were absolutely right. He was already in his early twenties while playing a teenager.

TL;DR: For anyone wondering how old was Will Smith in Fresh Prince , he was around 21–22 when the show began, playing a character about 16–17.

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