7
/10
Vivian Banks is a fictional character portrayed by Daphne Reid in the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
In the first episode they appeared in, titled Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Part 1 (season 4), they were 45 years old.
They appear in 75 episodes out of a total of 148 aired
The character of Vivian Banks is mainly associated with Philip Banks, Carlton Banks and Will Smith.
Vivian Banks is also portrayed by Janet Hubert.

Vivian Banks

by Daphne Reid

character

Episodes75

  • 7.4
    /10

    Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Part 1
    episode S4.E1 september 1993
    Will and Carlton move into their new "crib", and immediately throw a party, but being on the guest list becomes a non-requirement.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Part 2
    episode S4.E2 september 1993
    Will and Carlton are thrown out of their apartment by the landlord because of the wild party being held at their place.
  • 7.7
    /10

    All Guts, No Glory
    episode S4.E3 september 1993
    Will withdraws from philosophy class at college because it seems too difficult. Later he realizes the professor was actually a good one who held stimulating discussions. He tries to get in the class again but can only attend without credit.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Father of the Year
    episode S4.E4 october 1993
    While working at the school bookstore, Will sees how the women flock over a single dad, and decides to try and pass Nicky off as his son to meet the ladies. While doing so, a picture is taken of the two by Candace, who is the school photographer, and it is put in schools newspaper as "Father of the year".
  • 7.7
    /10

    It's Better to Have Loved and Lost It...
    episode S4.E5 october 1993
    Carlton loses his virginity to whom he believes to be Miss Right, then he finds out she isn't.
  • 8
    /10

    Will Goes a Courtin'
    episode S4.E6 october 1993
    Will and Carlton form a rivalry against Philip because of their unpaid rent. Since Philip was receiving no money he decides to take action and sue them. Despite Will and Carlton being faced with this challenge they are prepared to fight back.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Hex and the Single Guy
    episode S4.E7 october 1993
    Hilary drags the family to a psychic for a séance to say goodbye to Trevor. Will doesn't believe the psychic is for real and mocks him. Because of that, the psychic curses him and bad things happen later that day.
  • 7.7
    /10

    Blood Is Thicker Than Mud
    episode S4.E8 november 1993
    Both Will and Carlton try out for the same frat house at college. Everyone likes Will, and finds Carlton a bit of a geek.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Fresh Prince After Dark
    episode S4.E9 november 1993
    On the same day Will finally has a date with Jackie, he has the opportunity to go to the Playboy mansion because Hilary, much to the dislike of Uncle Phil, has been asked to pose for Playboy.
  • 7.9
    /10

    Home Is Where the Heart Attack Is
    episode S4.E10 november 1993
    Uncle Philip ends up having a heart attack, leaving Will to show that Carlton needs to show his love and sympathy for his father.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Take My Cousin... Please
    episode S4.E11 november 1993
    Will tries to set up Hillary on a date with his teacher in order to get better grades in his class.
  • 7.2
    /10

    You've Got to Be a Football Hero
    episode S4.E12 november 1993
    At a party, Will wants to impress Jackie and make a fool of the guy she's dating. He ends up making a fool of himself.
  • 7.4
    /10

    'Twas the Night Before Christening
    episode S4.E13 december 1993
    Baby Nicky is being christened on Christmas Eve. Will tells everyone he is going to get the music group Boyz II Men to perform.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Sleepless in Bel-Air
    episode S4.E14 january 1994
    Will needs to study but he waits till the last second. Things get made complicated by a cricket in the house and Ashley trying to stay out on her first date later than her curfew.
  • 7.3
    /10

    Who's the Boss?
    episode S4.E15 january 1994
    When the profits of the Peacock Stop are down, they hire Carlton as the new manager. Will does not want to work with Carlton.
  • 7.1
    /10

    I Know Why the Caged Bird Screams
    episode S4.E16 january 1994
    The big sports game is coming up and pranks against each team starts. Will steals the other teams statue and they retaliate by stealing Carlton, the team good luck charm. Phillip has the home alarm system upgraded and it causes problems.
  • 7.3
    /10

    When You Hit Upon a Star
    episode S4.E17 january 1994
    Will has a date with a celebrity visiting the college and ends up missing his surprise birthday party.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Stop Will! In the Name of Love
    episode S4.E18 february 1994
    Will and his date double dates with Ashley and her boyfriend. Will is overly protective of Ashley that it ruins everyone's fun.
  • 7.6
    /10

    You'd Better Shop Around
    episode S4.E19 february 1994
    Will goes with Phillip and Carlton to buy a new car. When Carlton wants Phillip to buy a car that Will thinks is dull, Will convinces Phillip to get a convertible. The owner of the lot offers Will a job and Will accepts. It isn't long that Will is the best salesman on the lot and he's being considered for an executive position so he drops out of school.
  • 7.3
    /10

    The Ol' Ball and Chain
    episode S4.E20 february 1994
    Jazz announces he's about to get married. And the woman he's about to marry was just recently released from prison. And when she's alone with Will, she makes a pass at him.
  • 7.4
    /10

    The Harder They Fall
    episode S4.E21 march 1994
    Lisa's very protective father wants to scare Will out of having a relationship with her.
  • 7.7
    /10

    M Is for the Many Things She Gave Me
    episode S4.E22 april 1994
    Phillip's former girlfriend Janice visits, and Vivian is jealous and annoyed. Will likes Janice's daughter Wendy and flirts with her. However, Janice flirts with Will. Phillip finds out that Will and Janice slept together.
  • 7.1
    /10

    Mother's Day
    episode S4.E23 may 1994
    Jazz and Jewel decide it is time to start a family, but they are having problems conceiving.
  • 9.7
    /10

    Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse
    episode S4.E24 may 1994
    Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. Will's very pleased with this. Uncle Phil, however, thinks Lou will again disappoint his son.
  • 6.6
    /10

    For Sale by Owner
    episode S4.E25 may 1994
    Donald Trump is interested in buying the Banks estate. While the family considers the offer, they think about all the good times they had in the house.
  • 7.8
    /10

    The Philadelphia Story
    episode S4.E26 may 1994
    Will is excited to visit Philadelphia with everyone from California. When Will returns home, he finds that his old friends consider him a chicken for running off to California.
  • 7.7
    /10

    The Client
    episode S5.E1 september 1994
    Will is trying his best to advance Ashley's singing career.
  • 7.3
    /10

    What's Will Got to Do with It?
    episode S5.E2 september 1994
    Will gets a little over-zealous with managing Ashley and Phil kicks him off the deal.
  • 7.1
    /10

    Reality Bites
    episode S5.E3 september 1994
    Will reluctantly takes Nicky to the mall to see the child-hero Dougie the Whale. When Dougie starts yelling at the stage hands, Will talks to Dougie to behave for the children.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Grumpy Young Men
    episode S5.E4 october 1994
    While on a double date the girl Will wants, kisses Carlton. This results in a wrangle. Meanwhile, Philip and Hillary try to teach Ashley to drive a car.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Fresh Prince: The Movie
    episode S5.E5 october 1994
    Will and Carlton play poker with Jazz but think he is cheating. To get even with Jazz, Will and Carlton make up a story about their witnessing a murder and being in a witness protection program.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Will's Misery
    episode S5.E6 october 1994
    Will has a date with Lisa in a cabin. However, things don't go the way Will thought they would go.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Father Knows Best
    episode S5.E7 october 1994
    Ashley decides she does not want to attend private school. She enrolls in a public school to find out what it is like in the real world.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Soooooooul Train
    episode S5.E8 november 1994
    Philip and Vivian once were on Soul Train and are invited again for a special show. Vivian is very enthusiastic about it, Philip however doesn't want to go.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Love Hurts
    episode S5.E9 november 1994
    While Will and Lisa are on a date, another guy starts to pick on them. Lisa steps in and uses self defense techniques to get rid the heckler. Will is embarrassed and takes tae kwon do lessons.
  • 7.1
    /10

    Will's Up a Dirt Road
    episode S5.E10 november 1994
    Will, in an attempt to impress Lisa, makes a photo of Jay Leno by night and sells the picture to an editor. However, Will doesn't know the editor works for a sleazy gossip magazine and ends up being sued for libel by Jay Leno.
  • 7.3
    /10

    Will Steps Out
    episode S5.E11 november 1994
    Will realizes the depth of his feelings for Lisa when he dates another woman. Susan Powter becomes the personal trainer to the Banks family.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Same Game, Next Season
    episode S5.E12 december 1994
    Will is going to meet the father of Lisa and wants to make a good first impression.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Three's a Crowd
    episode S5.E13 january 1995
    Hilary bought a house. Will and Carlton are on their annual weekend ski trip and things don't exactly go as planned.
  • 7.3
    /10

    It's a Wonderful Lie
    episode S5.E14 january 1995
    Lisa tells Will is OK if he wants to go out with his friends one night and she will go out with her friends. They each lie about what they are going to do, and happen to both go to the same party. Worse, they find Ashley at the same party.
  • 8.5
    /10

    Bullets Over Bel-Air
    episode S5.E15 february 1995
    Will and Carlton are at the ATM and somebody tries to kill Carlton for his money, but Will takes the bullet for him.
  • 7.3
    /10

    A Decent Proposal
    episode S5.E16 february 1995
    Still in the hospital from being shot, Will thinks about his future. He asks Lisa to marry him.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Will Is from Mars...
    episode S5.E17 february 1995
    Will and Lisa go to a relationship counselor so Uncle Phil will pay for their honeymoon.
  • 7.3
    /10

    The Wedding Show (Psyche!)
    episode S5.E18 february 1995
    Feeling that their opinions and feelings are being ignored, Will and Lisa run off to Las Vegas to get married.
  • 7.1
    /10

    Slum Like It... Not!
    episode S5.E19 march 1995
    Will talks Philip into buying an apartment building. The state of the building however is not what they expected.
  • 7.3
    /10

    As the Will Turns
    episode S5.E20 april 1995
    Will finds out what it is like to have a woman in his life that controls things. Also, Will lands a part in a soap opera and begins to see himself as a major star, spending money to fit his new status.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Save the Last Trance for Me
    episode S5.E21 april 1995
    While at a magic show, Will is unknowingly hypnotized and begins to act like a child at the ring of a bell.
  • 7.5
    /10

    To Thine Own Self Be Blue... and Gold
    episode S5.E22 april 1995
    A family friend visits Philip. He asks WIll to do something illegal and Will tries to find a way to avoid the issue. Carlton and Hilary try to find a match in online dating and end up being matched with each other.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Cold Feet, Hot Body
    episode S5.E23 may 1995
    Will meets a new student at the university who seems determined to be Will's girlfriend despite the fact that he is engaged.
  • 6.6
    /10

    Love in an Elevator
    episode S5.E24 may 1995
    The guys are throwing a bachelor party for Will. On the way, Will, Carlton, and Jazz get stuck in an elevator. They recall past events for each of them, shown in flashbacks.
  • 7.1
    /10

    For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll
    episode S5.E25 may 1995
    Will gets cold feet about the wedding.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Burnin' Down the House
    episode S6.E1 september 1995
    Will attempts to make dinner for Philip and his boss, but ends up burning the kitchen. He asks Geoffrey to help with the dinner and hide the damage.
  • 7.1
    /10

    Get a Job
    episode S6.E2 september 1995
    Will and Carlton compete for a job at Hilary's talk show. Will wins the job and has to take out a comedian's sister as part of his duties. Will is looking forward to it until he sees what the sister looks like.
  • 7.2
    /10

    Stress Related
    episode S6.E3 october 1995
    Will, in his new job on Hillary's show, over medicates Hillary and has to try and protect her chances at getting a new sponsor.
  • 7.2
    /10

    Bourgie Sings the Blues
    episode S6.E4 october 1995
    Carlton is worried about the interview at Princeton and is afraid of another disappointment. Will does his best to check him up, but nothing seems to work. Carlton does not want to go to the interview, so Will goes for him.
  • 7.3
    /10

    The Script Formerly Known As...
    episode S6.E5 october 1995
    Hilary tells Will that, as talent coordinator, he has to get better guests for her talk show. Will lines up a juror that has been dismissed from Philip's trial. When he goes on the show to explain why, Will and Hilary are in trouble.
  • 7.7
    /10

    Not, I Barbecue
    episode S6.E6 october 1995
    Will and Carlton go on a double date with two beautiful women and everything seems great - until the boyfriend of one of the women shows up.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Not with My Cousin You Don't
    episode S6.E7 november 1995
    The Banks get a new intercom system installed in their home, and of course Will and Carlton have to test it out in their own way. They overhear Ashley and her friends talking about having sex.
  • 7.3
    /10

    Viva Lost Wages
    episode S6.E8 november 1995
    It's Carlton's birthday. His father gives a trip to Vegas for Carlton and Will as a gift. Carlton becomes addicted to gambling and loses all the money as well as the return home tickets. They enter a talent contest to try to win the prize.
  • 7.5
    /10

    There's the Rub: Part 1
    episode S6.E9 november 1995
    It's Thanksgiving time. Hilary's television show is filming at a homeless shelter; Hilary and Carlton go to the shelter to volunteer. Philip hurts his back; Will suggests they go to a massage parlor to help his pain.
  • 7.4
    /10

    There's the Rub: Part 2
    episode S6.E10 november 1995
    Philip and Will get arrested at the massage parlor because the girls try to give more than a massage. Hilary and Carlton continue to volunteer at the homeless shelter and realize how fortunate they are.
  • 7.2
    /10

    I, Ooh, Baby, Baby
    episode S6.E11 december 1995
    Hilary is ecstatic when her show is scheduled for national broadcast. She thinks her life will be complete when it airs, but soon realizes she wants something more in her life.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Boxing Helena
    episode S6.E12 january 1996
    Will is the victim of ridicule after being K.O.'d by a girl at a health club.
  • 7.1
    /10

    I, Clownius
    episode S6.E13 january 1996
    A man in clown suit takes Phil, Will, and Carlton hostage at the courthouse.
  • 7.3
    /10

    Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Part 1
    episode S6.E14 february 1996
    Phil decides to join the political field. Vivian suffers the result of his decision since he is never available. Ashley gets a chance at modeling.
  • 7.1
    /10

    Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Part 2
    episode S6.E15 february 1996
    Vivian and Phil are separated due to Phil not having time for her. Will & Carlton find a way to get them to reconcile.
  • 7.3
    /10

    I, Bowl Buster
    episode S6.E16 february 1996
    Instead of going to Princeton, Carlton wants to become a professional bowler.
  • 7.2
    /10

    The Butler's Son Did It
    episode S6.E17 march 1996
    A man claiming to be Geoffrey's son comes to visit. Geoffrey quizzes him and accepts that he is his son. Frederick soon charms everyone in the house - except Will. Will is determined to find the real story.
  • 7.1
    /10

    Hare Today...
    episode S6.E18 april 1996
    The minister at church thinks Vivian's devotion to the church is her way to be near him, so he makes a pass at her. Carlton and Will argue about her will get to sing at the Easter service. Nicky's pet rabbit dies when Philip sits on it.
  • 7.3
    /10

    I, Whoops, There It Is
    episode S6.E19 april 1996
    The episode features bloopers from the past seasons of filming the series, and Dick Clark steps in to help Will showcase the bloopers. Will interviews the actors that appear in the series.
  • 7.2
    /10

    I, Stank Horse
    episode S6.E20 april 1996
    Ashley is anxious to get into the School of Performing Art, and a friend of Will's says he will help her with her acting. Her first commercial requires she wear a bikini. Will and Carlton buy a horse that is being retired from racing.
  • 7.6
    /10

    I, Stank Hole in One
    episode S6.E21 may 1996
    Because Carlton is fed up with losing every year, Will teams up with Philip at the annual golf tournament.
  • 7.7
    /10

    Eye, Tooth
    episode S6.E22 may 1996
    Hillary's show gets William Shatner to appear on the show, and the producers think it is time Hillary's show to move to New York. Ashley sees it as a chance for her to move to NY also. Will is upset since he will lose a job.
  • 8
    /10

    I, Done: Part 1
    episode S6.E23 may 1996
    It's Phil's birthday and he says it is wonderful time with everyone moving to new places and challenges. Even Geoffrey is moving back to London. Phil announces they are selling the house and moving away. Will realizes he is in the slow lane.
  • 8.9
    /10

    I, Done: Part 2
    episode S6.E24 may 1996
    As members of the Banks family and Geoffrey prepare for their moves, Will tries to pretend that he also has big plans for moving forward. After admitting the truth, Will makes a decision to stay in California and finish school.