Tatyana Ali gets emotional as Alfonso Ribeiro joins her DWTS tribute to their late TV father James Avery
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Tatyana Ali and Alfonso Ribeiro reunite on Dancing with the Stars to honor their late Fresh Prince co-star James Avery during Dedication Night.
A reunion between former “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” co-stars Tatyana Ali and Alfonso Ribeiro brought an emotional moment to “Dancing with the Stars” as the pair paid tribute to James Avery, the actor who played their beloved television father.
Ali dedicated her performance on the show’s Dedication Night on Tuesday, October 20, to Avery, who portrayed Philip Banks on the hit sitcom. She performed a Viennese waltz with professional dancer Jan Ravnik to Nancy Wilson’s “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am,” a song she also recorded for the tribute.
Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks in the series and now co-hosts “Dancing with the Stars,” joined Ali on the dance floor, turning the routine into a reunion that connected the show’s present moment with its shared television history.
Speaking to PEOPLE at the 2026 InStyle Imagemaker Awards in Los Angeles, Ali said Ribeiro’s participation was essential to the performance.
“It wouldn’t be the performance it needs to be without Alfonso on the stage with me,” she said.
Ribeiro agreed that joining his former co-star felt right, describing the opportunity as a chance to express gratitude. He had also participated in rehearsals ahead of the performance.
The tribute ended with a photograph of Avery appearing on screen as Ali and Ribeiro looked up at the image. Avery died in December 2013 at the age of 68 following complications from open-heart surgery.
After the dance, Ali reflected on the influence Avery had on her life, describing him as a mentor and a father figure to the cast. She also sent her love to his family and friends, including his wife, Barbara, and expressed hope that she had done him proud.
The actress had spoken about Avery’s influence before the performance. In a video shared on social media, she recalled how he encouraged her development as a performer and introduced her to artists he believed she should know.
“He loved the arts, and he taught me all the artists he thought I needed to know,” Ali said, explaining how his guidance shaped her both professionally and personally.
Avery’s impact extended beyond his role as the family patriarch on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Ali has credited him with teaching her about the responsibility that comes with being part of a long tradition of storytelling through performance.
The reunion also gave Ribeiro an opportunity to celebrate a co-star whose influence remained important to both of them long after the sitcom ended.
As PEOPLE reported, Ali had decided early on that Avery would be the person she wanted to honor for Dedication Night. The performance brought that intention to life, pairing a personal tribute with a reunion that recalled the bond shared by the cast of one of television’s best-known family sitcoms.