Nicky from Fresh Prince has completely different career now and starred in iconic film many don't realise
Fresh Prince of Bel Air may feel like it just happened yesterday for the most nostalgic amongst us, but the iconic Will Smith-led TV show first aired 36 years ago today.
Fresh Prince ran for just six years but continues to be played on TV regularly to this day. Despite that though, not everyone from the original cast is still an actor and the majority have not found comparable success to Will Smith, who actually returned to the role of Will in the final episode of the reboot.
Nicky Banks, Will’s little cousin and Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil’s youngest child, is born towards the end of season three and receives a full-time actor in Ross Bagley for the last couple of seasons.
Bagley no longer acts, instead working professional in a totally different field away from Hollywood, but many fans won’t realise he appeared in a totally separate legendary movie alongside Will Smith.
Ross Bagley now works as a realtor and spoke out about the reason he quit Hollywood
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Bagley is an ‘LA based realtor’ according to his Instagram, last appearing in any projects in 2015’s critically panned Dead Ringer.
He appeared in the odd project after his early success as a child star but quit acting and went to study at California State University, Northridge.
The former actor also posts himself playing golf on his Instagram, reviewing golf courses, and works as a DJ.
Bagley spoke out in a 2020 podcast however about why he made the brave decision to leave Hollywood behind at the height of his fame.
Appearing on Hip Hop News Uncensored, he said he wanted to live ‘more of a normal type of life.’
He explained that, when he was at his most famous for Fresh Prince (he was just seven when the show ended) he was ‘chased out of malls’.
Bagley continued, saying: “I live a relatively under the radar life and generally that's kind of how I am I'm more laid back and reserved.” He explained that people would ask his Mum ‘if he even talked’ because he was so reserved as a child, stating that it felt like the ‘time to go to high school and handle my business and get an education.’
Many don’t realise that he also played Will Smith’s son in Independence Day
If you’re like me and loved Independence Day growing up this may not apply to you, but many don’t realise that Smith and Bagley’s working relationship continued onto Independence Day in 1996 where he played Captain Hillier’s step-son.
Bagley hasn’t spoken about the role much but other cast members, in a 2021 oral history of the film to celebrate 25 years, said that it was a very hot set for such a young child.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter Vivica Fox, who played his on screen mother, said that he kept ‘bursting into tears’ due to the heat.
The role returned in the sequel Resurgence in 2016, but was recast with Jessie T Usher.
Topics: Will Smith, TV and Film, TV, Nostalgia
Michael Slavin