# Tatyana Ali

Tatyana Marisol Ali (born January 24, 1979) is an American actress and singer best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1996. She starred as Tyana Jones on the TV One original series Love That Girl!, and played a recurring role as Roxanne on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 2007 to 2013. In 2023, she starred in Giving Hope: The Ni'Cola Mitchell Story on Lifetime.

## Early life

Tatyana Ali was born on January 24, 1979, in North Bellmore, New York. She is of mixed African and South Asian ancestry or Dougla, born to an Indo-Trinidadian father and an Afro-Panamanian mother.

## Career

In 1985, six-year-old Ali began her acting career as a regular performer on the PBS children's educational program Sesame Street. Her tenure included an appearance with jazz great Herbie Hancock, who demonstrated his Fairlight CMI synthesizer using a sample of Ali's voice. She also appeared in two episodes of Star Search, one of which featured her performance of a cover of Marvin Gaye's and Tammi Terrell's hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".
She made her breakthrough in 1990 when she was cast as Ashley Banks on the NBC television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a role she played throughout the series' entire run, from 1990 to 1996.
Ali's vocal talent was featured on several episodes of Fresh Prince in later seasons, prompting the show's star Will Smith to ask her if she would seriously consider pursuing a musical career. She ultimately decided, for the time being, to continue to concentrate on her acting career. In the series' final season, however, Ali performed several songs, and she began to be cleaned for her musical debut, the culmination of which was her debut album Kiss the Sky in 1998. It was certified gold in early 1999, only months after its release, and spawned the Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins-produced hit single "Daydreamin'", released July 21, 1998, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also appeared on the UK Singles Chart. The album spawned two further UK hits, "Boy You Knock Me Out" featuring Will Smith — which peaked at No. 3 and is her biggest hit to date — and "Everytime", which was her third top-20 hit in the UK, peaking at No. 20. She made an appearance on Smith's album Willennium on the track "Who Am I" with MC Lyte. She performed the title song "Sunny Valentine" along with Terrence Quaites for the indie film Rockin' Meera in 2005. In early 2008, she performed on the song "Yes We Can", a will.i.am project supporting Barack Obama's presidential campaign. She also appeared in the subsequent music video, which garnered coverage on the "What the Buzz" segment of ABC's World News Now. In January 2014, Ali released an EP titled Hello, whose first single was "Wait For It", which she performed on The Arsenio Hall Show on February 4, 2014.
Apart from her musical career, Ali continued to land roles in films such as The Brothers, Glory Road, and Nora's Hair Salon (and its sequel), among others. From 2009 to 2010, she produced and starred in the BET web series Buppies. She was on recurring status on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless as Roxanne from 2007 to 2013. Ali starred in the TV One original series Love That Girl! as Tyana (whose name was derived from Ali's given name). In 2013, she co-starred as Maya in the BET comedy Second Generation Wayans, alongside Craig Wayans and Damien Dante Wayans.
In 2011, Ali received the Living Legacy Award from the Caribbean Heritage Organization in Los Angeles.
In July 2016, Ali sued Warner Bros., claiming that the company stole her idea for the show The Real, after she pitched the concept in December 2012. The case was dismissed in February 2017.

## Personal life

She dated actor Jonathan Brandis from 1995 to 2001.
Ali graduated from The Buckley School in 1997. Ali attended Harvard University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies and Government in 2002. On a celebrity edition of the game show The Chase, which aired February 3, 2015, Ali stated that her major was political science.
She traveled the United States as a spokesperson for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, and headed voter registration drives at college campuses.
In March 2016, Ali revealed that she was engaged to Vaughn Rasberry, an assistant professor of English at Stanford University, whom she had met on eHarmony, and they announced that they were expecting their first child. She and Rasberry married on July 17, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. The couple have two sons. Rasberry has since become an associate professor and associate vice provost for graduate education at Stanford.
Ali is an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta, she was inducted on July 27, 2024 at the sorority's Boulé in Indianapolis, Indiana.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Eddie Murphy Raw | Eddie's Sister | |
| 1988 | Crocodile Dundee II | Park Girl | |
| 1988 | Wow, You're a Cartoonist! | Child Cartoonist | Video |
| 1997 | Kiss the Girls | Janell Cross | |
| 1997 | Fakin' da Funk | Karyn | |
| 1998 | The Clown at Midnight | Monica | |
| 1999 | Jawbreaker | Brenda | |
| 2000 | Brother | Latifa | |
| 2001 | The Brothers | Cherie Smith | |
| 2003 | National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze | Claire | |
| 2004 | Nora's Hair Salon | Lilleana | |
| 2005 | Domino One | Laeticia Richards | |
| 2005 | Back in the Day | Alicia Packer | |
| 2006 | Glory Road | Tina Malichi | |
| 2006 | A Warm Place | Clair Andrews | Short |
| 2007 | The List | Cynthia | |
| 2008 | Nora's Hair Salon 2: A Cut Above | Lilleana | |
| 2008 | Hotel California | Jessie | |
| 2009 | Mother and Child | Maria | |
| 2010 | Pete Smalls Is Dead | Cocktail Waitress | |
| 2010 | Privileged | Talia | Video |
| 2011 | Geo n Rat | Det. Erica Anderson | Short |
| 2011 | 23rd Psalm: Redemption | Stacey Wayne | |
| 2012 | Dysfunctional Friends | Alex | |
| 2012 | Home Again | Marva Johnson | |
| 2013 | 24 Hour Love | Simply | |
| 2013 | The Last Letter | Jillian | |
| 2013 | A Very Larry Christmas | Nicole | |
| 2014 | The Divorce | Victoria | |
| 2014 | The Black Bachelor | Herself | Short |
| 2014 | Locker 13 | Lucy | |
| 2014 | Comeback Dad | Nima | |
| 2015 | Save for Now | Woman | Short |
| 2015 | November Rule | Leah | |
| 2015 | Supermodel | Lauren | |
| 2015 | Teachers | Ms. Faith Mayfield | Short |
| 2016 | Samaria | Audrey | Short |
| 2017 | Graham: A Dog's Story | Stella | Short |
| 2018 | Doe | Rachel | |
| 2020 | The Reason | Macey | |
| 2022 | It Snows All the Time | Technologist | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984–97 | Sesame Street | Tatyana | Guest: Seasons 16 & 18–19 & 23 & 28, Recurring Cast: Season 17 & 21 |
| 1987 | Star Search | Herself/Contestant | Contestant: Season 5 |
| 1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Michelle | Episode: "Life After Death" |
| 1989 | The Cosby Show | Girl | Episode: "Shall We Dance?" |
| 1990–96 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Ashley Banks | Main Cast |
| 1992 | Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? | Herself | Episode: "Episode #2.1" & "#2.45" |
| 1993 | Getting By | Nicole Alexander/Vanessa | Guest Cast: Seasons 1–2 |
| 1994 | Are You Afraid of the Dark? | Laura/Connie | Episode: "The Tale of the Quicksilver" |
| 1995 | Soul Train | Herself/Guest Host | Episode: "KRS-One/Dehorah Cox/Shaggy" |
| 1995 | In the House | Ashley Banks | Episode: "Dog Catchers" |
| 1996 | Living Single | Stephanie James | Episode: "Whatever Happened to Baby Sister?" |
| 1996 | Kidz in the Wood | Rita | TV movie |
| 1996 | Fall Into Darkness | Sharon McKay | TV movie |
| 1997 | 413 Hope St. | Kai | Episode: "Heartbeat" |
| 1998 | All That | Herself | Episode: "Tatyana Ali" |
| 1999 | Live & Kicking | Herself | Episode: "Episode #6.17" & "#6.19" |
| 1999 | The Pop Zone | Herself | Episode: "Episode #2.5" |
| 2002 | Fastlane | Shelly | Episode: "Girls Own Juice" |
| 2003 | Half & Half | Olivia | Episode: "The Big Condom-nation Episode" |
| 2005 | The Greatest | Herself | Episode: "100 Greatest Kid Stars" |
| 2006 | Child Star Confidential | Herself | Episode: "Primetime Princess" |
| 2007 | Boulevard of Broken Dreams | Herself | Episode: "Jonathan Brandis" |
| 2007 | On the Lot | Herself | Episode: "First Sight" |
| 2007 | E! True Hollywood Story | Herself | Episode: "Will Smith" |
| 2007–13 | The Young and the Restless | Roxanne | Regular Cast |
| 2009 | Catch 21 | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" |
| 2009–10 | Buppies | Quinci | Main Cast; also executive producer |
| 2010 | Running Russell Simmons | Herself | Episode: "You Only Live Once" |
| 2010–12 | Love That Girl! | Tyana Jones | Main Cast: Seasons 1–3; also producer |
| 2011 | Unsung | Herself | Episode: "Deniece Williams" |
| 2011 | Pastport | Herself | Episode: "Panama" |
| 2013 | Anderson Live | Herself/Co-Host | Episode: "Episode #2.82" |
| 2013 | Second Generation Wayans | Maya | Main Cast |
| 2013 | Dear Secret Santa | Jennifer | |
| 2014 | The Daily Helpline | Herself/Co-Host | Episode: "Tatyana Ali" |
| 2015 | The Chase | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Episode #5.2" |
| 2015 | Key & Peele | Heresa | Episode: "Hollywood Sequel Doctor" |
| 2015 | Fatal Flip | Roslyn | TV movie |
| 2016 | Zoe Ever After | Ashley King | Recurring Cast |
| 2016 | Second Sight | Clara | TV movie |
| 2017 | 90's House | Herself | Episode: "The One With the Big Finale" |
| 2017 | American Koko | N'Shay | Episode: "The Stig" |
| 2017 | Nanny's Nightmare | Monica Thorne | TV movie |
| 2017 | Wrapped Up in Christmas | Heather Nash | TV movie |
| 2018 | Hollywood Darlings | Tatyana | Episode: "Big White Lies" |
| 2018 | The Bobby Brown Story | Sarah Flint | Episode: "Part One" |
| 2018 | Christmas Everlasting | Lucy | TV movie |
| 2018 | Jingle Belle | Belle Williams | TV movie; also producer |
| 2018–22 | Fancy Nancy | Mrs. James (voice) | Recurring Cast: Seasons 1–2, Guest: Season 3 |
| 2019 | College Dating App | Professor Savoy | TV movie |
| 2019 | Christmas Hotel | Erin | TV movie; also producer |
| 2020 | Entertainment Tonight | Herself/Guest Co-Host | Episode: "Episode #40.58" |
| 2021 | A Picture Perfect Holiday | Gaby | TV movie |
| 2022 | Wheel of Fortune | Herself/Celebrity Contestant | Episode: "Curtis Stone, Haley Joel Osment and Tatyana Ali" |
| 2022 | RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | Herself/Chakra 7 | Contestant: Season 2 |
| 2022 | Vanished: Searching for My Sister | Jada/Kayla | TV movie |
| 2023 | See It Loud: The History of Black Television | Herself | Episode: "Keeping It Real" |
| 2023 | Bel-Air | Mrs. Hughes | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 2023 | Giving Hope: The Ni'Cola Mitchell Story | Ni'cola Mitchell | TV movie |
| 2023 | The Holiday Proposal Plan | Sonny Kravitz | TV movie |
| 2024 | Perimeter | Connie Dawn | Main cast |
| 2024–25 | Abbott Elementary | Crystal | Episodes: "Panel", "Smith Playground", "District Budget Meeting" |
| 24 | After Midnight | Herself | Guest Appearance, Episode: June 3, 2024 |

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US | US R&B | UK | UK R&B |
| Kiss the Sky | Released: August 25, 1998 Formats: CD, cassette Label: Work Group | 106 | 47 | 41 | 6 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. ||||||

### Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Album details |
| Hello | Released: January 21, 2014 Formats: CD, digital download Label: Self-released |
| All I Have | Released: December 1, 2023 Formats: Streaming Label: Self-released |

### Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | US | US R&B | BEL | FRA | IRL | NL | NZ | UK | UK R&B | Certifications | Album |
| "Daydreamin'" | 1998 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 3 | RIAA: Gold RMNZ: Gold | Kiss the Sky |
| "Boy You Knock Me Out" (featuring Will Smith) | 1998 | — | 68 | 56 | 32 | 19 | 77 | 12 | 3 | 1 | RMNZ: Gold BPI: Silver | Kiss the Sky |
| "Everytime" | 1999 | — | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 4 | | Kiss the Sky |
| "Wait for It" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Hello |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |||||||||||||

### Other appearances

| Title | Year | Other Artist(s) | Album |
| "Love The Way You Love Me" | 1999 | — | More! |
| "Precious Wings" | 1999 | — | The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland |
| "Who Am I" | 1999 | Will Smith and MC Lyte | Willennium |
| "Getting Closer" | 1999 | Kel Spencer | Wild Wild West |
| "Candy Girl" | 2007 | Kanary Diamonds | Puro Fuego |
| "Wanna Groove" | 2009 | Inverse | So Far |
| "Move It, Shake It" | 2009 | Just Matter and Nieve | Love N' Dancing |
| "Bathtub Gin" | 2009 | The Cherokee Rhythm Section | Love N' Dancing |
| "Joy to the World" | 2013 | — | Dear Secret Santa |
| "Kiss the Sky" | 2015 | — | The Legacy of R&B Slow Jamz |
| "He Loves Me" | 2016 | — | The Legacy of Nu Soul |
| "Ghost Town" | 2017 | — | Music to Inspire |
| "U Can Call (Jossy Remix)" | 2022 | 2pac | Youtube Release |

## Awards and nominations
### Caribbean Heritage Organization

* 2011: Recipient, Living Legacy Award

### NAACP Image Awards

* 1996: Won, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
* 1997: Nominated, Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
* 2010: Nominated, Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama – The Young and the Restless
* 2011: Nominated, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Love That Girl!
* 2011: Won, Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama – The Young and the Restless
* 2012: Won, Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama – The Young and the Restless
* 2012: Nominated, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Love That Girl!
* 2013: Nominated, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Love That Girl!

### Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards

* 1996: Nominated, Favorite Television Actress – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

### Young Artist Awards

* 1991: Won, Outstanding Young Comedienne in a Television Series – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
* 1992: Nominated, Outstanding Young Comedienne in a Television Series – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
* 1993: Nominated, Outstanding Young Comedienne in a Television Series – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
* 1994: Nominated, Outstanding Young Comedienne in a Television Series – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
* 1995: Nominated, Outstanding Young Comedienne in a Television Series – Name Your Adventure