Jimmy Akingbola is putting his own stamp on Geoffrey in Peacock’s Bel-Air, bringing a fresh and dynamic perspective to the beloved character originally portrayed by Joseph Marcell in NBC’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
“It was integral. It was so important for us to show Black families and Black excellence in a different way,” Akingbola told Scoop B Radio. “I think our show occupies a very important space in TV right now, and when it comes to Geoffrey, we didn’t want to show Black ‘help.’ We wanted to show brotherhood, brothership, and them as equals.”
A New Era for Geoffrey
Akingbola’s Geoffrey is not the traditional butler that fans of the original series remember. Instead, he’s the House Manager—a confidant, enforcer, and right-hand man to Uncle Phil. The show’s fresh take on Geoffrey reinforces a more modern and layered perspective on Black masculinity.
“What I love is that we get to represent that on TV, but also, I think you’ve seen that over the last four or five years in Black men and vulnerability,” Akingbola continued. “If you check season one when Uncle Phil and Geoffrey had an argument, it wasn’t like they were going to fight each other and be that stereotypical aggressive Black man and that stereotype on TV; it was heartbreak. Vulnerability is a strength and I say that because you look at Busta Rhymes, Tyrese, and a lot of our legends right now and they’re expressing that, and we’re not allowed to show that. And I’m really proud that through our show, we are doing that.”
Why Akingbola Connected with Will Smith’s Fresh Prince
When it comes to his own connection with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Akingbola says there was one character he always resonated with: Will Smith’s portrayal of the show’s lead.
“I related to Will. He really connected with me on such a deep level and I’m realizing as I got older, he connected with me because he was like a fish out of water,” Akingbola explained. “He was from Philly but he was in Bel-Air. He’s not with his mom, he was with his aunt and uncle; a different class, a wealthy family. I grew up in foster care. I didn’t realize that The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was based on Benny Medina’s life and Benny Medina was adopted. So being in the show now is a full-circle moment for me in terms of I’m a young kid who went from foster care to Hollywood and I realize that Bel-Air, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was probably the biggest care story in the world; about a blended family. As Black people, I think we naturally do that, but also it’s not celebrated enough.”
Learning from the Original Geoffrey
Akingbola also made sure to connect with the man who first brought Geoffrey to life—Joseph Marcell.
“I spoke to Joseph. I knew him before I booked the job. So, I spoke to him straight away and I asked him for some advice, and one of the main things he said was: ‘Enjoy being the Black Brit on the show,’” Akingbola recalled. “And he said also ‘do my thing, lean into it, and have fun.’ He also said to visit different states across the U.S. and just how important it is to show the story of the Brit in LA. When I got to work with him, it was a dream come true. I grew up watching the original [show] so when Geoffrey got to meet Geoffrey, it was a dream come true.”
The Evolution of Geoffrey—Then and Now
From Marcell’s refined yet sarcastic butler to Akingbola’s cool and calculated House Manager, Bel-Air is ushering Geoffrey into a new era, one that reflects the evolution of Black identity, masculinity, and family dynamics on screen. And for Akingbola, this journey is more than just a role—it’s personal.
Make sure to check out Jimmy Akingbola’s full interview on Scoop B Radio by Clicking Here.
