It’s not unusual for Alfonso Ribeiro to show love to Iowa.
The actor, known for playing the quirky Carlton Banks in the ’90s sitcom “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” mentioned the Hawkeye State during an appearance on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Here’s what he said.
What did Alfonso Ribeiro say about Iowa on ‘Dancing with the Stars’?
“I feel like I’m back in Iowa,” Ribeiro said after watching Andy Richter and Emma Slater’s dance during a Halloween-themed episode of the show.
Ribeiro, 54, has hosted the popular celebrity dancing series since 2023.
Where is Alfonso Ribeiro from?
Ribeiro is not a native Iowan.
The actor was born in New York to parents from Trinidad & Tobago, according to his IMDB biography.
Why did Alfonso Ribeiro mention Iowa during ‘Dancing with the Stars’?
Ribeiro’s connection to Iowa is that his wife, Angela Unkrich Ribeiro, is originally from Swedesburg in southeastern Iowa. The two met in Los Angeles and married in 2012, and have had three children during their 13-year marriage.
Ribeiro told the Des Moines Register in a 2014 interview that the two visit Angela’s family farm in Iowa a few times a year, with Alfonso saying he helped his in-laws during a cattle drive and with other farm chores.
When asked in 2014 what he enjoyed most about Iowa, he said it was how peaceful it is
“It’s the wholesome values, and I simply love being part of such a large, close-knit family,” he said. “My wife’s family has some wonderful family traditions, particularly for the holidays, and it’s great to be a part of that.”
How to watch Dancing with the Stars?
Dancing with the Stars is live on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT. All prior episodes of Season 34 are available on Disney+ and Hulu.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Alfonso Ribeiro gives Iowa a shoutout during ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ Where is he from?
Reporting by Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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