Fresh Prince's Hillary says no return without Uncle Phil

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Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast reunited this week for a charity lunch at Nobu
But Karyn Parsons, who played Hilary in show, ruled out a return to the screens
Told MailOnline that 'it feels like an impossibility since James Avery died'
However she said it 'feels like a family meeting up', adding 'never say never'

Published: 18:50 EDT, 31 March 2017 | Updated: 20:33 EDT, 31 March 2017

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It was the photo that sent the Internet into meltdown.

When the cast from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunited this week, it sparked rumours the iconic 90s show might potentially be making a comeback.

But Karyn Parsons, who played Hilary in the show, ruled out a return to the screens telling MailOnline it would be an 'impossibility' without James Avery.

Avery, who played Uncle Phil, died in December 2013 aged 68 from complications following open heart surgery.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air family reunited in Malibu on Monday (L-R) Tatyana Ali (Ashley); Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton); Karyn Parsons (Hilary); Will Smith (Will) Daphne Etta Maxwell (Vivian) and Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey)

Speaking to MailOnline Parsons said: 'It [talks of a reunion] came up but it doesn't feel like it at the moment, but never say never.

'But it feels like an impossibility since James Avery died. I don't know how we would do it without him. It definitely affects the entire dynamic of the group.

'You take things for granted when he's there but then you realise he's gone and you miss him and his energy and the way he used to drive things on.

'He affects all of us as a group and the way we interact.

Cult hit: The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air ran from 1990-1996 and also starred (L-R) Janet Hubert Whitten, Joseph Marcell, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons and Tatyana Ali, as well as Will Smith and James Avery

Throwback: The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air aired on screens from 1990-1996

'We miss him so much. He was such a wonderful man and important part of our lives that when we're altogether, it feels like something is missing.'

In the Instagram post that sent fans into a frenzy, Alfonso Ribeiro wrote: 'Always amazing to spend an afternoon with my Fresh Prince family.

'Wishing that James Avery was still with us to make this complete.'

Will Smith also shared a selfie from the outing, which he captioned: 'Lunch with my BFF's... I missed my Uncle Phil today'.

The cast were reunited at Nobu in Malibu after a British family won the chance to have lunch with the cast as part of a charity auction.

Money raised went to Parsons' charity, Sweet Blackberry, an organisation which spreads 'little known stories of African Americans to children.'

It has not yet been disclosed how much the British family paid for the lunch.

Reunited: Will Smith shared more snaps from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion, which he sweetly captioned: 'Lunch with my BFF's... I missed my Uncle Phil today'

The group were reunited on the lunch date, with Tatyana Ali - who played Ashley in the series - bringing her son Edward along - who she welcomed in September

Speaking about the gang being back together, Parsons, 50, who has two children aged nine and 13, went on: 'It's really hard getting everyone together, particularly Will. I also live on the East Coast and no one else lives in New York. When I go to California I often get to see them.

'Joe Marcell [who starred as butler Geoffrey] was in New York last year in a play [King Lear] so I saw him then and Tatyana [Ali] got married in the summer so I caught up with some of them then.

'I did see that the photo got multiple reactions, most of which were positive.

'It's so hard to get your head around as when we were doing the show we didn't crack the top 10 and it didn't feel that popular. It was not until syndication that everything changed. It was incrementally more popular and more well known.

'When we were doing it it was fun but didn't feel like many people knew [about it].

She added: 'It was a healthy six years...it went really well and people enjoyed it. We felt the show ended on a high.'

Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks, was seen chatting away with Joseph Marcell, who played Geoffrey the butler in the sitcom

The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air originally aired on NBC for five years, finishing after six seasons and 148 episodes in May 1996.

The show starred Will as a a street-savvy teenager from West Philadelphia sent to move in with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel Air mansion after getting into a fight.

While referred to as the Fresh Prince, Will's character was a fictionalized version of himself and also went by the name Will Smith.

His antics in Los Angeles' most well-to-do neighborhoods got laughs and turned heads.

But the NBC show also dealt with more serious matters including race relations and the targeting of young black men by the police.

WILL SMITH (WILL)

Then and now: Pictured (left) as Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air aged 22 and (right) Dec 2016 aged 48

Starred in the show as The Fresh Prince - a fictionalized version of himself
Wrote and performed the theme song, Yo Home to Bel-Air with DJ Jazzy Jeff
Has gone on to carve out a successful film and music career for himself, and has been nominated for been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards, and has won four Grammy Awards
Shares two children with wife Jada Pinkett Smith

ALFONSO RIBEIRO (CARLTON)

Then and now: Pictured (left) aged 19 as Carlton Banks and (right) December 2016 aged 41

Played Carlton Banks in the series, Will's perfectionist cousin
Alfonso has continued to act but is better known as host. He currently hosts ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos
Alfonso took part in Britain's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2013, where he finished in seventh place
He won Dancing with the Stars in 2014
Shares two sons with fiancee Angela Unkrich

JAMES AVERY (PHILLIP)

Then and now: Pictured (left) as Phillip Banks aged 45 and (right) February 2013, ten months before his untimely death aged 68

Played Phillip Banks in the series, the head of the household and Will's uncle
In addition to sitcoms, he did voice acting for many animated series, notably the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series (as the voice of Shredder)
He died in December 2013 aged 68 from complications following open heart surgery
He had no children of his own, but was a stepfather to his wife's son

KARYN PARSONS (HILARY)

Then and now: Pictured (left) as Hilary Banks aged 24 and (right) June 2015 now 50

Played Hilary Banks in the series, Will's fashion and boy obsessed cousin
Has pursued a career in film, notably in the 1995 hit Major Payne alongside Damon Wayans
Shares two children, aged nine and 13, with director husband Alexandre Rockwell

JOSEPH MARCELL (GEOFFREY)

Then and now: Pictured (left) as Geoffrey the English butler aged 42 and (right) February 2013 now aged 68

Played Geoffrey in the series, the English butler to the Banks family
He is best known for his work in the theatre and is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company
He also serves on the board of the Globe Theatre in London

TATYANA ALI (ASHLEY)

Then and now: Pictured (left) as Ashley Banks aged 11 and (right) August 2016 aged 38

Played Ashley Banks in the series, Will's adorable little cousin
Ali attended Harvard University, where she received a bachelor's degree in African-American studies and government in 2002
She starred in a recurring role as Roxanne on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless - leaving the series in 2013
Ali welcomed her first son in September 2016

DAPHNE ETTA MAXWELL (VIVIAN)

Then and now: Pictured (left) as Vivian Banks aged 42 and (right) June 2014, now 68

Played Vivian Banks in the series, Phillip's wife and Will's aunt
She took over the role from Janet Hubert in season three
Had a recurring role on the UPN sitcom Eve, and then played Juanita Lawrence on the BET sitcom Let's Stay Together
She is also an accomplished photographer
She is married to actor Tim Reid and has one son, two stepchildren and three grandkids