Janet Hubert-Whitten (born January 13, 1956 in Chicago) is an actress who starred as Vivian Banks on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1993. She is now credited as Janet Hubert due to her divorce from James Whitten. Janet reportedly left the show due to a violation of contract that resulted when she became pregnant; the pregnancy and birth of her character Vivian's child Nicky Banks was worked into the plot to accommodate the situation. She also was the original Tantomile in the first Broadway run of Cats.
After she was fired from Fresh Prince, Janet's character was played by Daphne Reid for the remainder of the show's run. According to Will Smith, the show's star, he and Janet had difficulties working together long before her pregnancy.
Janet has also featured in a 2002 episode of Friends as Chandler's boss.
In 2005, she began playing the recurring role of Lisa Williamson, mother of attorney Evangeline Williamson on the soap opera One Life to Live. The character has made occasional appearances since then.
She was also featured as Michel Gerard's mother in a episode of the CW show, Gilmore Girls.
Educated at Juilliard School
Son, Elijah, born 1992.
Left "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The" (1990) because of contract issues. She was pregnant at the time.
Graduated from Momence High School, Momence, Illinois in 1974.
