Huge 90s US sitcom star has barely aged a day as he appears in BBC comedy – 34 years after fame alongside Will Smith
IN FRESH Prince of Bel-Air, it was hard not to love the forthright and long-suffering butler of the Banks family, Geoffrey.
During its run in the 90s, the smash-hit sitcom became a full family favourite, shooting stars like Will Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro to stardom.
Fast forward 34 years, and Geoffrey actor Joseph Marcell, 75, has clearly not lose an ounce of his charm and charisma as he prepares to take on a new sitcom role.
As Geoffrey, Marcell appeared in 146 of the sitcoms 148 episodes, often providing a voice to reason to Will and the Banks children – Carlton (Riberio), Hillary (Karyn Parsons) and Ashley (Tatyana Ali).
Now, he is one of the lead cast members of new sitcom series, Mammoth, following a PE teacher (played by Mike Bubbins) who, on New Year’s Eve 1979, is trapped under an avalanche while skiing.
Being kept perfectly preserved, Tony Mammoth is brought back to life on New Year’s Day 2024 when his body is recovered.
Soon he needs to adjust to the world as we know it now – with the mind of a 90-year-old but a body of someone in his forties.
In the show, Marcell plays Roger Buck, a friend of Tony’s from before his big freeze and someone who Marcell himself describes as ‘a bit of a curmudgeon’.
Speaking of the character, Marcell said: “Roger is pleasant but I think there are moments of great envy at the fact that although Mammoth is out of time, he is still younger than Roger and that sometimes irritates him.”
“I think series like these are really important because it gives young and upcoming writers and entertainers a chance to flex their muscles!” he said of the project.
“I think it’s wonderful, it really is. And Mike Bubbins is just superb.”