Floyd Roger Myers Jr., the actor best known for portraying young Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has passed away at the age of 42. The heartbreaking news was first reported by TMZ and later confirmed by his family.
According to Myers Jr.’s mother, Renee Trice, he died early Wednesday morning (October 29) at his Maryland home following a heart attack. She revealed that her son had previously suffered three heart attacks over the last three years. In an emotional Facebook tribute, Trice shared a family photo of her late son, writing that this was something “not supposed to be so.”
Myers Jr.’s younger sister, Tyree, also shared a heartfelt message on a GoFundMe page launched to support his children and family. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of my beloved brother,” she wrote. “He was a devoted father, loving brother, and friend whose warmth and laughter touched everyone he met.” Floyd leaves behind four children Taelyn, Kinsley, Tyler, and Knox.
Born in the early 1980s, Myers Jr. made his screen debut in 1992, portraying a younger version of Will Smith’s character in the hit NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The same year, he appeared as Marlon Jackson in the acclaimed ABC miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, alongside Vanessa Williams, Angela Bassett, and Billy Dee Williams.
Though Myers’ acting career was short-lived, his impact carried through the years. He appeared again in the 2000 WB drama Young Americans and later focused on community development, co-founding the Fellaship Men’s Group. The organization’s mission is to help men “lead, heal & thrive.”
Fellaship honored him in a touching tribute on Instagram, writing, “RIP to our good brother @rocwonder, one of our co-founders. The mission will continue in your honor. Rest easy, bro big love always.”
Fans, friends, and former colleagues have flooded social media with tributes celebrating Myers’ legacy as both an artist and a mentor to many. Despite his early passing, Floyd Roger Myers Jr.’s contributions to television and his community continue to inspire countless lives.