Floyd Roger Myers Jr., a former child actor best known for portraying a young Will Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has passed away at 42, his family confirmed. Myers’s life was defined not only by this early role but by his lasting influence on those around him.
His mother, Renee Trice, told TMZ that Myers died early Wednesday morning at his home in Maryland after suffering a heart attack. She said he had three previous heart attacks in the last three years and had spoken to her son the night before his death. “He was doing well,” she told the outlet. She expressed shock at the sudden loss.
In 1992, Myers appeared as a young version of Smith’s character in the third season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, earning him recognition from fans of the hit NBC sitcom.
That year, Myers played Marlon Jackson in ABC’s The Jacksons: An American Dream, a dramatized look at the Jackson family’s rise. The miniseries, starring Angela Bassett, Vanessa Williams, and Billy Dee Williams, remains one of ABC’s most acclaimed events of the early 1990s.
While Myers’s acting career was brief, ending with his last TV appearance in the 2000 WB drama Young Americans, his influence reached beyond Hollywood. He co-founded the Fellaship Men’s Group, a nonprofit that helps men “lead, heal & thrive” by providing safe spaces to address emotional and mental health challenges.
The organization honored him on Instagram: “RIP to our good brother @rocwonder, one of our co-founders. Gone but never will be forgotten. The mission will continue in your honor. The next men’s meeting will be one for the books, just as we discussed! Love you, bro, rest easy — big bro will take it from here.”
Myers’s sister, Tyree Trice, set up a GoFundMe page to assist with funeral expenses and support his four children — Taelyn, Kinsley, Tyler, and Knox. “It is with heavy hearts we share the unexpected passing of my beloved brother, Floyd Roger Myers Jr.,” she wrote. “He was a devoted father, loving brother, and friend whose kindness, laughter, and warmth touched everyone he met.”
Those who knew Myers said his compassion and humor made him unforgettable after he left the industry. His mother called him a devoted family man and an “old soul” who put others before himself.
Tributes have poured in on social media from fans and former colleagues recalling Myers’s memorable role as young Will and his community work as an adult.
Myers’s death is another loss tied to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show still resonates decades later for its cultural impact and family themes. Myers’s brief turn as young Will is a nostalgic moment for many fans who grew up with the series.
As his family grieves, they have asked for continued prayers and support. “We’re heartbroken,” Tyree wrote. “But we’ll honor him by carrying forward his light — the same one he gave so freely to others.”
Myers was 42 years old.
