MARYLAND — Floyd Roger Myers Jr., the actor who portrayed a young Will Smith during the third season of NBC’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has died at the age of 42. The news was first reported by TMZ after Myers’ mother, Renee Trice, confirmed that her son suffered a fatal heart attack early Wednesday morning (Oct. 29) at his home in Maryland.
According to Trice, the actor had endured three heart attacks within the last three years. In a message shared to Facebook alongside a family photo, she wrote, “THIS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SO,” expressing her grief over the sudden loss.
Myers’ younger sister, Tyree, launched a GoFundMe campaign supporting the family in the wake of his passing. “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 kindness, laughter, and warmth touched everyone he met.” She noted that he leaves behind four children — Taelyn, Kinsley, Tyler and Knox — along with a mourning family coping with what she called “the unimaginable.”
Myers made his screen debut in 1992 when he appeared as a young version of Will Smith in the landmark sitcom, a breakout show that helped propel Smith into a decades-long acting career. That same year, he portrayed Marlon Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream, an ABC miniseries featuring performances from Angela Bassett, Vanessa Williams, and Billy Dee Williams. His résumé also included a one-episode role on the WB drama Young Americans in 2000.
Beyond acting, Myers co-founded the Fellaship Men’s Group, an organization dedicated to helping men “lead, heal & thrive.” The group honored him in an Instagram post, writing, “RIP to our good brother @rocwonder… Gone but never will be forgotten. The mission will continue in your honor.”
“Next men’s meeting will be one for the books like we talked about,” the tribute continued. “Love you bro, rest easy, big bro will take it from here.”
Funeral arrangements have not been publicly announced.