Floyd Roger Myers Jr., a former child actor best known for portraying a young Will Smith on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, after suffering a heart attack at his home in Maryland. He was 42.
Myers’ mother, Renee Trice, confirmed to TMZ that her son passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday. She revealed he had experienced three prior heart attacks over the past three years, indicating a prolonged battle with cardiac issues. Trice said she had spoken with her son just the night before his death.
Myers launched his acting career in the early 1990s as a child performer. At 9 years old, he appeared in a third-season episode of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” titled “Will Gets Committed,” which aired in September 1992. The episode featured a flashback to the 1970s, with Myers playing the younger version of the show’s star, Will Smith.
That same year, Myers took on another prominent role as young Marlon Jackson in “The Jacksons: An American Dream,” an ABC television miniseries chronicling the rise and hardships of the Jackson 5 and the legendary Jackson family’s journey to musical fame. His final credited television appearance came in 2000 when he guest-starred as an unnamed student in one episode of the WB drama series “Young Americans.”
After stepping away from acting, Myers transitioned to business ownership, operating a duct cleaning company in the Maryland area. He also dedicated himself to community service and men’s mental health advocacy, co-founding The Fellaship Men’s Group, a nonprofit organization that offers workshops, wellness programs and service opportunities for men seeking to reconnect with their purpose and improve their mental health through support and self-improvement.
The organization paid tribute to Myers in an Instagram post on Wednesday. “RIP to our good brother one of our co founders. Gone but never will be forgotten,” the group stated. “The mission will continue in your honor. Next mens meeting will be one for the books like we talked about! Love you bro, rest easy, big bro will take it from here.”
Myers was a devoted father to four children: Taelyn, Kinsley, Tyler and Knox. Just weeks before his death, he shared a video on Instagram in September celebrating his daughter’s 10th birthday, expressing excitement about their future together. He wrote that he was happy to be her father and looked forward to the next 10 years of their lives.
His sister, Tyree Trice, established a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses and provide financial support for Myers’ children following his unexpected death. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of my beloved brother, Floyd Roger Myers Jr, who tragically left us today after a sudden heart attack,” she wrote on the fundraising page. “He was a devoted father, loving brother, and friend whose kindness, laughter, and warmth touched everyone he met.”
The campaign has raised over $11,400 toward a $30,000 goal. The fundraiser seeks to alleviate financial strain on the family during this difficult period, with all proceeds directed toward funeral expenses and supporting Myers’ children.
Renee Trice also mourned her son’s death in a Facebook post on Wednesday, sharing a photograph of him with his four children. She wrote that his passing was not supposed to happen, expressing her grief over the loss.
Myers’ funeral service is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3. The Fellaship Men’s Group indicated in their social media tribute that their next meeting would honor Myers’ memory and continue the mission he helped establish, emphasizing their commitment to carrying forward the work he started in empowering men to lead, heal and thrive.
Though his acting career was brief, Myers left an impression on viewers of two iconic television productions that captured different aspects of American entertainment history. His portrayal of young Will Smith came during the height of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s” popularity, while his role as young Marlon Jackson allowed him to be part of telling the story of one of music’s most influential families.
Myers is survived by his four children, his mother Renee Trice, and his sister Tyree Trice, along with other family members and the community he built through his men’s advocacy work.
