Los Angeles - UPI
Alfonso Ribeiro and his professional partner Witney Carson were crowned the winners of Dancing with the Stars on the Season 19 finale of the competition series Tuesday.
"I cannot believe this! I've wanted it forever. My God, I don't even know what to say!" exclaimed the 43-year-old former Silver Spoons and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star. "These are happy tears. These are happy tears!"
"He deserves this so much. He is one of the hardest working people I have ever met," Carson said.
"I love you so much!" Ribeiro told her.
The actor sustained groin and back injuries during the competition, and even said he considered quitting the show at one point.
But he and Carson persevered and beat out fellow finalists Janel Parrish and Sadie Robertson -- and their professional dance partners -- to win the show's coveted mirrorball trophy.
The series kicked off the season Sept. 15, with Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews returning as co-hosts and former DWTS pro Julianne Hough joining the judges' panel with fellow experts Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.