Will Smith

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20 Feb 2024

Will Smith

Willard Carroll Smith II, born on September 25, 1968, is an American actor, rapper, and film producer known for his numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA Award, and four Grammy Awards. His films have grossed over $9.3 billion globally as of 2024, establishing him as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.
Smith rose to prominence starring as a fictionalized version of himself on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1996, earning Golden Globe Award nominations for his performance. Prior to his acting career, he gained recognition as part of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, producing hits like "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Summertime."

Transitioning to film, Smith achieved success as a leading man with roles in action films like Bad Boys (1995) and Men in Black (1997), both of which spawned successful sequels. He also starred in Independence Day (1996) and Enemy of the State (1998). Smith received critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations for his portrayals of Muhammad Ali in Ali (2001) and Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006).
Smith's other commercially successful films include I, Robot (2004), Shark Tale (2004), Hitch (2005), I Am Legend (2007), Hancock (2008), Seven Pounds (2008), Suicide Squad (2016), and Aladdin (2019).

In 2021, Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in the biographical sports drama King Richard. However, his win was overshadowed by an incident at the ceremony where he slapped presenter Chris Rock in response to an unscripted joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. As a result, Smith resigned from the Academy and was banned from attending their events for ten years.

Willard Carroll Smith II, born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, is the son of Caroline (née Bright), a school board administrator, and Willard Carroll Smith Sr., a US Air Force veteran and refrigeration engineer. His mother graduated from Carnegie Mellon University.
Smith grew up in West Philadelphia's Wynnefield neighborhood and was raised in the Baptist faith. He has an elder sister named Pamela and two younger siblings, twins Harry and Ellen. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes, a private Catholic elementary school in Philadelphia, and later Overbrook High School. His parents separated when he was 13 years old and divorced around the year 2000.

Smith's interest in music began at a young age, and he started rapping at the age of 12. However, his grandmother's discovery of a notebook containing explicit lyrics prompted her to write him a note encouraging him to express himself without resorting to profanity. Smith credits this experience with influencing his decision to avoid using profanity in his music.

Willard Carroll Smith II, known as Will Smith, began his career as the MC of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, alongside his childhood friend Jeffrey "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes, who served as the turntablist and producer of the group. The two met by chance in 1985 when Townes was performing at a nearby house party, and Smith volunteered to fill in as his hype man. Impressed by their chemistry, they decided to collaborate, eventually adding a friend, Clarence Holmes, aka Ready Rock C, as the group's beatboxer, forming a trio.
Their first single, "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble," was released in 1986 by Word Records after being introduced to Champion Records by A&R man Paul Oakenfold. The single, which humorously depicted misadventures, became a hit shortly before Smith graduated from high school. Building on this success, the duo signed with Jive Records and released their debut album, "Rock the House," in 1987. Their breakout hit, "Parents Just Don't Understand" (1988), earned them their first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.

Despite financial struggles and a significant tax debt, Smith's career took off when NBC signed him to star in the sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in 1990. The show's success propelled him into acting and marked the beginning of his journey to become "the biggest movie star in the world." Alongside his acting endeavors, Smith continued his music career, with hits like "Summertime" (1991), which earned the duo their second Grammy Award.
Smith's early career also saw legal issues, including an arrest in 1989 related to an alleged assault, though the charges were later dismissed. Despite these challenges, Smith's talent and determination propelled him to become one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, achieving success in both music and film.

Will Smith's career took off with his first major roles in the drama "Six Degrees of Separation" (1993) and the action film "Bad Boys" (1995), where he starred alongside Martin Lawrence. While "Bad Boys" was commercially successful, grossing $141.4 million worldwide, critical reception was mixed. However, Smith's talent was evident, setting the stage for his future success.
In 1996, Smith starred in Roland Emmerich's blockbuster "Independence Day" as part of an ensemble cast. The film was a massive success, becoming the second highest-grossing film in history at the time and solidifying Smith as a leading box office draw.
The following year, in 1997, Smith starred alongside Tommy Lee Jones in the sci-fi comedy "Men in Black," playing Agent J. The film was a huge hit, grossing over $589.3 million worldwide and receiving positive reviews for its humor and the chemistry between Smith and Jones.

During the same summer, Smith also launched his solo music career with the release of "Men in Black," the theme song for the film. The song topped charts around the world, including in the UK. It was later included on Smith's debut solo album, "Big Willie Style," which reached the top ten of the US Billboard 200 and was certified nine times platinum by the RIAA. The album's third single, "Gettin' Jiggy wit It," became Smith's first Billboard Hot 100 number one hit in 1998, further solidifying his status as a multi-talented entertainer.