Will Smith

For other people named Will Smith, see William Smith (disambiguation).

Will Smith
Smith in 2011
Born	Willard Christopher Smith, Jr. (1968-09-25) September 25, 1968 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Other names	The Fresh Prince
Occupation(s)	Actor, producer, rapper
Years active	1985–1993, 1997–2005 (rapping), 1990–present (acting)
Spouse(s)	Sheree Zampino ​ (m. 1992⁠–⁠1995)​ Jada Pinkett Smith ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	Trey Smith Jaden Smith Willow Smith
Website	www.willsmith.com

Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood. Smith has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and has won multiple Grammy Awards.

In the late 1980s, Smith achieved modest fame as a rapper under the name The Fresh Prince. In 1990, his popularity increased dramatically when he starred in the popular television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show ran for nearly six years (1990–1996) on NBC and has been syndicated consistently on various networks since then. In the mid-1990s, Smith moved from television to film, and ultimately starred in numerous blockbuster films. He is the only actor to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic box office and the only one to have eight consecutive films in which he starred open at #1 spot in the domestic box office tally.

Fourteen of the nineteen fiction films he has acted in have accumulated worldwide gross earnings of over $100 million, and four took in over $500 million in global box office receipts. As of 2011, his films have grossed $5.7 billion in global box office. His most financially successful films have been Bad Boys, Bad Boys II, Independence Day, Men in Black, Men in Black II, I, Robot, The Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Hancock, Wild Wild West, Enemy of the State, Shark Tale, Hitch and Seven Pounds. He also earned critical praise for his performances in Six Degrees of Separation, Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness, receiving Best Actor Oscar nominations for the latter two.

Family and early life

Born and raised in the Wynnefield section of West Philadelphia, Smith also lived in Germantown in Northwest Philadelphia. His mother, Caroline (née Bright), was a school administrator who worked for the Philadelphia school board, and his father, Willard Christopher Smith, Sr., was a refrigeration engineer. He was raised Baptist. His parents separated when he was thirteen, and did not actually divorce until around 2000.

It is untrue, though widely reported, that Smith turned down a scholarship to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); he never applied to the school, although he was admitted to a "pre-engineering program" there. According to Smith, "My mother, who worked for the School Board of Philadelphia, had a friend who was the admissions officer at MIT. I had pretty high SAT scores and they needed black kids, so I probably could have gotten in. But I had no intention of going to college."

Recording and acting career

Smith at the Emmy Awards in 1993

Early work (1985–1995)

Smith started as the MC of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, with his childhood friend Jeffrey "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes as turntablist and producer, as well as Ready Rock C (Clarence Holmes) as the human beat box. The trio was known for performing humorous, radio-friendly songs, most notably "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Summertime". They gained critical acclaim and won the first Grammy awarded in the Rap category (1988).

Smith had a line in "Voices That Care", a 1991 Persian Gulf War song by a celebrity group. Smith spent money freely during his early career and underpaid his income taxes. The Internal Revenue Service eventually assessed a $2.8 million tax debt against Smith, took many of his possessions, and garnished his income. Smith was nearly bankrupt in 1990, when the NBC television network signed him to a contract and built a sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, around him.

The show was successful and began his acting career. Smith set for himself the goal of becoming "the biggest movie star in the world," studying box office successes' common characteristics. His first major roles were in the drama Six Degrees of Separation (1993) and the action film Bad Boys (1995) which he starred opposite of Martin Lawrence.

Breakthrough (1996–2000)

In 1996, Smith starred as part of an ensemble cast in Roland Emmerich's Independence Day. The film was a massive blockbuster, becoming the second highest grossing film in history at the time and establishing Smith as a prime box office draw. He later struck gold again in the summer of 1997 alongside Tommy Lee Jones in the summer hit Men in Black playing Agent J. In 1998, Smith starred with Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State.

He turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix in favor of Wild Wild West (1999). Despite the disappointment of Wild Wild West, Smith has said that he harbors no regrets about his decision, asserting that Keanu Reeves's performance as Neo was superior to what Smith himself would have achieved. Though in interviews subsequent to the release of Wild Wild West he stated that he "made a mistake on Wild Wild West. That could have been better."

2001–present

Smith in September 2009

In 2005, Smith was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for attending a record breaking three premieres in a 24-hour time span.

He has planned to star in a feature film remake of the television series It Takes a Thief.

On December 10, 2007, Smith was recognized at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Smith left an imprint of his hands and feet outside the world renowned theater in front of many fans. Later that month, Smith starred in the film I Am Legend, released December 14, 2007. Despite marginally positive reviews, its opening was the largest ever for a film released in the United States during December. Smith himself has said that he considers the film to be "aggressively unique". A reviewer said that the film's commercial success "cemented [Smith's] standing as the number one box office draw in Hollywood." On December 1, 2008, TV Guide reported that Smith has been selected as one of America’s top ten most fascinating people of 2008 for a Barbara Walters ABC special that aired on December 4, 2008.

Smith is currently developing a film entitled The Last Pharaoh, in which he will star as Taharqa.

President Barack Obama has stated that if a film were to ever be made about his life, he would have Smith play his part, because "he has the ears". Obama stated that the two have discussed a possibility of a film based on the 2008 election, but this may not happen until the end of the Obama presidency.

Men in Black III is set for a 2012 release. In it, Smith will play Agent J for the third time, being one of his more popular earlier roles coincides with the fact that it will be his first major starring role in four years.

On August 19, 2011, it was announced that Smith had returned to the studio with producer La Mar Edwards to make a new album. Edwards has worked with artists such as T.I., Chris Brown, and Game.

Smith and his son, Jaden, are currently filming After Earth, which is set for a 2013 release.

Personal life

Nobel Peace Prize Concert December 11, 2009, in Oslo, Norway: Smith with wife Jada and children Jaden and Willow

Smith was raised by his parents in West Philadelphia. Smith credits his father's dedication when discussing his own involvement in the lives of his four children: "I look at my father and how he was able to keep four kids fed and clothed and still managed to find time to spend with us." Smith married Sheree Zampino in 1992. They had a son, Willard Christopher Smith III, also known as "Trey", but divorced in 1995. Trey appeared in his father's music video for the 1998 single "Just the Two of Us".

Smith married actress Jada Pinkett in 1997. Together they have had two children: Jaden Christopher Syre (born 1998), his co-star in The Pursuit of Happyness, and Willow Camille Reign (born 2000), who appeared as his daughter in I Am Legend. Along with his brother, Harry Smith, he owns Treyball Development Inc., a Beverly Hills-based company named after his first son. Smith and his family reside on Star Island in Miami Beach, Florida and in Los Angeles, Stockholm, Sweden and Philadelphia.

Smith was consistently listed in Fortune Magazine's "Richest 40" list of the forty wealthiest Americans under the age of 40. He donated $4,600 to the presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama. On December 11, 2009, Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, when Obama had won the prize.

Scientology ties

Smith has said he has studied multiple religions, including Scientology, and he has said many complimentary things about Scientology and other faiths. Despite his praise of Scientology, Smith said "I just think a lot of the ideas in Scientology are brilliant and revolutionary and non-religious" and "Ninety-eight percent of the principles in Scientology are identical to the principles of the Bible.... I don't think that because the word someone uses for spirit is 'thetan' that the definition becomes any different." He has denied having joined the Church of Scientology, saying "I am a Christian. I am a student of all religions, and I respect all people and all paths."

Smith gave $1.3 million to charities in 2007, of which $450,000 went to two Christian ministries, and $122,500 went to three Scientology organizations; the remaining beneficiaries included "a Los Angeles mosque, other Christian-based schools and churches, and [...] the Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Center in Israel". Smith and his wife have also founded a private elementary school in Calabasas, California, the New Village Leadership Academy, which uses Study Technology, a teaching methodology developed by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. Federal tax filing showed that Will Smith donated $1.2 million to the school in 2010. He has expressed support for same-sex marriage rights for gay couples.

Discography

Main articles: Will Smith discography and DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince discography

With DJ Jazzy Jeff

• Rock the House (1987)
• He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (1988)
• And in This Corner... (1989)
• Homebase (1991)
• Code Red (1993)

Solo

• Big Willie Style (1997)
• Willennium (1999)
• Born to Reign (2002)
• Lost and Found (2005)

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	Where the Day Takes You	Manny
1993	Made in America	Tea Cake Walters
	Six Degrees of Separation	Paul
1995	Bad Boys	Detective Mike Lowrey
1996	Independence Day	Captain Steven "Steve" Hiller, USMC	MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss
1997	Men in Black	James Darrell Edwards / Agent J	MTV Movie Award for Best Fight MTV Movie Award for Best Song from a Movie
1998	Enemy of the State	Robert Clayton Dean	Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
1999	Torrance Rises	Himself	Cameo
	Wild Wild West	Captain James "Jim" West
2000	Welcome to Hollywood	Himself
	The Legend of Bagger Vance	Bagger Vance	Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
2001	Ali	Muhammad Ali	MTV Movie Award for Best Performance Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
2002	Men in Black II	James Darrell Edwards / Agent J	BET Award for Best Actor Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Actor
2003	Bad Boys II	Detective Mike Lowrey	Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
2004	A Closer Walk	Narrator	Documentary
	Jersey Girl	Himself	Cameo
	I, Robot	Detective Del Spooner	Producer Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
	The Seat Filler		Executive producer
	Shark Tale	Oscar	Voice only
2005	There's a God on the Mic		Documentary
	Hitch	Alex "Hitch" Hitchens	Producer Nominated — BET Award for Best Actor Nominated — Black Movie Award for Best Actor Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Actor Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
2006	The Pursuit of Happyness	Chris Gardner	Producer Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Actor Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
2007	I Am Legend	Dr. Robert Neville	Producer MTV Movie Award for Best Performance Saturn Award for Best Actor Nominated — BET Award for Best Actor Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
2008	Hancock	John Hancock	Producer Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor
	Lakeview Terrace		Producer
	The Secret Life of Bees
	Seven Pounds	Ben Thomas
2010	The Karate Kid
2012	This Means War
	Men in Black III	James Darrell Edwards / Agent J

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1990	Saturday Morning Videos	Host
	ABC Afterschool Special – "The Perfect Date"	Hawker
1990–1996	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air	Will Smith
1992	Blossom	Fresh Prince	Episode 18: "I'm with the Band"
1997	Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child	Pinocchio	Season 2, Episode 14
2003–2004	All of Us	Johnny	3 episodes Creator and executive producer
2004	American Chopper	Himself

Music videos

Year	Artist	Song	Role
2002	B2K	"Girlfriend"	Himself

Box office grosses

Year	Title	Budget	U.S. gross	Worldwide gross
1992	Where the Day Takes You	N/A	$390,152	$390,152
1993	Made in America		$44,942,695	$104,942,695
	Six Degrees of Separation		$6,284,090	$6,284,090
1995	Bad Boys	$23m	$65,647,413	$141,247,413
1996	Independence Day	$75m	$306,169,255	$817,400,878
1997	Men in Black	$90m	$250,690,539	$587,790,539
1998	Enemy of the State		$111,549,836	$250,649,836
1999	Wild Wild West	$170m	$113,805,681	$222,105,681
2000	The Legend of Bagger Vance	$80m	$30,695,227	$39,235,486
2001	Ali	$107m	$58,183,966	$84,383,966
2002	Men in Black II	$140m	$190,418,803	$441,818,803
2003	Bad Boys II	$60m	$138,540,870	$272,940,870
2004	I, Robot	$120m	$144,801,023	$348,601,023
	Shark Tale	$75m	$161,192,000	$367,192,000
2005	Hitch	$70m	$177,784,257	$366,784,257
2006	The Pursuit of Happyness	$55m	$162,586,036	$306,086,036
2007	I Am Legend	$150m	$256,393,010	$585,055,701
2008	Hancock		$227,946,274	$624,346,274
	Seven Pounds	$55m	$69,369,933	$166,617,328

Further reading

• Iannucci, Lisa (2009). Will Smith: A Biography. Greenwood. ISBN 0-313-37610-7.

External links

• Official website
• Will Smith at IMDb
• Template:Ymovies name
• Will Smith on Charlie Rose in 2002
• Will Smith at People.com
• Will Smith discography at MusicBrainz