Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. (born
September 25, 1968)[1] is an American actor, film producer and pop
rapper. He has enjoyed success in music, television and film. In April
2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor on the planet.[2]
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 transitioned from television to film,
and ultimately starred in numerous blockbuster films that received
broad box office success. In fact, he is the only actor in history
to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic
box office as well as being the only actor to have eight consecutive
films in which he starred open at the #1 spot in the domestic box
office tally.[3]
Fourteen of the 19 fiction films he has acted in have accumulated
worldwide gross earnings of over $100 million, and 4 of them took
in over $500 million in global box office receipts. 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.
West Philadelphia-born and raised, Smith also spent time 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.[4][5] He was raised Baptist.[6] His parents separated when
he was 13,[7] and did not actually divorce until Smith was around
30.[8]
While it is widely reported that Smith turned down a scholarship
to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he never
applied to MIT,[9] although he was admitted to a "pre-engineering
program" there.[8] 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."[10]
Recording and acting career
Will Smith 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 for winning the first ever Grammy in
the Rap category (1988). He had a line in "Voices That Care",
a 1991 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.[11]
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.[7]
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.[12] In 1998 Smith starred with
Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State. Smith turned down the role of
Neo in The Matrix in favor of Wild Wild West. 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 would have achieved.[13]
International success (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.[14]
He has planned to star in a feature film remake of the television
series It Takes a Thief.[15]
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.[16]
Later that month, Smith starred in the film I Am Legend, released
December 14, 2007. Despite marginally positive reviews,[17] 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".[18] A reviewer said that the film's commercial success "cemented
[Smith's] standing as the number one box office draw in Hollywood."[19]
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.[20]
Smith is currently developing a film entitled The Last Pharaoh,
in which he will star as Taharqa.[21]
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.[22]
He is currently filming Men in Black III for a 2012 release playing
Agent J one of his more popular earlier roles, making this his first
major starring role in four years.
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 three 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."[23] 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.,[24] 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[25] 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.[26] December 11, 2009, Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel
Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, when Barack Obama had won the
prize.[27]
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"[28][29] 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."[30]
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."[31] 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".[32]
Smith and his wife have also founded a private elementary school
in Calabasas, California, the New Village Leadership Academy, which
has attracted controversy and speculation over its use of Study Technology,
a teaching methodology developed by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of
Scientology.[33]
Discography
Main article: Will Smith discography
* Big Willie Style (1997)
* Willennium (1999)
* Born to Reign (2002)
* Lost and Found (2005)
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes
1990 Saturday Morning Videos Host TV
ABC Afterschool Special – "The Perfect Date" Hawker
TV
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air William "Will" Smith TV (1990–1996)
1992 Blossom Fresh Prince TV, Cameo, episode 18 "I'm with the
Band"
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 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
Girlfriend by B2K Himself Music video
2003 Bad Boys II Detective Mike Lowrey Nominated—NAACP Image
Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
All of Us Johnny TV, 3 episodes (2003–2004);Creator/Executive
Producer
2004 A Closer Walk Narrator Documentary
Jersey Girl Himself Uncredited Cameo
American Chopper Himself TV, Cameo
I, Robot Detective Del Spooner Producer
Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion
Picture
The Seat Filler Executive Producer;Independent Film
Shark Tale Oscar Voice
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 Producer
Seven Pounds Ben Thomas Producer
2010 The Karate Kid Producer
Unfinished Business[34] TBA TV Movie
2012 Men in Black III[35] James Darrell Edwards / Agent J Pre-production
2012 Bad Boys 3[36] Detective Mike Lowrey Pre-production
2013 The Last Pharaoh Taharqa Pre-production
Box office grosses
Year Title Budget U.S. gross[37] Worldwide gross[37]
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