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 (age 45) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Other names | The Fresh Prince
Occupation | Actor, producer, rapper
Years active | 1985?1993, 1997?2005 (rapping) 1990?present (acting)
Spouse(s) | Sheree Zampino (m. 1992–95) Jada Pinkett Smith (m. 1997)

Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968)[1] 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.[2] Smith has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and has won four 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.[3]

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.[4] He received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness.

## Family and early life[edit]

Born in West Philadelphia, Smith also lived in Germantown in Northwest Philadelphia. His mother, Caroline (n?e Bright), was a school administrator who worked for the Philadelphia school board, and his father, Willard Christopher Smith, Sr., was a refrigeration engineer.[5][6] He was raised Baptist.[7] His parents separated when he was thirteen,[8] and did not actually divorce until around 2000.[9]

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,[10] although he was admitted to a "pre-engineering program" there.[9] 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."[11]

## Recording and acting career[edit]

Smith at the Emmy Awards in 1993

### Early work (1985?1995)[edit]

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,[12] 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".[12] They gained critical acclaim and won the first Grammy awarded in the Rap category (1988).[12]

Smith spent money freely around 1988 and 1989 and underpaid his income taxes.[12] The Internal Revenue Service eventually assessed a $2.8 million tax debt against Smith, took many of his possessions, and garnished his income.[13] 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.[12]

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.[8] 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)[edit]

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.[14] 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.[12]

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.[15] 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."[16]

### International success (2001?present)[edit]

Smith in May 2012

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.[17]

He has planned to star in a feature film remake of the television series It Takes a Thief.[18]

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.[19] Later that month, Smith starred in the film I Am Legend, released December 14, 2007. Despite marginally positive reviews,[20] 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".[21] A reviewer said that the film's commercial success "cemented [Smith's] standing as the number one box office draw in Hollywood."[22] 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.[23]

Smith is currently developing a film entitled The Last Pharaoh, in which he will star as Taharqa.[24]

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 the possibility of a film based on the 2008 election, but this may not happen until the end of the Obama presidency.[25]

Men in Black III opened on May 25, 2012. In it, Smith played Agent J for the third time, which was one of his more popular earlier roles. This was his first major starring role in four years.

On August 19, 2011, it was announced[26] 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's most recent album was released in 2005.

Smith and his son, Jaden, have completed filming After Earth, which is set for a 2013 release. As per the reports, Smith would star in Men In Black 4.[27]

## Personal life[edit]

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

Smith credits his father's dedication to his own involvement in the lives of his children.[28] 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.,[29] a Beverly Hills-based company named after his first son. Smith and his family reside on Star Island in Miami Beach, Florida, Los Angeles, Stockholm, Sweden[30] 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.[31] On December 11, 2009, Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway - to celebrate Obama's winning of the prize.[32]

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"[33][34] 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."[35] 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."[36]

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".[37] 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.[38] Federal tax filing showed that Will Smith donated $1.2 million to the school in 2010.[39]

In 2012, he expressed support for the legalizing of same-sex marriage, in an endorsement of president Barack Obama's declaration to adopt this stance on the issue.[40]

## Discography[edit]

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

### With DJ Jazzy Jeff[edit]

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

### Solo[edit]

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

## Filmography[edit]

Main article: Will Smith filmography

## Awards and Nominations[edit]

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Will Smith

## References[edit]

1. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Will Smith > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
2. ^ Sean Smith (2007-04-09). "The $4 Billion Man". Newsweek. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
3. ^ "WEEKEND ESTIMATES: 'Hancock' Delivers $107M 5-Day Opening, Giving Will Smith a Record Eighth Consecutive $100M Grossing Movie!; 'WALL-E' with $33M 3-Day; 'Wanted' Down 60 Percent for $20.6M; 'Kit Kittredge' a Disaster!". Fantasy Moguls. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
4. ^ Staskiewicz, Keith. "Will Smith's Road to Superstardom". Entertainment Weekly. July 8, 2011. page 10
5. ^ "Will Smith Biography (1968?)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
6. ^ "Where there's a Will, there's a way". Taipei Times. 2004-08-09.
7. ^ Strauss, Bob (2007-12-14). "Will Smith on power, dogs and Cruise". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
8. ^ a b Rebecca Winters Keegan (2007-11-29). "The Legend of Will Smith". Time.
9. ^ a b James Lipton (producer) (2002-01-13). "Will Smith". Inside the Actors Studio. Season 8. Episode 806. Bravo. http://www.bravotv.com/Inside_the_Actors_Studio/guest/Will_Smith.
10. ^ Jennifer Hillner; Wu, JS; Hyland, B; Lu, XD; Chen, JJ (December 2007). "I, Robocop". Wired 46 (8): 833?9. doi:10.1007/s11517-008-0355-6. PMID 18509686.
11. ^ Meg Grant (December 2006). "Will Smith Interview: Will's Roots". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
12. ^ a b c d e f Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2002
13. ^ Smith, Will (2007-12-02). Interview with Steve Kroft. 60 Minutes. CBS.
14. ^ "Independence Day". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
15. ^ has no matrix regrets "Smith has no Matrix Regrets". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
16. ^ Total Film magazine, Feb 2009 Issue 151, pp 120-125, Will Smith: The Total Film Interview, by Lesley O'Toole, Future Publishing Ltd., London England
17. ^ Daniel Saney (2005-02-23). "Will Smith in Guinness Book of Records". Digital Spy.
18. ^ Gabriel Snyder; Michael Fleming (2006-03-21). "U finds man of steal for 'Thief' feature". Variety.
19. ^ "HHWorlds.com ? Will Smith Immortalized At Grauman's Chinese Theater". Hhworlds.com. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
20. ^ "I Am Legend". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
21. ^ Will Smith: He is a legend video interview with stv.tv, December 2007
22. ^ Gitesh Pandya (2007-12-16). "Box Office Guru Wrapup: Will Smith Rescues Industry With Explosive Opening For I Am Legend". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
23. ^ Barbara Walters Gets Up Close with 2008's Most Fascinating People" TV Guide. December 1, 2008. Retrieved on December 3, 2008.
24. ^ "Will Smith set to conquer Egypt?". Jam Showbiz. 2008-03-23. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
25. ^ "In the movie of Obama's life, he'd pick Will Smith to star". Sun-Times. 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2009-12-09. "Will and I have talked about this because he has the ears!" [dead link]
26. ^ "Will Smith making a new album? A producer says yes". Entertainment Weekly.
27. ^ "Men in Black 4 confirmed". The Times Of India. 21 July 2012.
28. ^ "Becoming ... Will Smith". People. 2005-03-28. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
29. ^ "Treyball Development". Treyball Development. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
30. ^ "Hail to the chief: Mr Will Smith shall go to Washington". Daily Mail (UK). 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
31. ^ "Will Smith's Federal Campaign Contribution Report". newsmeat.com. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
32. ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize Concert". nobelpeaceprize.org. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
33. ^ "Smith Turns Down Cruise's Scientology Bid". Hollywood.com. 2006-12-01.
34. ^ Clark Collis (June 2005). "Dear Superstar: Will Smith". Blender.
35. ^ "Will Smith Admits to Studying Scientology With Tom Cruise". US Magazine. 2007-11-20.
36. ^ "Will and Jada are not Scientologists". MSN Entertainment. 2008-03-18. Archived from the original on 2008-04-08.
37. ^ Friedman, Roger (December 17, 2008). "Will Smith Gives $1.3 Million to Charities". Fox News. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
38. ^ Downie, Heather (2000-09-11). "What Goes on Inside Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith's School? The New Village Leadership Academy Allegedly Mimics Some Scientology Teaching Methods". ABC News.
39. ^ http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/04/24/will-smith-invested-1-2-mil-into-school-with-scientology-ties-in-2010/. Missing or empty `|title=` (help)[dead link]
40. ^ Will Smith supports gay marriage retrieved 16 May 2012

## Further reading[edit]

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

## External links[edit]

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Will Smith.

| Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Will Smith

- Official website
- API at the Internet Movie Database
- Template:Ymovies name
- API on Charlie Rose in 2002
- API at People.com
- Will Smith discography at MusicBrainz

Will Smith
Big Willie Style | "Men in Black" "Just Cruisin'" "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" "Just the Two of Us" "Miami"
Willennium | "Wild Wild West" "Will 2K" "Freakin' It"
Born to Reign | "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)" "1000 Kisses"
Lost and Found | "Switch" "Party Starter"
Compilations | Before the Willenium Greatest Hits
Featured albums | Kiss the Sky
Featured singles | "Boy You Knock Me Out" (with Tatyana Ali) "Hey Sexy Lady" (Remix) (with Shaggy and Sean Paul)
Promotional singles | "So Fresh" "La Fiesta"
Related articles | Discography Filmography DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Jada Pinkett Smith Willow Smith Jaden Smith

Template:DJ Jazzy Jeff the Fresh Prince

Philadelphia 76ers
Formerly the Syracuse Nationals Founded in 1946 Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The franchise | Franchise Syracuse All-Time roster Draft history Seasons Head coaches Current season
Arenas | Convention Hall Philadelphia Arena The Spectrum Wells Fargo Center
General Managers | Leo Ferris Ramsay Don DeJardin Williams Nash Shue Lynam Greenberg Lucas King Stefanski Thorn DiLeo Hinkie
D-League affiliate | Delaware 87ers
Administration | Owner Joshua Harris Adam Aron David Blitzer Jason Levien Art Wrubel Will Smith Jada Pinkett Smith Erick Thohir Chief Executive Officer Scott O'Neil President Rod Thorn General Manager Sam Hinkie Head coach Brett Brown
Retired numbers | 2 3 (Retiring March 1, 2014) 6 10 13 15 24 32 34 Dave Zinkoff (MIC)
NBA Championships (2) | 1967 1983
Rivals | Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets Los Angeles Lakers New York Knicks Washington Wizards Milwaukee Bucks
Culture and lore | "Fo', fo', fo'" Wilt the Stilt Dr. J The Answer The Boston Strangler Dave Zinkoff Practice!? Curse of Billy Penn Hip Hop Pat Croce Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Sir Charles The Kangaroo Kid Boston's dead! Nine and 73-ers
Media | Television Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia Comcast Network WPSG Radio WIP WPHT Announcers Marc Zumoff Malik Rose Tom McGinnis

Awards for Will Smith
MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
Adam Sandler vs. Bob Barker – Happy Gilmore (1996) Fairuza Balk vs. Robin Tunney – The Craft (1997) Will Smith vs. Cockroach – Men in Black (1998) Ben Stiller vs. Puffy the Dog – There's Something About Mary (1999) Keanu Reeves vs. Laurence Fishburne – The Matrix (2000) Zhang Ziyi vs. Entire bar – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2001) Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker vs. Hong Kong gang – Rush Hour 2 (2002) Yoda vs. Christopher Lee – Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2003) Uma Thurman vs. Chiaki Kuriyama – Kill Bill Volume 1 (2004) Uma Thurman vs. Daryl Hannah – Kill Bill Volume 2 (2005) Angelina Jolie vs. Brad Pitt – Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2006) Gerard Butler vs. Robert Maillet – 300 (2007) Sean Faris vs. Cam Gigandet – Never Back Down (2008) Robert Pattinson vs. Cam Gigandet – Twilight (2009) Beyoncé Knowles vs. Ali Larter – Obsessed (2010) Robert Pattinson vs. Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel – The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2011) Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson vs. Alexander Ludwig – The Hunger Games (2012) Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner vs. Tom Hiddleston – The Avengers (2013)
MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss
1990s | Anna Chlumsky & Macaulay Culkin in My Girl (1992) Christian Slater & Marisa Tomei in Untamed Heart (1993) Demi Moore & Woody Harrelson in Indecent Proposal (1994) Jim Carrey & Lauren Holly in Dumb and Dumber (1995) Natasha Henstridge & Anthony Guidera in Species (1996) Will Smith & Vivica A. Fox in Independence Day (1997) Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer (1998) Gwyneth Paltrow & Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love (1999)
2000s | Sarah Michelle Gellar & Selma Blair in Cruel Intentions (2000) Julia Stiles & Sean Patrick Thomas in Save the Last Dance (2001) Jason Biggs & Seann William Scott in American Pie 2 (2002) Tobey Maguire & Kirsten Dunst in Spider-Man (2003) Owen Wilson, Carmen Electra, & Amy Smart in Starsky & Hutch (2004) Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams in The Notebook (2005) Heath Ledger & Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain (2006) Will Ferrell & Sacha Baron Cohen in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2007) Briana Evigan & Robert Hoffman in Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart in Twilight (2009)
2010s | Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart in The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2010) Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2011) Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2012) Jennifer Lawrence & Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook (2013)
MTV Movie Award for Best Performance
Arnold Schwarzenegger / Linda Hamilton (1992) Denzel Washington / Sharon Stone (1993) Tom Hanks / Janet Jackson (1994) Brad Pitt / Sandra Bullock (1995) Jim Carrey / Alicia Silverstone (1996) Tom Cruise / Claire Danes (1997) Leonardo DiCaprio / Neve Campbell (1998) Jim Carrey / Cameron Diaz (1999) Keanu Reeves / Sarah Michelle Gellar (2000) Tom Cruise / Julia Roberts (2001) Will Smith / Nicole Kidman (2002) Eminem / Kirsten Dunst (2003) Johnny Depp / Uma Thurman (2004) Leonardo DiCaprio / Lindsay Lohan (2005) Jake Gyllenhaal (2006) Johnny Depp (2007) Will Smith / Ellen Page (2008) Zac Efron / Kristen Stewart (2009) Robert Pattinson / Kristen Stewart (2010) Robert Pattinson / Kristen Stewart (2011) Josh Hutcherson / Jennifer Lawrence (2012) Bradley Cooper / Jennifer Lawrence (2013)
Template:Saturn Award for Best Actor 1991?2010

Persondata
Name | Smith Jr., Willard Christopher
Alternative names | Smith, Will
Short description | Actor, producer, and rapper
Date of birth | September 25, 1968
Place of birth | Wynnefield, West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of death |
Place of death |