Jump to content

Will Smith: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted 1 edit by 128.113.228.7 (talk) to last revision (95232305) by Krisantus using VP
Line 25: Line 25:


==Biography==
==Biography==
Now this is the story all about how
===Early life===
My life got flipped, turned upside down
Smith was born and raised in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. Through his cut-up behavior, he had already obtained the nickname "Fresh Prince" in high school.{{fact}} He attended Our Lady of Lourdes grade school in Philadelphia. He is a graduate of [[Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)|Overbrook High School]] in [[West Philadelphia]]. Contrary to many internet stories, Will was not offered a full scholarship to MIT. He did however, excel in math and aced his SATs.{{fact}} By the time he was a senior, he wasn't interested in college and decided to pursue a career in rap.<sup>[[http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/1165729697320830.xml?starledger?colwhi&coll=1]]</sup>
And Id like to take a minute just sit right there
Ill tell you how I became the prince of a town called bel-air


In west philadelfia born and raised
===Career===
On the playground where I spent most of my days
Smith started as the MC of the hip-hop duo [[DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince]], with his childhood friend [[DJ Jazzy Jeff|Jeffrey "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes]] as [[turntablist]] and [[record producer|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, in which he rapped a few lines.
Chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool
And all shooting some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys said were up in no good
Started making trouble in my neighbourhood
I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
And said youre moving with your aunte and uncle in bel-air


(only the first three episodes of season one)
Smith was nearing bankruptcy when in 1990, 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 launched his acting career. Although he made a notable dramatic film debut in ''[[Six Degrees of Separation (film)|Six Degrees of Separation]]'' (in which he played against type as a gay con man) while still appearing in ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'', Smith's film career took off with his role in the [[buddy cop]] [[action]] film ''[[Bad Boys (1995 film)|Bad Boys]]'' (1995) along with co-star [[Martin Lawrence]].


I begged and pleaded with her the other day
After ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' ended in 1996, Smith began a successful solo music career while simultaneously starring in a series of films. The first two films were hugely successful summer blockbusters: ''[[Independence Day (film)|Independence Day]]'' (1996), in which he played a fearless and confident fighter pilot, and ''[[Men in Black (film)|Men in Black]]'' (1997), where he played the comic and confident [[Agent J]] against [[Tommy Lee Jones]]'s deadpan [[Agent K]]. Smith's acting in ''Men in Black'' won critical praise. He originally rejected the lead role in ''Men in Black'', but wife [[Jada Pinkett Smith]] coaxed him into acceptance. The two films established Smith's commercial reputation as a [[bankable star]] whose appeal across age, race, and gender lines could "open" a film at the box office. Smith turned down the role of [[Neo (The Matrix)|Neo]] in ''[[The Matrix]]'' in favor of ''[[Wild Wild West]]''. After the failure of ''Wild Wild West'' and watching [[Keanu Reeves]]' performance, he suggests that he would not have been the appropriate actor for the role at the time, but still considers passing on ''The Matrix'' in favor of ''Wild Wild West'' as a big mistake.
But she packed my suitcase and sent me on my way
She gave me a kissin and she gave me my ticket
I put my walkman on and said I might aswell kick it


First class, yo this is bad,
He then had gained lead roles in several successful films including ''[[Enemy of the State]]'', ''[[Men in Black II]]'', ''[[Bad Boys II]]'' and ''[[I, Robot (film)|I, Robot]]''. In [[2001]] he played [[boxer]] [[Muhammad Ali]] in [[biopic]] ''[[Ali (film)|Ali]]''. Although the film was a disappointment at the box office, Smith was nominated for an Oscar. His most recent film is 2006's ''[[Pursuit of Happyness|The Pursuit of Happyness]]''.
Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass
Is this what the people of bel-air livin like,
Hmm this might be alright!


I whistled for a cab and when it came near the
Smith was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for his portrayal of the boxer [[Muhammad Ali]] in ''[[Ali (film)|Ali]]''. Smith is one of only two hip-hop artists to receive an Academy Award nomination in an acting category (Best Actor, ''Ali'', 2001). He went on a strict workout routine to gain weight for his role in ''Ali''.
Licensplate said fresh and had a dice in the mirror
If anything I could say that this cab was rare
But I thought now forget it, yo home to bel-air


I pulled up to a house about seven or eight
His catch phrase is "Awww, hell no". Most of his films have that line somewhere in the story.{{fact}}
And I yelled to the cabby yo, home smell you later

Looked at my kingdom I was finally there
Smith appeared as himself in ''[[Jersey Girl (2004 film)|Jersey Girl]]'' delivering the [[Silent Bob]] speech that appears in nearly all [[Kevin Smith]] movies. The lead character's situation is due to the claim, "Will Smith is just a rapper".
To settle my throne as the prince of bel-air

Smith also released a string of hit singles, often associated with his most recent film, throughout the late 1990s. The most notable of these were his #1 hit theme song "[[Men in Black (song)|Men in Black]]," the #1 hit "[[Gettin' Jiggy Wit It]]" (which made ''jiggy'' a [[catchphrase]] for a while in 1998), and a cover of "[[Just The Two Of Us (Will Smith song)|Just the Two of Us]]," an affectionate message to his young son. His first two solo albums went [[RIAA certification|platinum]], but his third, on [[Columbia Records]], was a sales disappointment compared to his past efforts, and after a quick Greatest Hits release that was almost not advertised at all, he was dropped by the label. He signed a recording contract with [[Interscope Records]] and released the successful [[Lost & Found]] in 2005. The album was propelled solely on the smash hit single, "Switch", which appealed to the mainstream a la "Summertime". The single stayed atop the charts for months and returned Smith to the forefront of Hip Hop. Smith was also the model for the [[non-player character]] Agent Marco in the [[MMORPG]] [[MapleStory]].

Smith hosted the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice awards in 2005 performing "Switch", as well as the [[Black Entertainment Television]] awards in 2005. He appeared in the second game of the NBA Finals (San Antonio vs. Detroit) performing "Switch" in 2005. Smith presented the Best Actress trophy to [[Bollywood]] actress [[Rani Mukherjee]] at the 51st [[Filmfare Awards]], when he visited India.

Smith was considered for the role of John Smith in the movie ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film)|Mr. and Mrs. Smith]]''; [[Brad Pitt]] eventually received the role. He was also considered for the role of [[Willy Wonka]] in the remake of the film ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]''. He is planned to star in a feature film remake of the television series ''[[It Takes a Thief]]''.

Smith can be found most recently starring in ''[[The Pursuit of Happyness]]'' with his son Jaden Smith, 8.


===Personal life===
===Personal life===

Revision as of 07:55, 19 December 2006

See also William Smith and Will Smith (disambiguation) for other people with similar names.
Will Smith

Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968) is an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated American actor, and multiple Grammy winning hip hop artist. He is one of a small group of people who have enjoyed success in three major entertainment media in the United States: film, television, and the music industry.[citation needed]

Smith is known for his role as himself in the the television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and as Agent J in Men in Black.

Biography

Now this is the story all about how My life got flipped, turned upside down And Id like to take a minute just sit right there Ill tell you how I became the prince of a town called bel-air

In west philadelfia born and raised On the playground where I spent most of my days Chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool And all shooting some b-ball outside of the school When a couple of guys said were up in no good Started making trouble in my neighbourhood I got in one little fight and my mom got scared And said youre moving with your aunte and uncle in bel-air

(only the first three episodes of season one)

I begged and pleaded with her the other day But she packed my suitcase and sent me on my way She gave me a kissin and she gave me my ticket I put my walkman on and said I might aswell kick it

First class, yo this is bad, Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass Is this what the people of bel-air livin like, Hmm this might be alright!

I whistled for a cab and when it came near the Licensplate said fresh and had a dice in the mirror If anything I could say that this cab was rare But I thought now forget it, yo home to bel-air

I pulled up to a house about seven or eight And I yelled to the cabby yo, home smell you later Looked at my kingdom I was finally there To settle my throne as the prince of bel-air

Personal life

Smith married Sharee Zampino in 1992. They had a son, Willard Christopher III, also known as "Trey", but divorced in 1995. Trey appeared in his father's music video for the 1997 single, Just The Two Of Us. Smith married actress Jada Pinkett in 1997. Together they have two children: Jaden Christopher Syre (born 1998), his co-star in The Pursuit of Happyness, and Willow Camille Reign (born 2000). Along with his brother, Harry Smith, he owns Treyball Development Inc., a Beverly Hills-based company named after his first son. He has been consistently listed in Fortune Magazine's "Richest 40" list of the forty wealthiest Americans under the age of 40. Smith and his family reside on Star Island in Miami, Florida, and in Philadelphia.

On July 2, 2005, Smith served as host for the Live 8 concert in his native Philadelphia before an enormous crowd, and later performed a set with DJ Jazzy Jeff.

Smith also produced All of Us, a program loosely based on his love life and family, in 2005.

Smith is an enthusiast for the game of chess, bingo and rumoli.

[Smith] says he's a connoisseur of all faiths.

"I want to go on the hajj to Mecca," Smith says. "I don't believe in religious separatism. I love people, and I don't believe that the twin towers getting knocked down means all Muslims are bad.

"I was raised in a resurrection Baptist church in Philadelphia, and my grandmother was a devout member of the church. The things that I believe are 90% morally what I learned growing up. But the additions that Jada and I have made — we've traveled around the world."

They have been "to India, and United Arab Emirates, and to Jordan and to Jerusalem. We are students of world religions."

Smith is a fan of the Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork, and owns a home in Sweden.[citation needed] His favorite NBA team is the Los Angeles Lakers and holds a regular season ticket. Because of this, fans of the Philadelphia 76ers often resent him, and he was booed for wearing Lakers apparel to the 2001 NBA Finals, as well as the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.[citation needed]

He goes with his mother once a year every year to Canyon Ranch spa in Tucson, Arizona for a week, calling it his "mother-son bonding time."

After teenage rapper Bow Wow called Will Smith a "bubble-gum rapper" due to his softer, more gentle approach to hip hop, Will responded, "I don't have to respond to an immature, spoiled child."[citation needed] As of April 6, 2006, Bow Wow and Will Smith resolved their differences. Smith remains good friends with Tatyana Ali, former co-star on Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Will was the one that mainly convinced her to enter the field of music, due to her singing shown on some episodes of the show.

Discography

With DJ Jazzy Jeff (and The Fresh Prince)

Albums

Solo

Albums

Total album sales: 25 million Worldwide

Singles

Dates relate to UK release dates.

Year Song U.S. Hot 100 CAN UK Album
Aug 1997 Men in Black - - 1 Big Willie Style
Dec 1997 Just Cruisin' - - 23 Big Willie Style
Feb 1998 Gettin' Jiggy Wit It 1 - 3 Big Willie Style
Aug 1998 Just The Two Of Us 20 - 2 Big Willie Style
Dec 1998 Miami 17 - 3 Big Willie Style
July 1999 Wild Wild West 1 - 2 Willennium
Nov 1999 Will2K 25 - 2 Willennium
Mar 2000 Freakin' It 99 - 15 Willennium
Aug 2002 Black Suits Comin' 77 - 3 Born To Reign
April 2005 Switch 7 1 4 Lost & Found
Nov 2005 Party Starter 38 45 19 Lost & Found

Misc. Performances

The following are several songs that Smith has performed with other artists:

  • "I Sleep Much Better (In Someone Else's Bed)" (1989) (Billy Ocean feat. Mimi & Will Smith) [Credited as The Fresh Prince]
  • "Voices That Care" (1991) by various artists [Credited as The Fresh Prince]
  • "Boy You Knock Me Out" (1998) (Tatyana Ali featuring Will Smith)
  • "Hey Sexy Lady (Remix)" (2003) (Shaggy featuring Brian & Tony Gold, Sean Paul, & Will Smith)
  • "Got To Be Real" (2004) (Mary J. Blige featuring Will Smith)

Filmography

Will Smith listens intently to a reporter's questions at the media scrum for the 2006 Time 100.

References

1. The Star Ledger (2006). Where there's Will....nj.com.

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Will_Smith&oldid=95270135"