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Will Smith

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This article is about the actor. For other people with a similar name, see William Smith.

Will Smith
Actor Will Smith lights up the stage as he hosted the 2011 Walmart Shareholders Meeting.
Smith in 2011
Born
Willard Carroll Smith, Jr.

(1968-09-25) September 25, 1968 (age 56)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other namesThe Fresh Prince
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
Years active1985–present
Spouses
  • Sheree Zampino
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1992; div. 1995)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1997)​
ChildrenTrey, Jaden, and Willow
Musical career
GenresHip hop
Labels
Websitewww.willsmith.com
Signature
"3Sw" spells out the signature in the image.

Willard Carroll "Will" Smith, Jr.[2][3][4] (born September 25, 1968)[2] is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has enjoyed success in television, film, and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood".[5] Smith has been nominated for five 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 six seasons (1990–96) on NBC and has been syndicated consistently on various networks since then. After the series ended, 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, eleven consecutive films gross over $150 million internationally, and eight consecutive films in which he starred open at the number one spot in the domestic box office tally.[6]

Smith is ranked as the most bankable star worldwide by Forbes.[7] As of 2014, 17 of the 21 films in which he has had leading roles have accumulated worldwide gross earnings of over $100 million each, five taking in over $500 million each in global box office receipts. As of 2014, his films have grossed $6.6 billion at the global box office.[8] He has received Best Actor Oscar nominations for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness.

Family and early life

Smith was born in West Philadelphia, the son of Caroline (Bright), a Philadelphia school board administrator, and Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., a refrigeration engineer. He grew up in West Philadelphia's Wynnefield neighborhood,[9] and was raised Baptist.[10] He has three siblings, sister Pamela, who is four years older, and twins Harry and Ellen, who are three years younger.[9] Smith attended Our Lady of Lourdes, a private Catholic elementary school in Philadelphia.[11] His parents separated when he was 13,[12] but did not actually divorce until around 2000.[13]

Smith attended Overbrook High School.[11] Though widely reported, it is untrue that Smith turned down a scholarship to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); he never applied to college because he "wanted to rap."[14] Smith says he was admitted to a "pre-engineering [summer] program" at MIT for high school students, but he did not attend.[13][15][16] 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."[17]

Recording and acting career

Smith at the Emmy Awards in 1993

Early work

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,[18] 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".[18] They gained critical acclaim and won the first Grammy awarded in the Rap category (1988).[18]

Smith spent money freely around 1988 and 1989 and underpaid his income taxes.[18] The Internal Revenue Service eventually assessed a $2.8 million tax debt against Smith, took many of his possessions, and garnished his income.[19] 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.[18]

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.[12]

Feature films

Smith's first major roles were in the drama Six Degrees of Separation (1993) and the action film Bad Boys (1995) in which he starred opposite Martin Lawrence.

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.[20] 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.[18]

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,[21] although 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."[22]

In 2005, Smith was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for attending three premieres in a 24-hour time span.[23]

He has planned to star in a feature film remake of the television series It Takes a Thief.[24]

On December 10, 2007, Smith was honored 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.[25] Later that month, Smith starred in the film I Am Legend, released December 14, 2007. Despite marginally positive reviews,[26] 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".[27] A reviewer said that the film's commercial success "cemented [Smith's] standing as the number one box office draw in Hollywood."[28] On December 1, 2008, TV Guide reported that Smith was 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.[29]

In 2008 Smith was reported to be developing a film entitled The Last Pharaoh, in which he would be starring as Taharqa.[30] It was in 2008 that Smith starred in the superhero movie Hancock.[31]

Men in Black III opened on May 25, 2012 with Smith again reprising his role as Agent J. This was 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 work on his fifth studio album.[32] Edwards has worked with artists such as T.I., Chris Brown, and Game. Smith's most recent studio album, Lost and Found, was released in 2005.

Smith and his son Jaden played father and son in two productions: the 2006 biographical drama The Pursuit of Happyness, and the science fiction film After Earth, which was released on May 31, 2013.

Smith starred opposite Margot Robbie in the romance drama Focus. He played Nicky Spurgeon, a veteran con artist who takes a young, attractive woman under his wing. Focus was released on February 27, 2015.[33] Smith was set to star in the sci-fi thriller Brilliance, an adaptation of Marcus Sakey's novel of the same name scripted by Jurassic Park writer David Koepp. But he left the project.[34]

Smith played Dr. Bennet Omalu of the Brain Injury Research Institute in the sports-drama Concussion, who became the first person to discover chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a football player's brain. CTE is a degenerative disease caused by severe trauma to the head that can be discovered only after death. Smith's involvement is mostly due to his last-minute exit from the sci-fi thriller-drama Brilliance.[35] Concussion was directed by Peter Landesman andbead filmed in Pittsburgh, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It received $14.4 million in film tax credits from Pennsylvania. Principal photography started on October 27, 2014.[36] Actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw played his wife.[37] Omalu served as a consultant.[38]

As of November 2015, Smith is set to star in the independent drama Collateral Beauty, which will be directed by David Frankel. Smith will play a New York advertising executive who succumbs to an deep depression after a personal tragedy.[39]

Personal life

Main article: Smith (show business family)
Nobel Peace Prize Concert December 11, 2009, in Oslo, Norway: Smith with wife Jada and children Jaden and Willow

Smith married Sheree Zampino in 1992. They had one son, Trey Smith, born on November 11, 1992,[40] and divorced in 1995. Trey appeared in his father's music video for the 1998 single "Just the Two of Us". He also acted in two episodes of the sitcom All of Us, and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and on the David Blaine: Real or Magic TV special.

Smith married actress Jada Koren Pinkett in 1997. Together they have two children: Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (born 1998), his co-star in The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth, and Willow Camille Reign Smith (born 2000), who appeared as his daughter in I Am Legend. Smith and his brother Harry own Treyball Development Inc.,[41] a Beverly Hills-based company named after Trey. Smith and his family reside in Los Angeles, California.[42]

Smith was consistently listed in Fortune Magazine's "Richest 40" list of the forty wealthiest Americans under the age of 40.

Religious beliefs

Smith was raised in a Baptist household and went to a Catholic school, but he no longer identifies himself as religious.[43] Though he is not a Scientologist and has denied rumors claiming him as a member of the Church of Scientology,[44] he has spoken favorably about it, saying "I just think a lot of the ideas in Scientology are brilliant and revolutionary and non-religious."[45][46]

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."[47] Smith and his wife have also founded a private elementary school in Calabasas, California, the New Village Leadership Academy.[48] Federal tax filing showed that Will Smith donated $1.2 million to the school in 2010.[49]

Political views

Smith donated $4,600 to the 2008 presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama.[50] 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.[51] In 2012, Smith stated he supports legalizing same-sex marriage.[52]

Discography

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

Filmography

Main article: Will Smith filmography
2

See also

References

  1. ^ "Will Smith Net Worth - atlantablackstar". atlantablackstar. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Will Smith Biography (1968-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015. Full name, Willard Christopher Smith, Jr.
  3. ^ "The Fresh Prince of Late Night". The Arsenio Hall Show. 1993. 4:50 minutes in.
  4. ^ Smith and his son, Jaden, both stated his middle name was "Carroll" in an appearance on ¡Despierta América! "Jaden Smith demostró que sí conoce bien a su papá Will Smith". ¡Despierta América!. May 16, 2003. 5:50 minutes in.
  5. ^ Sean Smith (April 9, 2007). "The $4 Billion Man". Newsweek. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  6. ^ "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. July 3, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
  7. ^ "Top Actors and Actresses: Star Currency". Forbes. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  8. ^ Will Smith Movie Box Office Results
  9. ^ a b Schuman, Michael (January 1, 2013). Will Smith: A Biography of a Rapper Turned Movie Star. Enslow Publishers, Inc. pp. 9–10. ISBN 9780766039940.
  10. ^ Strauss, Bob (December 14, 2007). "Will Smith on power, dogs and Cruise". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Iannucci, Lisa (2010). Will Smith: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 4–10. ISBN 9780313376108.
  12. ^ a b Rebecca Winters Keegan (November 29, 2007). "The Legend of Will Smith". Time. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |registration= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b James Lipton (producer) (January 13, 2002). "Will Smith". Inside the Actors Studio. Season 8. Episode 806. Bravo. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "It seems as if Will Smith was accepted to MITES". Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  16. ^ "Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)". Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  17. ^ Meg Grant (December 2006). "Will Smith Interview: Will's Roots". Reader's Digest. Retrieved June 27, 2006.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2002
  19. ^ Smith, Will (December 2, 2007). "60 Minutes" (Interview). Interviewed by Steve Kroft. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |callsign= ignored (help)
  20. ^ "Independence Day". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  21. ^ "Smith has no Matrix Regrets". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  22. ^ O'Toole, Lesley. "Will Smith: The Total Film Interview", Total Film, February 2009, Issue 151, pp. 120-125, Future Publishing Ltd., London, England.
  23. ^ Daniel Saney (February 23, 2005). "Will Smith in Guinness Book of Records". Digital Spy.
  24. ^ Snyder, Gabriel; Fleming, Michael (March 21, 2006). "U finds man of steal for 'Thief' feature". Variety.
  25. ^ "Will Smith Immortalized At Grauman's Chinese Theater". HHWorlds.com. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  26. ^ "I Am Legend". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  27. ^ Will Smith: He is a legend video interview with stv.tv, December 2007 Archived 2015-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ Gitesh Pandya (December 16, 2007). "Box Office Guru Wrapup: Will Smith Rescues Industry With Explosive Opening For I Am Legend". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
  29. ^ Barbara Walters Gets Up Close with 2008's Most Fascinating People", TV Guide. December 1, 2008. Retrieved on December 3, 2008.
  30. ^ "Will Smith set to conquer Egypt?". Jam Showbiz. March 23, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
  31. ^ "There May Never Be Another Movie Star As Big As Will Smith". Vulture. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  32. ^ Kyle Anderson (August 19, 2011). "Will Smith making a new album? A producer says yes". Entertainment Weekly.
  33. ^ "Warner Bros Sets 2015 Release Dates For 'Run All Night', 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' And 'Focus'".
  34. ^ Laura Frances (May 30, 2014). "Will Smith Drops Out of 'Brilliance'". Latino Review. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Gabe Toro. "Will Smith In Talks To Star In Ridley Scott-Produced NFL Concussion Drama".
  36. ^ "The New Will Smith Movie Kicks Off Filming Downtown Today". 96.1 Kiss. October 27, 2014.
  37. ^ Linda Barnard (September 7, 2014). "Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars in Beyond the Lights, premiering at TIFF". Toronto Star. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  38. ^ Christina Cornejo (September 8, 2014). "Actor Will Smith visits Lodi".
  39. ^ "Will Smith's 'Collateral Beauty' Lands Director David Frankel". Variety. November 10, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  40. ^ Smith, Will (November 11, 2013). "Happy 21st bday Trey". Facebook.
  41. ^ "Treyball Development". Treyball Development. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  42. ^ "Will Smith". Forbes.
  43. ^ "Mr. and Mr. Smith: Will and Jaden Psych Up for After Earth". New York Magazine's Vulture. May 2013. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  44. ^ "Will and Jada are not Scientologists". MSN Entertainment. March 18, 2008. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008.
  45. ^ "Smith Turns Down Cruise's Scientology Bid". Hollywood.com. December 1, 2006.
  46. ^ Clark Collis (June 2005). "Dear Superstar: Will Smith". Blender. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ "Will Smith Gives $1.3 Million to Charities". The Nation. December 17, 2008. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  48. ^ Downie, Heather (September 11, 2000). "What Goes on Inside Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith's School? The New Village Leadership Academy Allegedly Mimics Some Scientology Teaching Methods". ABC News.
  49. ^ "Will Smith Invested $1.2 Mil Into School with Scientology Ties in 2010". Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ "Will Smith's Federal Campaign Contribution Report". newsmeat.com. Retrieved January 11, 2008.
  51. ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize Concert". nobelpeaceprize.org. Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ "Will Smith supports gay marriage". skynews.com. Retrieved May 16, 2012.

Further reading

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