Will Smith

actor; rap artist; film; television producer

Personal Information

Born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, PA; son of Willard (a refrigeration engineer) and Caroline (a school board employee) Smith; married Sheree Zampino, 1992 (divorced 1995); married Jada Pinkett, 1997; children: (first marriage) Will III; (second marriage) Jaden Christopher Syre, Willow Camille Reign.

Career

Rap musician with duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, 1986-; solo performer, 1997-; actor 1990-.

Life's Work

On television he was the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, a streetwise Philadelphian sent to live with wealthy relatives in California. In real life he is Will Smith, a streetwise Philadelphian who has-by virtue of hard work and infectious charm-found stardom and wealth in Los Angeles. Smith has enjoyed vast success in two different fields of popular entertainment. While still too young to drink legally he released several platinum rap albums and won the first-ever Grammy Award given in the rap category.

With his accomplishment in the music industry behind him, Smith moved to television situation comedy and scored a hit with "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air." In the mid-1990s, while still a young man by any standards, Smith is in demand for television and film roles, some of which seriously test his acting talent. Premiere magazine contributor Veronica Chambers cited Smith for his "white-bread appeal that very few black men possess," noting that the engaging star is "Ben Franklin with a backward baseball cap."

Acting, for Smith, has often meant being his own quirky self in front of a camera. He has worked hard over the years to invest some realism into the character he played on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air-even if that meant flying in the face of stereotype. "Look what the Fresh Prince represents," Smith told Essence magazine. "He operates on several different levels-a symbol of urban youth, a symbol of Black youth and, most specifically, of Black male youth."

Grew up in a Loving Family

Willard Smith, Jr., was born on September 25, 1968, and raised in Wynnefield, Pennsylvania, a middle-class suburb of West Philadelphia. He was the oldest son and one of four children of a refrigeration engineer and a school board employee. His parents were loving but demanding, the kind who took their children to Mount Rushmore on vacation to prove that education does not end with the classroom.

"Dad was tough but not tyrannical," Smith told Essence. "He kept me in line. He'd get this look that said, 'One more step, Will, and it'll get ugly.' He was an independent businessman-he set up refrigeration in supermarkets-and he always provided for us. He's a steady and positive figure in my life. Mom worked as a school secretary-she's a supervisor now-and her thing was education. My folks sent me to a Catholic school because it was the best school in the neighborhood, but I felt some of the priests and nuns were racist."

As a teen, Smith attended Overbrook High, a public school in Philadelphia. His teachers there nicknamed him "the Prince" because they found him so charming. His best subject was mathematics, and he earned good enough grades to be accepted at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) engineering program. By that time, though, fate had decreed a different path for the Prince.

Entered the Music Business as a Teen

When he was just twelve years old, Smith met Jeffrey Townes at a friend's party. Townes was better known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, and although he was only a few years older than Smith, he had been spinning records at parties for quite some time. Smith was just beginning to rap--calling himself the Fresh Prince--and he and Jazzy Jeff became friends. For some years they performed in different rap groups and only occasionally paired up. Then, in 1986, their partnership became more serious. "I worked with 2,000 crews before I found this maniac," Jazzy Jeff told People. "There was a click when I worked with him that was missing before." The two friends performed as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.

Jazzy Jeff had already released an album, so the new duo had little trouble finding a record label. In 1986 they cut their first LP together, Rock the House. Their first single, "Girls Ain't Nothin' But Trouble," did well on the charts. Already famous throughout the Philadelphia region, they found themselves in demand in the rest of the country as well. As the money began to roll in, Smith was able to convince his parents that college could wait. In fact, he earned a million dollars before he turned 20.

Rock the House was released in 1987 and sold some 600,000 copies. Major stardom came to Smith the following year with the double LP He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, one of the first rap albums to reach platinum status with over a million copies sold. Both albums, but especially the second, offered raps about what the musicians understood best-the day-to-day troubles of modern teens. The hit single "Parents Just Don't Understand," for instance, detailed the nightmares of shopping for school clothes with a mother who is hopelessly out of touch with current styles; the Fresh Prince pleads with his mom to "put back the bell-bottom [1970s TV show] Brady Bunch trousers." This universal young adult complaint helped find a crossover audience for DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. "Parents Just Don't Understand" won the very first Grammy Award given in the category of rap music.

Found Success with Clean Rap

Because their subject matter was not particularly controversial, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince were afforded greater opportunities to perform their work. Promoters saw less chance for violence at their shows, so they were booked into major concert venues. Even network television executives felt comfortable putting them on the air. The "clean rap" image proved a mixed blessing, because some other rap artists criticized them for ignoring legitimate problems of black youths.

Smith's reply to detractors was that he was just responding to his own personal environment--one that did not include the stresses of a dysfunctional family, drug abuse, or violent crime. "In the beginning, following the fashion of the day, my raps had a small amount of profanity," he told Essence. "I'll never forget what my grandmother said when she read them: 'He who is truly articulate shuns profanity.' Man, I didn't even know what articulate meant, but I knew I wanted my grandmother's approval, just as I wanted my parents' approval."

By 1990 the Fresh Prince had released three top-selling rap albums and was one of the best-known rappers in the nation. He was also broke. "I bought everything," Smith told TV Guide. He had a mansion near Philadelphia, closets full of designer clothing, a fleet of expensive cars, and a jet-set lifestyle complete with fair weather friends. When the money ran out and his friends deserted him, Smith realized how foolish he had been. Already his popularity as a rapper was diminishing. Instead of panicking, however, he just cast about for a new opportunity.

Started Acting

Some Hollywood executives had already noticed Smith's stage presence and his ability to charm an audience. Beginning in 1990 he was invited to audition for small roles on The Cosby Show and A Different World, but he described himself in Jet as being "too scared" to keep the appointments. Finally he met Benny Medina, the head of Warner Brothers Records' black music division. Medina had moved from Watts as a teen to a wealthy Los Angeles neighborhood, and he thought that his experiences would make a funny situation comedy. Medina and Smith talked the idea over and then approached producer Quincy Jones about a pilot episode. Jones immediately sensed that a show of that nature starring Will Smith would be a hit.

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air made its debut on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in the fall of 1990. Smith appeared in the starring role as Will, a Philadelphia teen sent to live with his wealthy, refined, and decidedly Republican aunt and uncle in the upscale Bel Air section of Los Angeles. The show found an audience quickly, "almost singlehandedly keeping the network competitive on Monday nights," according to Gordon Dillow in TV Guide. For Smith, who had never done any acting before, the show was quite a challenge. "I was a nervous wreck," he recalled in TV Guide. "I was trying so hard. I would memorize the entire script, then I'd be lipping everybody's lines while they were talking. When I watch those [early] episodes it's disgusting. My performances were horrible."

Smith might not have been satisfied with his work, but almost everyone else was. In a TV Guide poll, young adults voted the Fresh Prince "hippest teen on TV." In addition, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air quickly became the most popular black situation comedy among white viewers, consistently placing in the Nielsen Top Twenty through its first two seasons. "Smith is such a naturally engaging comic talent that he and the show's capable supporting cast usually sidestep the treacle trap," noted Mike Duffy in the Detroit Free Press. "Smith never allows excess cutes to sabotage the chuckles."

Sought Film Work

An astute businessman who also seeks creative challenges, Smith began trying to broaden his horizons in Hollywood. He sought film work and has since then appeared in several movies. His most notable dramatic performance came in 1993 with the release of Six Degrees of Separation, a serious drama in which Smith played a gay con artist trying to fool a couple of white social climbers. "I wanted to work with [filmmakers] Spike Lee and John Singleton," Smith told Premiere, "and I needed to do a film like Six Degrees in order for those people to consider me. Spike Lee would never consider me for a role, because "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" is all he's ever seen. How would he know that I could do what he demands of an actor?" Smith added that an intelligent choice of future movie roles could assure him a long career in show business. "Film, I think, I can do forever," he said. "As long as you're good, you can always do film," he added.

After Smith expanded his wings with Six Degrees of Separation, he was offered more roles in films such as Where The Day Takes You, and Made In America. But his first role as an action hero made Hollywood sit up and take notice. Smith co-starred with Martin Lawrence in the comedy-thriller, Bad Boys. The film was a box-office success and it set the stage for his next film, Independence Day.

Wanting to focus on his budding film career, in 1996 Smith decided to leave The Fresh Prince of Bel Air after six seasons, even though the show remained successful. The show was translated into more than a dozen languages, and Smith remembered it to Teen People in 2004 as "the biggest thing I ever did."

His move proved fruitful with his next film, Independence Day. Independence Day was an action-packed science fiction film with an all-star ensemble cast. Smith was one of three leads who included actors Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum. ID4, as it was nicknamed, earned more than $100 million its opening week. Smith became a bona fide action movie star. He had the sex appeal, the cockiness, and the buffed body. The downside to his success was men wanted to see if he could actually fight. He told Jet that as the Fresh Prince, he "was nonthreatening. So nobody wanted to fight me, but then I buffed up for Independence Day, came on a little cocky, and suddenly people want to knock me down."

Smith's next film was Men In Black. Though it was another sci-fi film, when he was asked by executive producer Steven Spielberg to take the part of Agent J, he told Ebony, "You just can't tell Steven Spielberg no." He teamed up with Academy Award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones and made box office history. Men In Black was the number one best selling movie of 1997. It grossed over $200 million.

Nurtured Strong Family Ties

Smith, who described himself as a "one-woman man," married Sheree Zampino in 1992. Their first child, Willard Smith III, was born the following year. "She's wonderful," Smith said of his wife in Essence. "She allowed me to finally put down the bags of emotional stress I'd been lugging around like a fool.... I realized that physically, emotionally and intellectually she was on a higher plane than me."

Smith's life seemed to be perfect. He was a rapper, TV star, husband, father, and a blossoming movie star, but his marriage was on a rocky road. His wife soon asked for a divorce. It was finalized in 1995, and they both share custody of their son. Though devastated, Smith continued with his television, rap, and film careers.

Though Smith met Jada Pinkett when she auditioned for a role on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, it was not until years later that they connected romantically. Both considered the other their soulmate. Smith told Ebony, "Jada is the first person I've been with willing to accept that it's not always going to be great, but that's okay." The two married on December 31, 1997; they have two children: a son, Jaden Christopher Syre, and a daughter, Willow Camille Reign.

Continued Recording Music

Though quoted as having no desire to make another record, Smith performed the title track to the Men In Black soundtrack. For rap fans who missed his style, it was a much-needed return. Fans who only knew Smith from TV and film were surprised; so was the music industry. His last album had bombed. The song won an NAACP Image award and garnered him his third Grammy.

In 1997, Smith released a solo album under his own name, titled Big Willie Style. His first single, "Gettin' Jiggy With It" was a top ten hit. He spoke with Essence concerning why he released another rap album, "I loved Biggie [slain rapper Notorious B.I.G.], but my son doesn't have any alternatives." Big Willie Style was a multi-platinum success. In 1999 he released another rap album, Willennium, at about the same time as his film Wild Wild West opened in theaters. Willennium was another multi-platinum success. The single "Will 2K" from the album broke into the Top 10 list and the video for the song was nominated for a Grammy Award. Continuing his outpouring of clean rap, Smith released Born to Reign in 2002. The album featured vocals from his wife and son, and a song about his young daughter. In 2005 he released yet another album titled Lost and Found.

Showed Diverse Acting Talents

Smith added two movies to his resume in 2000: Men in Black Alien Attack, and The Legend of Bagger Vance, directed by Robert Redford. In 2001 Smith stayed busy as the star of the feature film Ali, the story of heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. His performance earned him his first Grammy nomination as an actor.

Sequels to Men in Black in 2002 and Bad Boys in 2003 proved box-office hits. Smith followed these blockbusters with a starring role in Isaac Asimov's classic sci-fi adventure I, Robot. In the 2004 film, Smith plays a skeptical police officer who "is basically Shaft, a black cop who wears lots of leather, earrings, a Mike Tyson gait, an ancient grudge and a face that says: 'I can't stand people's unquestioning faith in robots,' as James Christopher of the London Times put it in his review of I, Robot.

Smith switched gears in 2005 to star in the romantic comedy Hitch. In the film, Smith played a dating consultant who helped men woo the women of their dreams. Film Journal International found Smith the "perfect fit" for the role. And Smith told People that "I am Hitch in my real life." The film became in international success.

Smith told TV Guide that his high confidence in himself helped him to leap from local notoriety to national celebrity while still a teenager. "Confidence is what makes me different from guys at home.... I'm the one who always takes the risks." In Seventeen, he said: "You have to believe in something greater than yourself. You have to have faith in the power and believe it has your best interest at heart. That's how I was raised by my parents, and that's my bottom line." One thing Will Smith has proven: he has the business sense, the charm, and the talent to utilize every opportunity that comes his way.

Awards

Grammy Award, for Best Rap Performance, "Parents Just Don't Understand," 1989; Grammy Award, for Best Rap Performance, for "Summertime ,"1992; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Image Award for Best Situation Comedy, for The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, 1992; Grammy Award, for Best Rap Performance, for "Men In Black," 1998; Grammy Award, for Best Rap Performance, for "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," 1998; ASCAP Awards, 1998, 2000; Blockbuster Entertainment Awards favorite actor (sci-fi), 1996 and 1998, and favorite actor (action/adventure), 1999; Image Award, for Entertainer of the Year, Outstanding Music Video, and Outstanding Rap Artist, 1999; BET Award, for Best Actor, for Ali, 2002.

Works

Selected works

Albums

(With DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince) Rock the House (includes "Girls Ain't Nothin' But Trouble"), Jive, 1987, reissued, 1989.
(With DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince) He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (includes "Parents Just Don't Understand"), Jive, 1988.
(With DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince) And in This Corner, Jive, 1989.
(With DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince) Homebase, 1991.
Code Red, 1993.
Men In Black soundtrack, title cut, 1997.
Big Willie Style, 1997.
Willennium, 1999.
Born to Reign, 2002.
Lost and Found, 2005.

Television

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, 1990-96.
(Co-creator) All of Us, 2003-.

Films

Where The Day Takes You, 1992.
Made In America, 1993.
Six Degrees of Separation, 1993.
Bad Boys, 1995.
Independence Day, 1996.
Men In Black, 1997.
Enemy of the State, 1998.
Wild Wild West, 1999.
The Legend of Bagger Vance, 2000.
Ali, 2001.
Men in Black 2, 2002.
Bad Boys II, 2003.
I, Robot, 2004.
Hitch, 2005.

Will Smith

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Biography

Given his formidable success in numerous arenas of the entertainment industry, the multi-talented Will Smith qualifies as an original "Renaissance man." Although Smith initially gained fame as the rap star Fresh Prince prior to the age of 20, (with constant MTV airplay and blockbuster record sales), he cut his chops as an A-list Hollywood actor on the small and big screens in successive years, unequivocally demonstrating his own commercial viability and sturdy appeal to a broad cross section of viewers.

A Philadelphia native, Smith entered the world on September 25, 1968. The son of middle-class parents (his father owned a refrigeration company and his mother worked for the school board) and the second of four children, Smith started rapping from the age of 12, and earned the nickname "Prince" thanks to his ability to slickly talk his way out of trouble. Smith engendered this moniker as a household phrase when he officially formed the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, with fellow performer Jeff Townes in 1986. That team netted two Grammys (one for the seminal 1988 youth anthem "Parents Just Don't Understand" and one for the 1991 single "Summertime") and scored commercially with a series of albums up through their disbandment in 1993 that did much to dramatically broaden the age range of rap listeners (unlike artists in the gangsta rap subgenre, Smith and Townes never ventured into R- or X-rated subject matter or language). However, by the time he was 21, Smith had frittered away much of his fortune and had fallen into debt with the IRS. Help arrived in the form of Warner Bros. executive Benny Medina, who wanted to create a family-friendly sitcom based on his own experiences as a poor kid living with a rich Beverly Hills family, starring the genial Smith. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air debuted on NBC on September 10, 1990, and became a runaway hit, lasting six seasons. The program imparted to Smith -- who had turned down an MIT scholarship to pursue his career -- even wider audience exposure as the show's protagonist, introducing him to legions of viewers who fell outside of the rap market.

During Prince's lengthy run, Smith began to branch out into film work. Following roles in Where the Day Takes You (1992) and Made in America (1993), he drew substantial critical praise on the arthouse circuit, as a young gay con man feigning an identity as Sidney Poitier's son, in Six Degrees of Separation (1993), directed by Fred Schepisi and adapted by John Guare from his own play. Smith also elicited minor controversy around this time for remarks he made in an interview that some perceived as homophobic. In 1994, Smith and Martin Lawrence signed on with powerhouse producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer to co-star in the action-comedy Bad Boys, in which the two play a hotshot pair of Miami cops; it eventually raked in over 141 million dollars worldwide. The following year, Smith topped his Bad Boys success (and then some) with a turn in the sci-fi smash Independence Day, the effects-laden tale of an alien invasion. Co-written, executive-produced, and directed by Roland Emmerich for 20th Century Fox, this picture eventually pulled in over 816 million dollars globally, making it not only the top grosser of 1996, but one of the most lucrative motion pictures in history. Smith then tackled the same thematic ground (albeit in a completely different genre), as a government-appointed alien hunter partnered up with Tommy Lee Jones in Barry Sonnenfeld's zany comedy Men in Black (1997), another smash success.

Not long after this, Smith achieved success on a personal front as well, as he married actress Jada Pinkett on New Year's Eve 1998. The following autumn, Smith returned to cinemas with Enemy of the State, a conspiracy thriller with Gene Hackman that had him on the run from government agents. That film scored a commercial bull's-eye, but its triumph preceded a minor disappointment. The following summer, Smith starred opposite Kevin Kline in Wild Wild West, Sonnenfeld's lackluster follow-up to Men in Black, an overwrought and ham-handed cinematic rendering of the late-'60s TV hit.

The late fall of 2000 found Smith back in cinemas, playing a mysterious golf caddy who tutors down-on-his-luck putter Matt Damon in the syrupy The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000). Smith then trained rigorously for his most demanding role up to that point: that of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in director Michael Mann's biopic Ali (2001). The film struggled to find an audience, and critics were mixed, even if Smith's well-studied performance earned praise as well as his first Oscar nomination. While Smith executive produced the Robert De Niro/Eddie Murphy comedy Showtime (2002), he doubled it up with work in front of the camera, on the sci-fi comedy sequel Men in Black II, also helmed by Barry Sonnenfeld. As expected, the film made an unholy amount of money; he followed it up with yet another sequel, the Bruckheimer-produced Bad Boys II. It topped the box office, as expected. The next year saw Smith pull the one-two punch of I, Robot -- a futuristic, effects-laden fantasy -- and the CG-animated Shark Tale, in which he voiced Oscar, a little fish with a big attitude who scrubs whales for a living. While Smith had proven himself as an action star time and again and had received high marks for his dramatic work, it remained to be seen if he could carry a romantic comedy. All speculation ceased in early 2005 with the release of Hitch: Starring Smith as a fabled "date doctor," the film had the biggest opening weekend for a rom-com to date, leading many to wonder if there was anything Smith couldn't do.

The following year, Smith starred in the period drama The Pursuit of Happyness. Set in early-'80s San Francisco, and directed by Gabriele Muccino (a director specifically summoned for the task by Smith), the film recounted the true story of Charles Gardner (Smith), a single dad struggling in an unpaid position as an intern at Dean Witter, all in an effort to be able provide for his son. The film tapped new reserves of compassion and desparation in Smith's persona, as he managed to fully embody another real-life character while maintaining all of the qualities that endeared him to audiences in the first place: His humor, his hustle and his ingenuity. Upon its release, Happyness provided Smith with perhaps his first cinematic hat trick: critical praise, a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and staggering box-office success (the film would become one of his largest hits). Meanwhile, he began work as the lead in I Am Legend (2007), the third screen incarnation of sci-fi giant Richard Matheson's seminal novel of the same title (following a 1964's The Last Man on Earth, and 1971's The Omega Man). ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Filmography:

Will Smith

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AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:

Will Smith

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Genres: Rap

Biography

Beginning his career during the mid-'80s under the name the Fresh Prince, by the following decade rapper Will Smith was one of the biggest superstars of his time -- not only a pop music sensation, he also conquered television and eventually feature films, starring in a string of box-office megahits. Born September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, he was 16 when he met aspiring DJ Jeff Townes; joining forces as DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, the duo immediately became local favorites, but their continued existence was threatened when Smith graduated high school and was offered a scholarship to MIT. Ultimately, he chose to pursue a career in music, and in 1987 he and Townes issued their debut record, Rock the House, scoring a hit with the single "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble."

Propelled by the smash "Parents Just Don't Understand," DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince broke into the mainstream a year later with He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, one of the first hip-hop LPs to achieve double-platinum status. Clean-cut, witty, and easygoing, the duo's bubblegum approach was a stark contrast to the dominant, harder-edged rap sound of the period; viewed as a non-threatening alternative to their peers, they received the parental seal of approval, and their appeal spread across racial lines as well. And in This Corner... followed in 1989, and soon Hollywood began taking notice of Smith's success; in 1990, he was tapped to star in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a sitcom for NBC. An immediate hit, it made Smith a household name, and continued in production through 1996.

Smith also continued his music career, and in 1991 DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince scored their biggest chart hit to date with the excellent "Summertime," from the album Homebase. The year following, he made his feature film debut in the drama Where the Day Takes You; in 1993, his supporting turn in Six Degrees of Separation was the subject of much critical acclaim. That same year, the final Jazzy Jeff/Fresh Prince record, the disappointing Code Red, was released. In 1995, Smith co-starred in the action film Bad Boys, a major box-office hit; it set the stage for his leading role in 1996's Independence Day, the summer's biggest smash. A year later, he starred in Men in Black, again the box-office champ of the summer season; recording for the first time under his given name, he also scored a smash with the movie's rap theme. Smith's debut solo LP, Big Willie Style, also appeared in 1997, notching the hits "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," "Just the Two of Us," and "Miami." Shortly on the heels of his first box-office disappointment, 1999's Wild Wild West, he returned with the album Willennium. It also fared poorly, compared to Smith's previous material, and occasioned the release of a (slightly) more artistic record, ^2002's Born to Reign. It also failed to live up to expectations, and Smith's next record, 2005's Lost and Found, was a sobering album. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Will Smith

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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 43) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Other names	The Fresh Prince
Occupation	Actor, producer, rapper
Years active	1985–1993, 1997–2005 (rapping), 1990–present (acting)
Spouse	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),^[1] 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.^[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 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] His most financially successful films have been Bad Boys, Bad Boys II, Independence Day, Men in Black, Men in Black II, I, Robot, 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.

Contents

1 Family and early life
2 Recording and acting career
3 Personal life
4 Discography
- 4.1 With DJ Jazzy Jeff
- 4.2 Solo
5 Filmography
6 References
7 Further reading
8 External links

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.^[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

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,^[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 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.^[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)

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]

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.^[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 a 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 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^[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 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 involvement in the lives of his own 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."^[27] 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.,^[28] 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^[29] 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.^[30] On December 11, 2009, Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, when Obama had won the prize.^[31]

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"^[32]^[33] 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."^[34] 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."^[35]

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".^[36] 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.^[37] Federal tax filing showed that Will Smith donated $1.2 million to the school in 2010.^[38]

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.^[39]

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

Television

Year	Show	Role	Notes
1990	Saturday Morning Videos	Host
	ABC Afterschool Special – "The Perfect Date"	Hawker
	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air	Will Smith (The Fresh Prince)	1990–1996
1992	Blossom	Himself	Cameo, episode 18 "I'm with the Band"
1997	Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child	Pinocchio	Episode 14 of Season 2 which aired on April 13, 1997.
2003	All of Us	Johnny	2003–2004; 3 episodes; Creator/Executive Producer
2004	American Chopper	Himself	Cameo

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1992	Where the Day Takes You	Manny
1993	Made in America	Tea Cake Walters
1993	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
1999	Wild Wild West	Captain James "Jim" West
2000	Welcome to Hollywood	Himself
2000	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
2002	"Girlfriend" by B2K	The Godfather	Music video
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	Uncredited 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
	Saving Face		Producer
	Shark Tale	Oscar	Voice
2005	There's a God on the Mic		Documentary
2005	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
2012	This Means War		Producer
2012	Men in Black III^[40]	James Darrell Edwards / Agent J
2013	After Earth	Jack	Producer

Box office grosses

Year	Title	Budget	U.S. gross^[41]	Worldwide gross^[41]
1992	Where the Day Takes You	N/A	$390,152	$390,152
1993	Made in America		$44,942,695	$104,942,695
1993	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	$90m	$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
2004	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	$150m	$227,946,274	$624,346,274
2008	Seven Pounds	$55m	$69,369,933	$166,617,328
2012	Men in Black 3	$55m	$69,254,717^[42]	$202,454,717

References

^ Ankeny, Jason. "Will Smith > Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p278403. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
^ Sean Smith (2007-04-09). "The $4 Billion Man". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/2007/04/15/the-4-billion-man.html. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
^ "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. http://news.fantasymoguls.com/originalcontent/2008/07/early-wednesday.html. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
^ Staskiewicz, Keith. "Will Smith's Road to Superstardom". Entertainment Weekly. July 8, 2011. page 10
^ "Will Smith Biography (1968–)". Filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/92/Will-Smith.html. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
^ "Where there's a Will, there's a way". Taipei Times. 2004-08-09. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/08/09/2003198111.
^ Strauss, Bob (2007-12-14). "Will Smith on power, dogs and Cruise". Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/movies/5377381.html. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
^ ^a ^b Rebecca Winters Keegan (2007-11-29). "The Legend of Will Smith". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1689234,00.html.
^ ^a ^b James Lipton (producer) (2002-01-13). "Will Smith". Inside the Actors Studio. episode 806. season 8. Bravo. http://www.bravotv.com/Inside_the_Actors_Studio/guest/Will_Smith.
^ 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. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.07/smith.html.
^ Meg Grant (December 2006). "Will Smith Interview: Will's Roots". Reader's Digest. http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=31133. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2002
^ Smith, Will (2007-12-02). Interview with Steve Kroft. 60 Minutes. CBS.
^ "Independence Day". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=independenceday.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
^ "Smith has no Matrix Regrets". Contactmusic.com. http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/smith%20has%20no%20matrix%20regrets. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
^ 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
^ Daniel Saney (2005-02-23). "Will Smith in Guinness Book of Records". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a19424/will-smith-in-guinness-book-of-records.html.
^ Gabriel Snyder; Michael Fleming (2006-03-21). "U finds man of steal for 'Thief' feature". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117940129.html.
^ "''HHWorlds.com'' – Will Smith Immortalized At Grauman's Chinese Theater". Hhworlds.com. http://www.hhworlds.com/f11/12-11-07-will-smith-immortalized-grauman-s-chinese-theater-9841.html#post102972. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
^ "I Am Legend". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_am_legend/. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
^ Will Smith: He is a legend video interview with stv.tv, December 2007
^ Gitesh Pandya (2007-12-16). "Box Office Guru Wrapup: Will Smith Rescues Industry With Explosive Opening For I Am Legend". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/1697664. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
^ Barbara Walters Gets Up Close with 2008's Most Fascinating People" TV Guide. December 1, 2008. Retrieved on December 3, 2008.
^ "Will Smith set to conquer Egypt?". Jam Showbiz. 2008-03-23. http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/S/Smith_Will/2008/03/23/5078376-sun.html. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
^ "In the movie of Obama's life, he'd pick Will Smith to star". Sun-Times. 2008-02-26. http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/people/813369,obamamovies022608.article. Retrieved 2009-12-09. "Will and I have talked about this because he has the ears!"
^ "Will Smith making a new album? A producer says yes". Entertainment Weekly. http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/08/19/will-smith-new-album/.
^ "Becoming ... Will Smith". People. 2005-03-28. http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,661258_5,00.html. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
^ "Treyball Development". Treyball Development. http://www.treyballdevelopment.com. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
^ "Hail to the chief: Mr Will Smith shall go to Washington". Daily Mail. UK. 2007-12-27. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-500394/Hail-chief-Mr-Will-Smith-shall-Washington.html. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
^ "Will Smith's Federal Campaign Contribution Report". newsmeat.com. http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Will_Smith.php. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
^ "The Nobel Peace Prize Concert". nobelpeaceprize.org. http://nobelpeaceprize.org/concert/history/2009.php. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
^ "Smith Turns Down Cruise's Scientology Bid". Hollywood.com. 2006-12-01. http://www.hollywood.com/news/Smith_Turns_Down_Cruises_Scientology_Bid/3591886.
^ Clark Collis (June 2005). "Dear Superstar: Will Smith". Blender. http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1604.
^ "Will Smith Admits to Studying Scientology With Tom Cruise". US Magazine. 2007-11-20. http://www.usmagazine.com/node/13443.
^ "Will and Jada are not Scientologists". MSN Entertainment. 2008-03-18. Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20080408090704/http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7843428.
^ Friedman, Roger (December 17, 2008). "Will Smith Gives $1.3 Million to Charities". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,468644,00.html. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
^ 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. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/smiths-alleged-scientology-school/story?id=8331367&page=1.
^ http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerfriedman/2012/04/24/will-smith-invested-1-2-mil-into-school-with-scientology-ties-in-2010/
^ Will Smith supports gay marriage retrieved 16 May 2012
^ Brendon Connelly (April 21, 2010). "Barry Sonnenfeld Confirms Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones For Men in Black 3D". /Film. http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/04/21/barry-sonnenfeld-confirms-will-smith-and-tommy-lee-jones-for-men-in-black-3d/. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Will Smith – Box Office Data". The Numbers. http://www.the-numbers.com/people/WSMIT.php. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
^ http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mib3.htm

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Will Smith

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Will Smith

Official website
Will Smith at the Internet Movie Database
Will Smith at Yahoo! Movies
Will Smith on Charlie Rose in 2002
Will Smith at People.com
Will Smith discography at MusicBrainz

v t e 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

v t e DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

DJ Jazzy Jeff Will Smith Ready Rock C

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

Compilation Albums	Greatest Hits (1998) Before The Willenium (1999) Platinum & Gold Collection (2003) The Very Best of Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (2006) The Best of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (2010)

Singles	"Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" "The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff" "A Touch of Jazz" "Brand New Funk" "Nightmare on My Street" "Parents Just Don't Understand" "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson" "Jazzy's Groove" "Yo Home to Bel Air" "Summertime" "Ring My Bell" "The Things That U Do" "You Saw My Blinker" "I Wanna Rock" "Boom! Shake the Room" "I'm Looking for the One (To Be with Me)" "Can't Wait to Be with You" "Twinkle Twinkle (I'm Not a Star)" "Lovely Daze"

v t e Philadelphia 76ers

Formerly the Syracuse Nationals Founded in 1939 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

Coaches	Cervi Seymour Hannum Schayes Hannum Ramsay Rubin Loughery Shue Cunningham Guokas Lynam Moe Carter Lucas Davis Brown Ayers Ford O'Brien Cheeks DiLeo Jordan Collins

General Managers	Ferris Ramsay DeJardin Williams Nash Shue Lynam Greenberg Lucas King Stefanski Thorn

D-League Affiliate	Maine Red Claws

Administration	Owner Apollo Global Management Joshua Harris (chairman) David Blitzer Jason Levien Art Wrubel Will Smith Jada Pinkett Smith Chief Executive Officer Adam Aron President & General Manager Rod Thorn Head coach Doug Collins

Retired Numbers	2 6 10 13 15 24 32 34 MIC

NBA Championships (2)	1967 1983

Rivals	Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers New York Knicks New Jersey Nets 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 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-AM WPHT-AM 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)

v t e 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)

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)

v t e Saturn Award for Best Actor (1991–2010)

Anthony Hopkins (1991) Gary Oldman (1992) Robert Downey, Jr. (1993) Martin Landau (1994) George Clooney (1995) Eddie Murphy (1996) Pierce Brosnan (1997) James Woods (1998) Tim Allen (1999) Hugh Jackman (2000) Tom Cruise (2001) Robin Williams (2002) Elijah Wood (2003) Tobey Maguire (2004) Christian Bale (2005) Brandon Routh (2006) Will Smith (2007) Robert Downey, Jr. (2008) Sam Worthington (2009) Jeff Bridges (2010)

Complete list (1974–1990) (1991–2010) (2011–present)

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

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Will Smith

Will Smith

Will Smith

Biography

Will Smith

Will Smith

Biography

Will Smith

Family and early life

Recording and acting career

Early work (1985–1995)

Breakthrough (1996–2000)

2001–present

Personal life

Discography

With DJ Jazzy Jeff

Solo

Filmography

Television

Film

Box office grosses

References

Further reading

External links