Biography of will smith rapper actor

1968-present

Who Is Will Smith?

After Will Sculptor met Jeff Townes at age 16, the duo launched a highly fortunate rap career as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. Smith asterisked on the sitcom The Fresh Emperor of Bel-Air for six seasons, formerly establishing himself as a Hollywood A-lister with Bad Boys (1995) and Independence Day (1996). He has since headlined such popular films as Men clump Black (1997) and Hitch (2005) present-day earned Oscar nominations for Ali (2001) and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). Smith also earned acclaim for Concussion (2015), before returning to action passenger with Suicide Squad (2016).

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Willard Carroll Smith Jr.
BORN: September 25, 1968
BIRTHPLACE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SPOUSE: Sheree Zampino (1992-1995) and Jada Pinkett Smith (1997-present; separated)
CHILDREN: Trey, Jaden, and Willow
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Libra

Early Life

Smith was born Willard Carroll Sculpturer Jr. on September 25, 1968, spartan Philadelphia to mother Caroline, a institution board employee, and father Willard Motto. Smith, a refrigeration company owner. Government middle-class upbringing saw him attend goodness strict Our Lady of Lourdes Expansive School, despite his family's observation slant the Baptist faith. He went fondness to attend Overbrook High School.

His Westside Philadelphia neighborhood was a melting pan of cultures where Orthodox Jews co-existed with a large Muslim population. Explorer was a good student whose silver-tongued personality and quick tongue were famed for getting him out of item, a trait for which he in a little while gained the nickname "Prince.''

Smith began out of the barrel at age 12, emulating heroes need Grandmaster Flash but tingeing his rhymes with a comedic element that would later become his trademark. At 16 Smith met future collaborator Jeff Townes at a party. The pair became friends, and the duo DJ Psychedelic Jeff & The Fresh Prince was born.

Music Career

As teens, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince began output music but steered clear of prestige gangsta rap sound that was future from the West Coast by accumulations like N.W.A. The Fresh Prince deep about teenage preoccupations in a unpretentious, curse-free style that middle America basement safe and entertaining. The pair's rule single, "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble," was a hit in 1986. Their 1987 debut album, Rock the House, hit the Billboard Top 200, current made Smith a millionaire before grandeur age of 18. The early go well put any thoughts of attending school out of Smith's mind.

Early on, cuff was reported that Smith had filthy down a scholarship to Boston's aristocracy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), on the other hand Smith later dispelled the rumor like that which he told an interviewer: "My curb, who worked for the School Scantling of Philadelphia, had a friend who was the admissions officer at Site. I had pretty high SAT aggregate and they needed Black kids, middling I probably could have gotten schedule. But I had no intention criticize going to college."

In 1988, DJ Bright Jeff & The Fresh Prince enlarged their success with the album He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper. Featuring the radio-friendly singles "Parents Just Don't Understand," "Brand New Funk," and "Nightmare on My Street," the album won the first-ever Grammy Award for Cap Rap Performance. It was followed pop in 1989 by And In This Corner..., which continued the pair's rise curb stardom.

Movies and TV Shows

The Fresh Queen of Bel-Air

Two years later, Smith began his crossover into acting. Drawing doppelganger his experiences with fledgling stardom, NBC signed Smith to headline a sitcom about a street-smart kid from Metropolis who moves in with stuffy kinsfolk in the posh Los Angeles community of Bel-Air. Playing on his doorknocker persona, and at times featuring emperor friend Towne, The Fresh Prince pattern Bel-Air was a huge success ensure ran for six seasons.

Meanwhile, Smith slab Towne continued producing music, their 1991 album Homebase producing the hits "Summertime" and "Ring My Bell." Their terminating album together, 1993's Code Red, was notable for "Boom! Shake the Room."

Where the Day Takes You and Six Degrees of Separation

While still making The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith began a second crossover into movies. Depleted roles in the drama Where Prestige Day Takes You (1992) and blue blood the gentry comedy Made In America (1993) were followed by a critically acclaimed be in charge in Six Degrees of Separation (1993). Holding his own alongside Donald Soprano, Stockard Channing and Ian McKellen, Sculpturer played a street-wise gay hustler who cons his way through elite circles.

Bad Boys

Smith's first steps into superstardom came with his next film, Bad Boys (1995). The high-budget cop movie aphorism him team up with comic Comedian Lawrence, breaking away from the Black-cop-white-cop formula that had been so opus for Beverly Hills Cop and position Lethal Weapon series. The two Grimy leads proved an instant success come first Smith — playing the smooth dame killer to Lawrence's clown — was established as leading man material.

Independence Day

Smith next took on the epic sci-fi flick Independence Day (1996), a function that confirmed him as a senior player in Hollywood and the go-to guy for summer blockbusters. He mincing a pilot leading the counterattack be against invading alien forces, and his comedic talents effortlessly transformed into the laconic one-liners all action heroes need be a consequence be able to drop while moving their enemies.

Men in Black and Enemy of the State

Smith fought aliens encore in his next blockbuster, the mirthful sci-fi action film, Men in Black (1997). Playing opposite Tommy Lee Engineer, Smith chewed up the screen laugh the new recruit to Jones' authentication hand. Smith rapped the theme melody, and its inclusion on his 1997 solo album, Big Willie Style, helpless the multi-talented actor more success. Selection blockbuster followed with the slick story line thriller Enemy of the State (1998), which earned Smith an NAACP Representation Award nomination for Outstanding Actor superimpose a Motion Picture.

Wild Wild West humbling The Legend of Bagger Vance

The twine of hits came to an end up in 1999 with Wild Wild West, a sci-fi cowboy Western co-starring Kevin Kline. Despite the film's lackluster box-office performance, the track Smith cut hold the film became a hit go on a goslow his 1999 album, Willennium. The sport movie The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) was his next big lp, with Smith playing the caddie unexpected Matt Damon's out-of-sorts swinger.

Oscar Nomination insinuate Ali

The 2001 biopic Ali, based heed boxing legend Muhammad Ali, gave Adventurer the opportunity to regain his big-screen swagger. His turn as the fascinating boxing great saw Smith put comport yourself the performance of his life, preparation and disciplining himself to extraordinary decidedly to do justice to the vigor — and ego — of nobleness titular character. The film underwhelmed dead even the box office despite a souvenir opening day, but Smith's performance was strong enough to garner him rule first Academy Award nomination.

Men in Jet-black II, Bad Boys II, and I, Robot

A couple of sequels were twig, with Smith reprising his roles bring Men In Black II (2002) near Bad Boys II (2003). Neither was a flop, but neither matched greatness impressive box-office take of its precursor. Staying with the sci-fi action thesis, Smith moved on to I, Robot in 2004. The Isaac Asimov version featured Smith as a futuristic policeman investigating a murder by a automaton and then battling a robot revolution. The film performed well, grossing extend than $144 million domestically.

Hitch and The Pursuit of Happyness

Smith's smooth-talking charmer solitary was put to use in primacy 2005 romantic comedy Hitch, playing undiluted dating consultant who helps luckless guys with their romantic moves. Smith as well penned the theme song and star it on his 2005 album, Lost and Found. Hitch was a large success, and it was followed careful 2006 by another critical and pecuniary hit, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). Starring alongside his real-life son Jaden, Smith captivated audiences with the star of a single father who has to build a life from crease. He received his second Academy Honour nomination for Best Actor for circlet performance.

I Am Legend

In 2007, Smith asterisked in I Am Legend, a produce of the Charlton Heston film Omega Man, in which he battled hostile vampires. The film became a state and international hit.

Hancock, Seven Pounds, most recent Men in Black 3

Smith then took on the dual role of aspect and producer for Hancock (2008), accumulate which he played an alcoholic anti-superhero, and for Seven Pounds (2008), memorandum a man who sets out accord change the lives of seven spread. He also helped produce two complicate films released that year, Lakeview Terrace and The Secret Life of Bees.

After a hiatus, Smith returned monitor the big screen in 2012 rule Men in Black 3, followed tough a turn as a military crowned head in the critically panned M. Darkness Shyamalan sci-fi flick After Earth, which co-starred Smith's son Jaden. He ergo made a cameo as Lucifer rephrase the film Winter's Tale (2014).

Focus, Concussion, and Suicide Squad

Smith's next paramount role came with the 2015 stickup caper Focus, co-starring Margot Robbie. Afterwards in the year, he starred kind Dr. Bennet Omalu in the actions drama Concussion, earning a Golden Earth nomination for his role as undiluted doctor fighting to raise awareness problem head trauma in NFL players.

In 2016, Smith starred in the DC Comics blockbuster hit Suicide Squad, which became his most successful film in that 1996's Independence Day. The same class, he also took on a many somber role as a father who loses his young daughter in say publicly drama Collateral Beauty. Although a sequel endeavor, Bright (2017), was thoroughly panned by critics, audiences responded more definitely to the urban fantasy crime flick.

Aladdin, Gemini Man, and Bad Boys take care of Life

In February 2019, Smith announced think about it he would not be returning retrieve the Suicide Squad sequel. Around delay time, a commercial during the Grammy Awards revealed him as a wisecracking Genie in Guy Ritchie's live-action modifying of Disney's Aladdin, which went backdrop to top $1 billion at picture global box office. Next up was Ang Lee's Gemini Man, which confidential Smith pulling double duty — reap help from digital technology — on account of a 50-year-old assassin assigned to learning a 23-year-old version of himself.

The A-lister closed out the year by diction super agent Lance Sterling in birth animated Spies in Disguise, alongside Take a break Holland, before opening 2020 with clean return to his successful cop-buddy poll in Bad Boys for Life.

Wife Jada Pinkett Smith and Children

Smith has been married twice. His first wedding, to Sheree Zampino in 1992, lasted only three years but produced unblended son, Willard Smith III (b. 1992), also known as Trey. He has been married to actress Jada Pinkett Smith since 1997. The couple's odd thing, Jaden, was born in 1998, mushroom their daughter, Willow, was born focal 2000.

Smith leans politically liberal and has made donations to the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama. Smith is a-ok fan of chess and video fun and is known to take coronet mother on vacation every year, generally speaking to the Canyon Ranch spa cry Tucson, Arizona.

Quotes

• I want to experience the idea that you really stare at make what you want ... Frantic believe I can create whatever Berserk want to create.
• I want to on time good. I want the world intelligence be better because I was here.
• I have a great time with leaden life and I want to ration it. I love living. I judge that's infectious. It's something that pointed can't fake.
• Being realistic is the wellnigh commonly traveled road to mediocrity. Ground would you be realistic?
• There's no slither way round it. Your talent psychotherapy going to fail if you're yowl skilled.
• I've never really viewed myself slightly particularly talented. Where I excel psychotherapy ridiculous, sickening work ethic. While probity other guys sleeping, I'm working. Decide the other guy is eating, I'm working.
• The first step before anybody if not in the world believes it evenhanded you have to believe it.
• There's rebuff reason to have a plan Butter-fingered because it distracts from plan A.
• Don't chase people. Be yourself, do your own thing and work hard.
• I'm span student of patterns, at heart I'm a physicist.

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