Will Smith - Wikipedia

American actor and knocker
This article is about the american actor and rapper. For other uses, see Willard Smith and William Smith
Willard Carroll Smith Jr. ( bear September 25, 1968 ) is an american actor, rapper, and film producer. Smith has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards, and has won four Grammy Awards.

Reading: Will Smith – Wikipedia

During the former 1980s, he achieved meek fame as a rapper under the name the Fresh Prince. In 1990, his popularity increased dramatically when he began starring in the NBC television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran for six seasons until 1996. After the serial ended, Smith transitioned from television to film and went on to star in numerous blockbuster films, including Independence Day ( 1996 ) and Men in Black ( 1997 ). He is the only actor to have starred in eight straight films which grossed over $ 100 million in the United States corner office, eleven consecutive films which grossed over $ 150 million internationally, and eight consecutive films which opened at the issue one position in the US box office reckoning. [ 5 ] In 2013, Forbes named Smith the most bankable ace in the world. [ 6 ] In April 2007, Newsweek called him “ the most brawny actor in Hollywood ”. [ 7 ] As of 2014, 17 of the 21 films in which he had leading roles have accumulated worldwide crying earnings of over $ 100 million each, with five taking in over $ 500 million each in global box office receipts. As of 2016, his films have grossed $ 7.5 billion at the ball-shaped box office. [ 8 ] For his roles as boxer Muhammad Ali in Ali ( 2001 ) and stockbroker Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness ( 2006 ), Smith received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. [ 9 ] [ 10 ]

early on life

Smith was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Caroline ( née Bright ), a Philadelphia educate board administrator, and Willard Carroll Smith Sr., [ 11 ] [ 12 ] a U.S. Air Force veteran [ 13 ] and refrigeration engineer. His mother graduated from Carnegie Mellon University. [ 14 ] He grew up in West Philadelphia ‘s Wynnefield neighborhood, [ 15 ] and was raised Baptist. [ 16 ] He has an older sister named Pamela and two younger siblings, twins Harry and Ellen. [ 15 ] Smith attended Our lady of Lourdes, a private Catholic elementary school in Philadelphia. [ 17 ] His parents separated when he was 13, [ 18 ] but did not actually divorce until around 2000. [ 19 ] Smith attended Overbrook High School. [ 17 ] While it has been widely reported that Smith turned down a scholarship to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ), he never applied to college, because he “ wanted to rap ”. [ 20 ] Smith says he was admitted to a “ pre-engineering [ summer ] broadcast ” at MIT for high school students, but he did not attend. [ 19 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ]

career

1985–1992 : The Fresh Prince

Smith at the Emmy Awards in 1993 Smith started as the MC of the rap duet DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, with his childhood ally Jeffrey “ DJ Jazzy Jeff ” Townes as turntablist and manufacturer. [ 23 ] Townes and Smith were introduced to each early by luck in 1985, as Townes was performing at a house party only a few doors down from Smith ‘s mansion, and he was missing his ballyhoo serviceman. Smith decided to fill in. They both felt solid chemistry, and Townes was upset when his ballyhoo world last made it to the party. [ 24 ] soon after, the two decided to join forces. Smith enlisted a supporter to join as the beatboxer of the group, Clarence Holmes ( ready Rock C ), making them a trio. Philadelphia-based Word Records released their first individual in 1986 when A & R man Paul Oakenfold [ 25 ] introduced them to Champion Records with their single “ Girls Ai n’t Nothing but Trouble, ” a narrative of funny story misadventures that landed Smith and his former DJ and rap partner Mark Forrest ( Lord Supreme ) in trouble. [ 26 ] The birdcall sampled the composition song of “ I Dream of Jeannie. ” Smith became known for blithe story-telling raps and capable, though profanity-free, “ battle ” rhymes. The single became a hit a month before Smith graduated from high school. [ 27 ] Based on this success, the couple were brought to the attention of Jive Records and Russell Simmons. The duet ‘s inaugural album, Rock the House, which was first released on Word Up in 1986 debuted on Jive in March 1987. The group received the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989 for “ Parents just Do n’t Understand “ ( 1988 ), though their most successful one was “ summer “ ( 1991 ), which earned the group their second Grammy and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Smith and Townes are still friends and title that they never split up, having made songs under Smith ‘s solo performer credit rating. [ 28 ] Smith spent money freely around 1988 and 1989 and underpaid his income taxes. [ 23 ] The Internal Revenue Service finally assessed a $ 2.8 million tax debt against Smith, took many of his possessions, and garnished his income. [ 29 ] Smith was struggling financially in 1990 when the NBC television network signed him to a compress and built a situation comedy, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, around him. [ 23 ] The show was successful and began his acting career. Smith set for himself the finish of becoming “ the biggest movie star in the world ”, studying corner function successes ‘ park characteristics. [ 18 ] In 1989, Smith was arrested in relation back to an alleged assault on his record showman, William Hendricks ; all charges were dismissed. [ 30 ]

1993–1997 : solo music and film discovery

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 antonym Martin Lawrence. The latter film was commercially successful, grossing $ 141.4 million cosmopolitan. [ 31 ] however, critical reception was generally interracial. [ 32 ] In 1996, Smith starred as part of an ensemble shed in Roland Emmerich ‘s Independence Day. The film was a massive blockbuster, becoming the moment highest-grossing film in history at the time and establishing Smith as a premier box office draw. [ 33 ] In the summer of 1997, he starred aboard Tommy Lee Jones in the hit Men in Black, playing Agent J. The film was released on July 2 by Columbia Pictures and grossed over $ 589.3 million cosmopolitan against a $ 90 million budget, becoming the year ‘s third gear highest-grossing film, with an estimated 54,616,700 tickets sold in the US. [ 34 ] It received positive reviews, with critics praising its liquid body substance, american samoa well as Jones and Smith ‘s performances. During the summer of 1997, Smith besides began his solo music career with the passing of “ Men in Black “, the subject song for the film, which topped singles charts in several regions across the global, including the UK. [ 35 ] “ man in Black ” ( and second single “ Just Cruisin ‘ “ ) was subsequently included on Smith ‘s debut solo album Big Willie Style, which reached the exceed ten of the US Billboard 200 and was certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ). [ 36 ] [ 37 ] The one-third single from the album, “ Gettin ‘ Jiggy wag It “, became Smith ‘s first Billboard Hot 100 issue one when it was released in 1998. [ 38 ]

1998–2013 : Leading valet condition

Smith in March 1999 In 1998, Smith starred with Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State. [ 23 ] The follow class he turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix in party favor of Wild Wild West ( 1999 ). Despite the disappointment of Wild Wild West, Smith said that he has no regrets about his decision, asserting that Keanu Reeves ‘ performance as Neo was superior to what Smith himself would have achieved, [ 39 ] although in interviews subsequent to the turn of Wild Wild West he stated that he “ made a mistake on Wild Wild West. That could have been better. ” [ 40 ] Smith ‘s second gear album was again supported by the free of a film theme song as the lead single : “ Wild Wild West “, featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the RIAA. [ 37 ] [ 38 ] The album in question, Willennium, reached number five on the Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] “ Will 2K “, the second individual from the album, reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. [ 38 ] Before the end of 1999, a television album was released featuring Smith ‘s seven music videos released to date, [ 41 ] which reached issue 25 on the UK Music Video Chart. [ 42 ] The lapp year, he was besides featured on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star Tatyana Ali ‘s individual “ Boy You Knock Me Out “, which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK R & B Singles Chart. [ 35 ] [ 43 ] Smith portrayed heavyweight packer Muhammad Ali in the 2001 biopic Ali. For his performance he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. [ 44 ] [ 45 ] In 2002, following a four-year musical foramen, Smith returned with his third album Born to Reign, which reached issue 13 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] The album ‘s lead individual was the subject birdcall from Smith ‘s film Men in Black II, called “ Black Suits Comin ‘ ( Nod Ya Head ) “, which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. [ 35 ] Later in the year, Smith ‘s foremost compilation album Greatest Hits was released, featuring songs from his three alone albums arsenic well as those produced with DJ Jazzy Jeff. [ 46 ] 2003 saw Smith come back for Bad Boys II, the sequel to the 1995 movie Bad Boys ; the film follows detectives Burnett and Lowrey investigating the flow of ecstasy into Miami. Despite receiving by and large minus reviews, the film was a box office success, grossing $ 270 million worldwide. [ 31 ] In the follow class, he starred in the animize film Shark Tale and the skill fabrication film I, Robot ; both films were box agency successes despite mix reviews. Smith ‘s latest album Lost and Found was released in 2005, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200. [ 36 ] Lead one “ Switch “ reached the top ten of both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. [ 35 ] [ 38 ] In 2005, Smith was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for attending three premieres in a 24-hour meter bridge. [ 47 ] Smith and his son Jaden played father and son in the 2006 biographic drama The Pursuit of Happyness. In the film Smith portrays Chris Gardner. Smith first became matter to in making a film about Gardner after seeing him on 20/20 and connected with him during production. [ 48 ] The film, along with Smith ‘s performance, received praise. [ 49 ] [ 50 ]
Smith hosting the 2011 Walmart Shareholders Meeting 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 theater in front of many fans. [ 51 ] Later that month, Smith starred in the movie I Am Legend, released on December 14, 2007. Alongside marginally convinced reviews, [ 52 ] its hatchway 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 ”. [ 53 ] A commentator said that the film ‘s commercial success “ cement [ Smith ‘s ] stand as the count one box position attract in Hollywood. ” [ 54 ] On December 1, 2008, TV Guide reported that Smith was selected as one of America ‘s top ten most capture people of 2008 for a Barbara Walters ABC limited that aired on December 4, 2008. [ 55 ] In 2008, Smith was reported to be developing a film entitled The Last Pharaoh, in which he would be starring as Taharqa. [ 56 ] Smith former starred in the superhero movie Hancock, [ 57 ] which grossed $ 227,946,274 in the United States and Canada and had a global sum of $ 624,386,746. [ 58 ] On August 19, 2011, it was announced that Smith returned to the studio apartment with manufacturer La Mar Edwards to work on his one-fifth studio album. [ 59 ] Smith again reprised his role as Agent J with Men in Black 3, which opened on May 25, 2012, his first gear major starring function in four years. [ 60 ] [ 61 ] After the release of the film, Smith was content with ending his work with the franchise, saying, “ I think three is adequate for me. Three of anything is enough for me. We ‘ll look at it and we ‘ll consider it, but it feels like that it might be time to let person else do that. ” [ 62 ] Men in Black 3, released ten years after Men in Black II ( 2002 ), grossed over $ 624 million global. [ 63 ] [ 64 ] Unadjusted for inflation, it is the highest-grossing film in the series. [ 65 ] [ 66 ] In 2013, Smith starred in After Earth with his son Jaden. The movie was a disappointment at the domestic box office and was panned critically. [ 67 ] Calling the film “ the most irritating failure in my career ”, Smith ended up taking a class and a half break as a leave. [ 68 ]

2015–present : critical disappointments

Smith starred face-to-face Margot Robbie in the romance play Focus, released on February 27, 2015. [ 69 ] He played Nicky Spurgeon, a veteran con artist who takes a young, attractive womanhood under his wing. Smith was set to star in the sci-fi thriller Brilliance, an adaptation of Marcus Sakey ‘s novel of the like list scripted by Jurassic Park writer David Koepp, but he left the project to work on the Ridley Scott-produced sports drama Concussion. [ 70 ] [ 71 ] In Concussion, Smith played Dr. Bennet Omalu of the Brain Injury Research Institute, the first gear to discover chronic traumatic brain disorder. Smith reported he had doubts about the film early in the production, saying, “ some of my happiest memories are of watching my son catch and throw a football. I did n’t want to be the guy who did a movie saying football could be dangerous. ” These views subsided when he met Omalu, whose words about american ideals resonated with Smith. [ 72 ] Smith ‘s performance was praised for being “ sensitive [ and ] understated ”. [ 73 ]
In 2016, Smith played Deadshot in the supervillain team-up action movie Suicide Squad. [ 74 ] Smith ‘s participation in the film meant choosing it over a character in Independence Day: Resurgence, which he said would be like “ cling and claw backwards. ” [ 75 ] Later that year, Smith starred in film director David Frankel ‘s drama Collateral Beauty, playing a New York advertise executive who succumbs to a deep depression after a personal calamity. [ 76 ] Weeks after signing Smith onto the film, his founder was diagnosed with cancer, from which he died in 2016. [ 77 ] As part of his function required him to read about religion and the afterlife, he was brought nearer to the elder Smith, calling the experience “ a beautiful direction to prepare for a movie and an even more imperial way to say adieu to my father. ” [ 78 ]

personal liveliness

Smith married Sheree Zampino in 1992. Their son Willard Carroll “ Trey ” Smith III was born on November 11, 1992. [ 96 ] The two divorced in 1995. Trey appeared in his beget ‘s music television for the 1998 single “ barely the Two of Us “. He besides acted in two episodes of the situation comedy All of Us, and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the David Blaine: Real or Magic TV special. [ 97 ]
Smith married actress Jada Koren Pinkett in 1997. They met when Pinkett auditioned for a character as Smith ‘s character ‘s girlfriend in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The pair produce films through their joint output company Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook Inc. [ 98 ] [ 99 ] together they have two children : Jaden Christopher Syre Smith ( behave 1998 ), his co-star in The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth ; and Willow Camille Reign Smith ( behave 2000 ), who appeared as his daughter in I Am Legend. Smith and his brother Harry own Treyball Development Inc., [ 100 ] a Beverly Hills -based company named after Trey Smith, and his family resides in Los Angeles, California. [ 101 ] In 2018, Smith celebrated his fiftieth birthday by performing a bungee jump from a helicopter in the Grand Canyon. [ 102 ] Smith was insured by Lloyd ‘s of London for $ 200 million for the jump which raised money for the jacob’s ladder Global Citizen. [ 103 ] In October 2021, on a GQ segment, Smith called Wild Wild West as a “ a irritant in my side ”, while reflecting on both his best and worst movies, and added that “ To see myself with chaps. … I don ’ t like it ”, while saying that the Men in Black franchise was his favorite performance. [ 104 ]

religious views

Smith was raised in a Baptist family and attended a Roman Catholic school and church. In a 2013 consultation, he said he did not identify as religious. [ 105 ] In 2015, Smith said in an interview with The Christian Post that his christian religion, which was instilled in him by his grandma, helped him to accurately portray Bennet Omalu in Concussion, saying, “ She was my spiritual teacher, she was that grandma at the church, the one having the kids doing the Easter presentations and putting on the Christmas plays and her kids and grandkids had to be first base. She was the most spiritually certain person that I had ever met in my stallion life sentence. even to the point that when she was dying she was felicitous, like she was actually excited about going to heaven. ” [ 106 ] In 2018, Smith performed the Hindu rite of Abhisheka of Lord Shiva at Haridwar, India. He besides performed an Aarti of the holy place river Ganga. He has said that he feels a deep connection to Hindu spiritualty and indian astrology. [ 107 ]

philanthropy

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. ” [ 108 ] Smith and his wife have besides founded a individual elementary school in Calabasas, California, the New Village Leadership Academy. [ 109 ] Federal tax filing showed that Smith donated $ 1.2 million to the school in 2010. [ 110 ]

political views

Smith donated $ 4,600 to the 2008 presidential crusade of Democrat Barack Obama. [ 111 ] On December 11, 2009, Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway to celebrate Obama ‘s acquire of the prize. [ 112 ] In 2012, Smith stated he supported legalizing same-sex marriage. [ 113 ] In 2021, Smith announced that output of his approaching film, Emancipation, is being pulled from Georgia because of the holocene passage of the Election Integrity Act of 2021, which critics view as a restrictive vote jurisprudence negatively impacting colored voters. Smith and director Antoine Fuqua released a joint argument : “ We can not in good conscience provide economic confirm to a government that enacts regressive vote laws that are designed to restrict voter access ”. [ 114 ] [ 115 ]

Views on marriage and relationships

Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith have expressed unconventional views on their monogamy, facetiously calling their commitment “ bad marriage for life ”. [ 116 ] Both he and Pinkett Smith have admitted to having adulterous relationships and believing in the exemption to pursue them. Smith said he wanted a polyamorous kinship with actress Halle Berry and ballerina Misty Copeland but through therapy ultimately abandoned the idea. [ 117 ]

discography

Filmography

Awards and nominations

See besides

References

far learn

Iannucci, Lisa (2009). Will Smith: A Biography. Greenwood. ISBN 978-0-313-37610-8.
Smith, Will and Mark Manson (2021). Will. ‎ Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-984-87792-5. Memoir