Will Smith is an actor, producer and musician who rose to fame after starring in the popular television show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” in the 90s. Smith has won many awards for his work in both the movie and music industries, including an Academy Award win for his role in the 2021 movie, “King Richard.” His first Oscar win was muddled with controversy when Smith walked on stage and slapped comedian Chris Rockacross the face for a joke he made about his wife.
Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 1968, to parents Caroline and Willard Carroll Smith. In the late 1980s, he started rapping under the name “Fresh Prince” and then in 1990, he started starring in the show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which ran for six seasons until 1996.
After his start on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” he pivoted into movie roles. In 1993, he was in the movie “Made in America” and then was in “Six Degrees of Separation” and “Bad Boys.”
In 1996, Smith was in “Independence Day” and the next year, played Agent J in the first “Men in Black” movie. He was also in “Men in Black II” in 2002 and “Men in Black III” in 2012.
In 1998, he was in “Enemy of the State” and was in “The Wild Wild West” in 1999. He was then in “The Legend of Bagger Vance,” “Ali,” (which earned him his first Best Actor Academy Award nomination), “Bad Boys II,” “I, Robot” and “Hitch.”
In 2006, Smith was in “The Pursuit of Happyness” with hisreal-life son, Jaden Smith who also played his son in the movie. The father son duo also acted together in “After Earth” in 2013.
Smith was also in “I Am Legend,” “Hancock,” “Seven Pounds,” “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” “Winter’s Tale,” “Focus,” “Concussion,” “Suicide Squad,” “Collateral Beauty,” “Bright,” “Aladdin,” “Gemini Man” and “Bad Boys for Life.”
Smith was in the 2021 movie, “King Richard,” where his role of Richard Williams won him an Academy Award for Best Actor. During the 2022 Academy Awards, Rock, who was hosting the show made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, which lead Smith to walk onto the stage, slap Rock and swear at him from his seat. He later issued a public apology.
Smith has beenmarried to his wife, Jada Pinkett Smithsince 1997. They share two children together, Jaden who was born on July 8, 1998 and Willow who was born on October 31, 2000. Like her brother, Willow also acted alongside her father and played his daughter in the movie “I Am Legend.” Smith also has a son Trey Smith from a previous marriage to Sheree Zampino.
Other than his work in cinema, Smith has also released some music over the years. His first solo album, “Big Willie Style” came out in 1997. A couple of years later, he released “Willennium” and then came out with “Born to Reign” in 2002 and “Lost and Found” in 2005.
