Will Smith

Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, producer and rapper.[1] He got his start as part of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.[2] He became an actor when he starred on the television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Will Smith, a teenager from Philadelphia sent to live with his rich relatives in Southern California. He has appeared in many movies including Independence Day, Men in Black, Ali, Wild Wild West, The Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, and in Suicide Squad.

Will Smith
Will Smith by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Smith in 2016
Born
Willard Carroll Smith II

(1968-09-25) September 25, 1968 (age 56)
Other namesThe Fresh Prince
Occupation
  • Actor
  • rapper
  • movie producer
Years active1985–present
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Spouse(s)
Sheree Zampino (m. 1992–1995)

Children3, including Jaden and Willow
Parent(s)Willard Carroll Smith, Sr.
Caroline Bright
Musical career
Genres
Labels
Associated actsDJ Jazzy Jeff, Mary J. Blige, Christina Vidal, Kenny Greene, Tichina Arnold
Signature
Will Smith signature.png

In 2022, he won a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and an Academy Award for his role as Richard Williams in the 2021 drama movie King Richard. He is the first rapper to win an acting Oscar.[3]

Personal life

Smith married actress Jada Pinkett in 1997. They have three children, including Jaden and Willow.

At the 94th Academy Awards in March 2022, Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock after he made a joke about his wife, Jada's, bald head.[4] Smith was criticized for his violent reaction and on April 1, 2022 Smith resigned his membership from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and said he would support any punishment by the academy.[5] Smith has been banned from going to the Oscar ceremonies for 10 years.[6]

Filmography

Title Year Role(s) Director(s) Notes
Where the Day Takes You 1992 Manny Rocco, MarcMarc Rocco
Made in America 1993 Walters, Tea CakeTea Cake Walters Benjamin, RichardRichard Benjamin
Six Degrees of Separation 1993 Paul Schepisi, FredFred Schepisi
Bad Boys 1995 Lowrey, MikeMike Lowrey Bay, MichaelMichael Bay
Independence Day 1996 Hiller, Capt. StevenCapt. Steven Hiller Emmerich, RolandRoland Emmerich
Men in Black 1997 James Darrell Edwards III
Agent J
[a]
Sonnenfeld, BarryBarry Sonnenfeld
Enemy of the State 1998 Dean, Robert ClaytonRobert Clayton Dean Scott, TonyTony Scott
Wild Wild West 1999 West, Captain JamesCaptain James West Sonnenfeld, BarryBarry Sonnenfeld
Legend of Bagger Vance, TheThe Legend of Bagger Vance 2000 Vance, BaggerBagger Vance Redford, RobertRobert Redford
Ali 2001 Ali, MuhammadMuhammad Ali Mann, MichaelMichael Mann
Showtime 2002 Dey, TomTom Dey Executive producer
Men in Black II 2002 James Darrell Edwards III
Agent J[a]
Sonnenfeld, BarryBarry Sonnenfeld
Bad Boys II 2003 Lowrey, MikeMike Lowrey Bay, MichaelMichael Bay
Ride or Die 2003 Ross Jr., CraigCraig Ross Jr. Executive producer
Jersey Girl 2004 Himself Smith, KevinKevin Smith Cameo
I, Robot 2004 Spooner, Detective DelDetective Del Spooner Proyas, AlexAlex Proyas Executive producer
The Seat Filler 2004 Castle, NickNick Castle Executive producer
Saving Face 2004 Wu, AliceAlice Wu Producer
Shark Tale 2004 Oscar Jenson, VickyVicky Jenson
Bibo Bergeron
Rob Letterman
Voice role
Hitch 2005 Hitchens, Alex "Hitch"Alex "Hitch" Hitchens Tennant, AndyAndy Tennant Producer
ATL 2006 Robinson, ChrisChris Robinson Producer
The Pursuit of Happyness 2006 Gardner, ChrisChris Gardner Muccino, GabrieleGabriele Muccino Producer
Bee Movie 2007 Mooseblood the Mosquito J. Smith, SimonSimon J. Smith
Steve Hickner
Voice role
I Am Legend 2007 Neville, RobertRobert Neville Lawrence, FrancisFrancis Lawrence
Hancock 2008 Hancock, JohnJohn Hancock Berg, PeterPeter Berg Producer
The Human Contract 2008 Smith, Jada PinkettJada Pinkett Smith Executive producer
The Secret Life of Bees 2008 Prince-Bythewood, GinaGina Prince-Bythewood Producer
Lakeview Terrace 2008 LaBute, NeilNeil LaBute Producer
Seven Pounds 2008 Thomas, TimTim Thomas Muccino, GabrieleGabriele Muccino Producer
The Karate Kid 2010 Zwart, HaraldHarald Zwart Producer
This Means War 2012 McG Producer
Men in Black 3 2012 James Darrell Edwards III
Agent J[a]
Sonnenfeld, BarryBarry Sonnenfeld
After Earth 2013 Raige, CypherCypher Raige Shyamalan, M. NightM. Night Shyamalan Writer (story)
producer
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues 2013 ESPN Reporter McKay, AdamAdam McKay Cameo
Winter's Tale 2014 Lucifer Goldsman, AkivaAkiva Goldsman Cameo
Annie 2014 Gluck, WillWill Gluck Producer
Focus 2015 Spurgeon, NickyNicky Spurgeon Ficarra, GlennGlenn Ficarra
John Requa
Concussion 2015 Omalu, BennetBennet Omalu Landesman, PeterPeter Landesman
Suicide Squad 2016 Floyd Lawton / Deadshot[a] Ayer, DavidDavid Ayer
Collateral Beauty 2016 Inlet, HowardHoward Inlet Frankel, DavidDavid Frankel
Bright 2017 Ward, DarylDaryl Ward Ayer, DavidDavid Ayer
Student of the Year 2 2019 Himself Punit Malhotra Hindi film
Cameo
Aladdin 2019 Genie Ritchie, GuyGuy Ritchie
The Good Place 2019 Brogan, HenryHenry Brogan / Junior Lee, AngAng Lee
Spies in Disguise   2019 Sterling, LanceLance Sterling Bruno, NickNick Bruno
Troy Quane
Voice role; post-production
Bad Boys for Life   2020 Mike Lowrey El Arbi, AdilAdil El Arbi
Bilall Fallah
Post-production
Key
  Denotes films that have not yet been released

Discography

Studio albums

Will Smith Media

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Smith played a character with two different names in this film.

References

  1. Smith's Hitch tops US box office. 14 February 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4263205.stm. 
  2. "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince". Discogs.
  3. Grein, Paul (March 28, 2022). "30 Milestones in Hip-Hop Awards History: Will Smith, Lauryn Hill & More". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/hip-hop-awards-milestones-1235042728/. Retrieved March 30, 2022. 
  4. Whelan, Robbie (March 27, 2022). Will Smith Takes to Oscar Stage, Appears to Strike Chris Rock After Joke About Jada Pinkett Smith. https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/oscars-academy-awards-2022/card/will-smith-takes-to-oscar-stage-appears-to-strike-chris-rock-after-joke-about-jada-pinkett-smith-20Zr7QDygQqZ31fHDlCT. Retrieved March 28, 2022. 
  5. Tangcay, Jazz; Tangcay, Jazz (2022-04-02). "Here's What Will Smith's Resignation From the Academy Means". Variety. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  6. https://www.vg.no/rampelys/i/oWa4Jg/will-smith-utestenges-fra-oscar-seremoniene-de-neste-ti-aarene. VG.no

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