Will Smith is an actor, producer and musician who rose to fame after starring in the popular television show âThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airâ 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, âKing Richard.â 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 âFresh Princeâ and then in 1990, he started starring in the show âThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,â which ran for six seasons until 1996.
After his start on âThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airâ he pivoted into movie roles. In 1993, he was in the movie âMade in Americaâ and then was in âSix Degrees of Separationâ and âBad Boys.â
In 1996, Smith was in âIndependence Dayâ and the next year, played Agent J in the first âMen in Blackâ movie. He was also in âMen in Black IIâ in 2002 and âMen in Black IIIâ in 2012.
In 1998, he was in âEnemy of the Stateâ and was in âThe Wild Wild Westâ in 1999. He was then in âThe Legend of Bagger Vance,â âAli,â (which earned him his first Best Actor Academy Award nomination), âBad Boys II,â âI, Robotâ and âHitch.â
In 2006, Smith was in âThe Pursuit of Happynessâ with hisreal-life son, Jaden Smith who also played his son in the movie. The father son duo also acted together in âAfter Earthâ in 2013.
Smith was also in âI Am Legend,â âHancock,â âSeven Pounds,â âAnchorman 2: The Legend Continues,â âWinterâs Tale,â âFocus,â âConcussion,â âSuicide Squad,â âCollateral Beauty,â âBright,â âAladdin,â âGemini Manâ and âBad Boys for Life.â
Smith was in the 2021 movie, âKing Richard,â 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 Smithâs 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 âI Am Legend.â 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, âBig Willie Styleâ came out in 1997. A couple of years later, he released âWillenniumâ and then came out with âBorn to Reignâ in 2002 and âLost and Foundâ in 2005.