American actor Will Smith got his start in the entertainment industry as a rapper. By the time he was 20, he was already a millionaire. Throughout his career, he’s been nominated for an Oscar three times, finally winning the prestigious award in 2022. Smith has also received numerous other accolades, including a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a Critics’ Choice Movie Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Continue reading on philadelphiaski.
In 2019, he ranked 8th on the Forbes list of highest-paid actors, and former US President Barack Obama once stated that if a biopic were ever made about him, he would want Will Smith to play the lead role. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the highs and lows, the successes and setbacks, of this superstar actor’s career.
The Fresh Prince and the Musician
Will Smith was born in Philadelphia on September 25, 1968, the second of four children. His father, Willard Smith Sr., was a small business owner who worked with refrigeration equipment. His mother, Caroline Bright, was a school administrator.
The Smiths were a middle-class family, and the children enjoyed a stable and secure childhood. When Will was 13, his parents separated. Academically, Will wasn’t an overachiever, but his good looks and great sense of humor made him a favorite among teachers and peers. It was his classmates who gave him the nickname “The Prince.” Smith loved it so much he later adopted it for his creative work.
As a teenager, Will became passionate about music, especially rap. His friend, Jeff Townes, shared the same interest, and together they formed a group called “DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.” Clarence Holmes later joined them. The group created many popular songs, with two of their albums going platinum. Their tracks “I’m the Rapper” and “He’s the DJ” even earned them a Grammy Award.
This success wasn’t just Smith’s first taste of stardom; it also brought in significant income. After high school, he was even offered a scholarship to college, which he turned down. However, his carefree lifestyle and lack of financial planning led to him losing all his earnings and accumulating a lot of debt.
Will was only 20 years old and in a tough spot when, in 1990, he was offered the chance to play a fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show’s producers noticed him because of his music career, and for him, it was a perfect opportunity to make money, pay off his debts, and try his hand at acting.
The Rise to Stardom
Will Smith accepted the role and starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, playing a charismatic teenager named “The Fresh Prince.” The sitcom became wildly popular, and it’s generally considered the start of Smith’s acting career. At the time, Smith didn’t see himself as a career actor, so when the show ended in 1996, he returned to music.
He launched a solo rap career, but his fame, and his money, quickly began to fade again. It was then that fate intervened, and he was offered his first big-screen role. The comedy action film Bad Boys became his ticket to Hollywood. This genre was particularly popular at the time, and Smith was in the right place at the right time.
From there, new and exciting opportunities came flooding in. He was soon cast in the blockbuster Independence Day, where he played the dramatic role of a pilot fighting an alien invasion. His performance proved he wasn’t just a comedic actor, but could also portray serious characters.
Smith’s acting career skyrocketed, with his next role becoming iconic in the world of cinema. We’re talking, of course, about his portrayal of Agent J in the sci-fi comedy Men in Black. This film grossed over $500 million worldwide against a budget of just $90 million, becoming a global phenomenon.
Smith didn’t stop there. He continued to take on diverse roles, showcasing the full range of his acting talent:
- In 2002 and 2003, he starred in the sequels to Men in Black II and Bad Boys II;
- He voiced a character in the animated film Shark Tale (2004);
- He played the lead in the popular comedy Hitch (2005), which told the story of a “date doctor” who could help any man win over any woman;
- Other successful films from this era included The Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Seven Pounds, and Hancock.
Of course, not all of his films were hits. One notable flop was the film Wild Wild West. While the movie’s soundtrack was popular, the film itself failed to impress audiences.
Another interesting tidbit: In the late 1990s, Smith was offered the lead role in the film The Matrix, but he turned it down to work on other projects. The part ultimately went to Keanu Reeves, whose performance Smith has since praised highly.
A Break and a Comeback
Despite his tremendous success, Will Smith disappeared from the big screen in 2008. He didn’t comment on his absence, but returned to work four years later on the sequel, Men in Black 3.
In 2013, he starred alongside his son Jaden in the film After Earth. The movie was not a success. Audiences and critics felt that Smith’s role was downplayed, and his son’s performance was lacking. However, Smith didn’t let the criticism get to him. After that, he was in a new movie almost every year, including Focus, Concussion, and Collateral Beauty.
In 2019, Smith played the role of the Genie in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin, directed by Guy Ritchie. The role harked back to his “Fresh Prince” persona, and the film was praised by both critics and audiences, grossing over $1 billion worldwide. It became his highest-grossing film to date.
In 2021, Smith starred in the sports drama King Richard. For his lead role in the film, he finally won his first Oscar in 2022. This was his third nomination, following his performance as Muhammad Ali in Ali (2001) and his role in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). The long-awaited award cemented Will Smith’s status as a global superstar and one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood.
Family Life
Will Smith’s favorite book is Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist,” and his hobby is playing chess. As for his personal life, it hasn’t been quite as dramatic as his career.
In 1992, he married actress Sheree Zampino. Their son, Willard III, was born the same year. The couple divorced three years later.
In 1997, Will married a second time, this time to actress Jada Pinkett. They have a son, Jaden, and a daughter, Willow. Jaden appeared with his father in The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth, and Willow was in I Am Legend. The family owned homes in Florida, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia and would change residences frequently.
In 2023, Jada Pinkett Smith revealed that they had been separated for seven years. However, the couple has not officially divorced, so fans may one day see them together again.