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Will Smith <span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>  Willard Christopher Smith Jr., also known as the Fresh Prince, is a popular American actor and rapper born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 1968. He is the second of four children born to Caroline and Willard C. Smith, Sr. He attended Overbrook High School in Winfield, Pennsylvania, where he was nicknamed Prince for his charm and graduated with a scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He turned down the scholarship to pursue music professionally.
CareerHe met fellow artist Jeff Townes (Jazzy Jeff) and the two joined to form the hip-hop duo known as DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. The group expanded to include Clarence Holmes (Ready Rock C), the human beat box. The group gained success performing the hit songs "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Summertime" and won the first Grammy award in the new Rap category. Despite his success in music, Smith faced bankruptcy. Fortunately, a timely offer came from NBC for his own sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-air. The show was a success and lasted six seasons. This was the beginning of a successful acting career and while starring in his own show, he also guest starred on Blossom and appeared in the films Made in America and Six Degrees of Separation. In Six Degrees of Separation (1993) he played a gay character and won critical acclaim for the role. As Fresh Prince wrapped up, Smith's film career took off. He starred opposite Martin Lawrence in the hit action film Bad Boys. He followed up with another hit, one that cemented him as a leading man, Independence Day. The film premiered on July 4 and Smith established the date as a lucky one. His second Sci-Fi action feature, Men in Black, with Tommy Lee Jones premiered during the Independence Day week of 1997 and was also a hit. Smith continued to make hit films. He starred in Enemy of the State and Wild Wild West. He earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as boxer Muhammad Ali in the 2001 film, Ali. In 2002 he starred in Men in Black II, a sequel to the first film and in 2003 Bad Boys II. He is one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. His highest paying role was in I, Robot for which he earned $28,000,000 in addition to a percentage of the film's profits. In addition to his acting work, Smith has also served as a producer. He created and produced the series All of Us with wife Jada Pinkett Smith. He also served as a producer on the films Saving Face and Hitch in which he also starred, and executive producer for I, Robot and Showtime. He contributed to the soundtracks of several films including Men in Black, Men in Black II, Wild Wild West and Shark Tale. He has also had several hit singles as a solo artist including "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It", "Men in Black", and "Just the Two of Us". In 2006, Smith appeared in The Pursuit of Happyness with son Jaden. The performance earned him and Oscar nomination. 2007, brought the film adaptation of the Richard Matheson novel, I Am Legend. Upcoming roles includes Tonight, He Comes, Hancock, seven Pounds and Time Share. Personal LifeSmith married Sheree Zampino on May 9, 1992, they had one son, Trey. They divorced in 1995 and he remarried to Jada Pinkett Smith whom he met on the set of Fresh Pince. Will and Jada have two children, a daughter Willow Camille Reign Smith on October 31, 2000 and a son Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, on July 8, 1998.
AwardsSmith has been nominated for an Academy Award, as well as several Saturn Awards , Teen Choice Awards, Golden Globes and MTV Movie Awards. He has won:
Quotes“Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like.” “I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” “Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.” “I don't know what my calling is, but I want to be here for a bigger reason. I strive to be like the greatest people who have ever lived.” “Money and success don't change people; they merely amplify what is already there.” “There's so much negative imagery of black fatherhood. I've got tons of friends that are doing the right thing by their kids, and doing the right thing as a father—and how come that's not as newsworthy?” “My skin is hard when it comes to my music. But with my movies, I'm still a virgin in a lot of ways. I'm not used to being shot down for no reason.”
Trivia
External LinksTiscali - Will Smith Biography
2008, SCI FI. All rights reserved.
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