Biography
With relentless energy and boundless charisma, rapper-turned-acclaimed actor Will Smith transformed himself from his early persona, The Fresh Prince, to become both an Oscar-nominated performer and one of the biggest blockbuster action stars of all time. Smith started his career in the popular rap duo, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, which produced such hit classics as "Parents Just Don't Understand" (1989) and "Summertime" (1991). He …
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Career Milestones
| Raised in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia | ||
| Reportedly turned down a scholarship to pursue music instead | ||
1981 | Began collaborating on rap music with musician Jeffrey Townes (aka 'DJ Jazzy Jeff') | |
1981 | Began rapping at age 12 | |
1986 | First film, a bit part as a pollster in "The Imagemaker" | |
1986 | Released first single with Townes, "Girls Ain't Nothin' But Trouble" as the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince | |
1988 | Duo released double album He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper | |
1988 | Produced and performed song "Jazzy's in the House" for feature "License to Drive" | |
1989 | Reportedly made and lost (due to excessive spending) his first $1 million by age 20 | |
1990 | Starred on hit comedy series "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" (NBC) | |
1991 | With DJ Jazzy Jeff, released rap classic "Summertime" | |
1992 | Feature acting debut in significant role, "Where the Day Takes You" | |
1993 | Breakthrough dramatic feature lead, "Six Degrees of Separation"; played con man who ingratiates himself with NYC society by claiming to be Sidney Poitier's son | |
1993 | Hosted the Presidential Inaugural Celebration for Youth (part of the inaugural gala for President Clinton) | |
1995 | Became bona fide movie star with "Bad Boys" | |
1996 | Starred as a fighter pilot battling aliens in the blockbuster "Independence Day" | |
1997 | Released debut solo album Big Willie Style | |
1997 | Teamed with Tommy Lee Jones in the comedy "Men in Black," directed by Barry Sonnenfeld | |
1998 | Played a labor lawyer targeted by government agents in the thriller "Enemy of the State"; first screen appearance opposite Jon Voight | |
1998 | With childhood friend James Lassiter, formed Overbrook Entertainment (September); company landed production deal at Universal | |
1999 | Reteamed with Sonnenfeld to portray James West in the big screen version of "Wild Wild West" | |
2000 | Played a mysterious golf caddy in the period drama "The Legend of Bagger Vance," co-starring Matt Damon and directed by Robert Redford | |
2001 | Portrayed boxer Muhammad Ali in the Michael Mann-directed biopic "Ali"; Jon Voight appeared as sportscaster Howard Cosell; received Best Actor Oscar nomination | |
2002 | Reteamed with Tommy Lee Jones for "Men in Black II" | |
2003 | Reteamed with Martin Lawrence for "Bad Boys 2" | |
2004 | Executive produced and starred in the big-screen verison of sci-fi author Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot" | |
2004 | Guest starred on an episode of the UPN comedy "All Of Us," which he also executive produced | |
2004 | Voiced the character of Oscar in the animated feature "Shark Tale" | |
2005 | Starred opposite Eva Mendes in the romantic comedy "Hitch" | |
2006 | Produced and co-starred with real life son in "Pursuit of Happyness," a true rags-to-riches story based on the life of Chris Gardner; received Golden Globe, SAG and Oscar nominations for Best Actor | |
2007 | Played 'the last man on Earth' in the film adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel "I Am Legend" | |
2008 | Co-starred with Charlize Theron in the superhero-themed "Hancock" | |
2008 | Nominated for the 2008 People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Action Star | |
2008 | Nominated for the 2008 People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Star | |
2008 | Played a suicidal IRS agent trying to help seven strangers in the drama "Seven Pounds' | |
2012 | Reprised his role of Agent J in "Men in Black III"; re-teamed with director Barry Sonnenfeld and co-star Tommy Lee Jones | |
Awards
1988 | Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance |
1991 | Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group |
1992 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air |
1993 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air |
1996 | MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo in Bad Boys |
1997 | Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance |
1997 | MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in Independence Day |
1998 | Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance |
1998 | MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance in Men in Black |
1998 | MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo in Men in Black |
1999 | MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in Enemy of the State |
2001 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in Ali |
2001 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in Ali |
2001 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Ali |
2002 | MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in Ali |
2004 | MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team in Bad Boys II |
2005 | MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance in Hitch |
2005 | MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in Hitch |
2006 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in The Pursuit of Happyness |
2006 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in The Pursuit of Happyness |
2006 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Pursuit of Happyness |
2007 | MTV Movie Award for Best Performance in The Pursuit of Happyness |
2007 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in The Pursuit of Happyness |
2008 | MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in I Am Legend |