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Wikipedia

Will Smith

Willard Carroll Smith II[3] (born September 25, 1968), briefly known as the Fresh Prince, is an American actor and rapper. He has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and four Grammy Awards.[4][5][6] As of 2023, his films have grossed over $9.3 billion globally,[7] making him one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.[8][9]

Will Smith
Smith in 2019
Born
Willard Carroll Smith II

(1968-09-25) September 25, 1968 (age 54)
Other namesThe Fresh Prince
Occupations
  • Actor
  • rapper
  • film producer
Years active1985–present[1]
Organizations
Agents
Works
Spouses
  • Sheree Zampino
    (m. 1992; div. 1995)
  • (m. 1997)
Children3, including Jaden and Willow
AwardsFull list
Musical career
GenresPop-rap[2]
Labels
Formerly ofDJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
Websitewww.willsmith.com
Signature

Smith began his acting career starring as a fictionalized version of himself on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996). He first gained recognition as part of a hip hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff, with whom he released five studio albums and the US Billboard Hot 100 top 20 singles "Parents Just Don't Understand", "A Nightmare on My Street", "Summertime", "Ring My Bell", and "Boom! Shake the Room" from 1984 to 1994. He released the solo albums Big Willie Style (1997), Willennium (1999), Born to Reign (2002), and Lost and Found (2005), which contained the US number-one singles "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" and "Wild Wild West". He has received four Grammy Awards for his rap performances.[10]

Smith achieved wider fame as a leading man in films such as the action film Bad Boys (1995), its sequels Bad Boys II (2003) and Bad Boys for Life (2020), and the sci-fi comedies Men in Black (1997), Men in Black II (2002), and Men in Black 3 (2012). After starring in the thrillers Independence Day (1996) and Enemy of the State (1998), he received Academy Award for Best Actor nominations for his portrayal as Muhammad Ali in Ali (2001), and as Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). He then starred in a range of commercially successful films, including I, Robot (2004), Shark Tale (2004), Hitch (2005), I Am Legend (2007), Hancock (2008), Seven Pounds (2008), Suicide Squad (2016) and Aladdin (2019).[11]

For his portrayal of Richard Williams in the biographical sports drama King Richard (2021), Smith won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.[12] At the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony, shortly before winning, Smith faced public backlash for slapping and shouting at Oscar presenter Chris Rock after Rock made an unscripted joke[13] referencing Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith subsequently resigned from the Academy and was banned from attending all Academy functions, including the Oscars, for ten years.[14]

Early life

Willard Carroll Smith II was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, to Caroline (née Bright), a school board administrator, and Willard Carroll Smith Sr.,[15][16] a US Air Force veteran[17] and refrigeration engineer. His mother graduated from Carnegie Mellon University.[18]

He grew up in West Philadelphia's Wynnefield neighborhood[19] and was raised Baptist.[20] He has an elder sister named Pamela and two younger siblings, twins Harry and Ellen.[19] He attended Our Lady of Lourdes, a private Catholic elementary school in Philadelphia,[21] and Overbrook High School.[22] His parents separated when he was 13[23] and divorced around the year 2000.[24]

Smith began rapping at age 12. When his grandmother found a notebook of his lyrics, which he described as containing "all [his] little curse words", she wrote him a note on a page in the book: "Dear Willard, truly intelligent people do not have to use words like this to express themselves. Please show the world that you're as smart as we think you are". Smith said that this influenced his decision not to use profanity in his music.[25]

Career

1985–1992: DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

 
Smith at the Emmy Awards 1993

Smith started as the MC of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, with his childhood friend Jeffrey "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes as turntablist and producer.[26] Townes and Smith were introduced to each other by chance in 1985, as Townes was performing at a house party only a few doors down from Smith's residence, and he was missing his hype man. Smith decided to fill in. They both felt strong chemistry, and Townes was upset when his hype man finally made it to the party.[27]

Soon after, the two decided to collaborate. Smith enlisted a friend to join as the beatboxer of the group, Clarence Holmes aka Ready Rock C, making them a trio. Philadelphia-based Word Records released their first single in 1986 when A&R man Paul Oakenfold[28] introduced them to Champion Records with their single "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble," a tale of funny misadventures that landed Smith and his former DJ and rap partner Mark Forrest (Lord Supreme) in trouble.[29] The song sampled the theme song of "I Dream of Jeannie." Smith became known for light-hearted story-telling raps and capable, though profanity-free, "battle" rhymes. The single became a hit a month before Smith graduated from high school.[30]

Based on this success, the duo were brought to the attention of Jive Records and Russell Simmons. The duo's first album, Rock the House, which was first released on Word Up in 1986 debuted on Jive in March 1987. The group received the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989 for "Parents Just Don't Understand" (1988), though their most successful single was "Summertime" (1991), which earned the group their second Grammy and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Smith and Townes are still friends and claim that they never split up, having made songs under Smith's solo performer credit.[31]

Smith spent money freely around 1988 and 1989 and underpaid his income taxes.[26] The Internal Revenue Service eventually assessed a $2.8 million tax debt against Smith, took many of his possessions, and garnished his income.[32] Smith was struggling financially in 1990 when the NBC television network signed him to a contract and built a sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, around him.[26] The show was successful and began his acting career. Smith set for himself the goal of becoming "the biggest movie star in the world", studying box office successes' common characteristics.[23] In 1989, Smith was arrested in relation to an alleged assault on his record promoter, William Hendricks; the charges were later dismissed.[33]

1993–1997: Solo music and film breakthrough

Smith's first major roles were in the drama Six Degrees of Separation (1993) and the action film Bad Boys (1995) in which he starred opposite Martin Lawrence. The latter film was commercially successful, grossing $141.4 million worldwide.[34] However, critical reception was generally mixed.[35] In 1996, Smith starred as part of an ensemble cast in Roland Emmerich's Independence Day. The film was a massive blockbuster, becoming the second highest-grossing film in history at the time and establishing Smith as a prime box office draw.[36]

In the summer of 1997, he starred alongside Tommy Lee Jones in the hit Men in Black, playing Agent J. The film was released on July 2 by Columbia Pictures and grossed over $589.3 million worldwide against a $90 million budget, becoming the year's third highest-grossing film, with an estimated 54,616,700 tickets sold in the US.[37] It received positive reviews, with critics praising its humor, as well as Jones's and Smith's performances.

During the summer of 1997, Smith also began his solo music career with the release of "Men in Black", the theme song for the film, which topped singles charts in several regions across the world, including the UK.[38] "Men in Black" (and second single "Just Cruisin'") was later included on Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style, which reached the top ten of the US Billboard 200 and was certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[39][40] The third single from the album, "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", became Smith's first Billboard Hot 100 number one when it was released in 1998.[41]

1998–2007: Leading man status

 
Smith in 1999

In 1998, Smith starred with Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State.[26] The following year he turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix in favor of Wild Wild West (1999). Despite the disappointment of Wild Wild West, Smith said that he has no regrets about his decision, asserting that Keanu Reeves's performance as Neo was superior to what Smith himself would have achieved,[42] although in interviews subsequent to the release of Wild Wild West he said that he "made a mistake on Wild Wild West. That could have been better."[43]

Smith's second album was again supported by the release of a film theme song as the lead single: "Wild Wild West", featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the RIAA.[40][41] The album in question, Willennium, reached number five on the Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA.[39][40] "Will 2K", the second single from the album, reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.[41] Before the end of 1999, a video album was released featuring Smith's seven music videos released to date,[44] which reached number 25 on the UK Music Video Chart.[45] The same year, he was also featured on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star Tatyana Ali's single "Boy You Knock Me Out", which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK R&B Singles Chart.[38][46]

Smith portrayed heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali in the 2001 biopic Ali. For his performance he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.[47][48] In 2002, following a four-year musical hiatus, Smith returned with his third album Born to Reign, which reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA.[39][40] The album's lead single was the theme song from Smith's film Men in Black II, called "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)", which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.[38] Later in the year, Smith's first compilation album Greatest Hits was released, featuring songs from his three solo albums as well as those produced with DJ Jazzy Jeff.[49]

2003 saw Smith return for Bad Boys II, the sequel to the 1995 film Bad Boys; the film follows detectives Burnett and Lowrey investigating the flow of ecstasy into Miami. Despite receiving generally negative reviews, the film was a box-office success, grossing $270 million worldwide.[34] In the following year, he starred in the science fiction film I, Robot and the animated film Shark Tale; both films were box office successes despite mixed reviews. Smith's latest album Lost and Found was released in 2005, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200.[39] Lead single "Switch" reached the top ten of both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.[38][41] In 2005, Smith was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for attending three premieres in a 24-hour time span.[50] Smith and his son Jaden played father and son in the 2006 biographical drama The Pursuit of Happyness. In the film Smith portrays Chris Gardner. Smith first became interested in making a film about Gardner after seeing him on 20/20 and connected with him during production. The film, along with Smith's performance, received praise.[51][52]

 
Smith hosting the 2011 Walmart Shareholders Meeting

On December 10, 2007, Smith was honored at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Smith left an imprint of his hands and feet outside the theater in front of many fans.[53] Later that month, Smith starred in the film I Am Legend, released on December 14, 2007. Alongside marginally positive reviews,[54] its opening was the largest ever for a film released in the United States during December. Smith himself has said that he considers the film to be "aggressively unique".[55] A reviewer said that the film's commercial success "cemented [Smith's] standing as the number one box office draw in Hollywood."[56] On December 1, 2008, TV Guide reported that Smith was selected as one of America's top ten most fascinating people of 2008 for a Barbara Walters ABC special that aired on December 4, 2008.[57]

2008–2019: Blockbusters and critical disappointments

In 2008, Smith was reported to be developing a film entitled The Last Pharaoh, in which he would be starring as Taharqa.[58] Smith later starred in the superhero movie Hancock,[59] which grossed $227,946,274 in the United States and Canada and had a worldwide total of $624,386,746.[60] On August 19, 2011, it was announced that Smith returned to the studio with producer La Mar Edwards to work on his fifth studio album.[61]

Smith again reprised his role as Agent J with Men in Black 3, which opened on May 25, 2012, his first major starring role in four years.[62][63] After the release of the film, Smith was content with ending his work with the franchise, saying, "I think three is enough for me. Three of anything is enough for me. We'll look at it and we'll consider it, but it feels like that it might be time to let someone else do that."[64] Men in Black 3, released ten years after Men in Black II (2002), grossed over $624 million worldwide.[65][66] Unadjusted for inflation, it is the highest-grossing film in the series.[67][68]

In 2013, Smith starred in After Earth with his son Jaden. The film was a disappointment at the domestic box office and was panned critically.[69] Calling the film "the most painful failure in my career", Smith ended up taking a year and a half break as a result.[70]

 
Smith and Suicide Squad co-star Margot Robbie in 2016

Smith starred opposite Margot Robbie in the romance drama Focus, released on February 27, 2015.[71] He played Nicky Spurgeon, a veteran con artist who takes a young, attractive woman under his wing. Smith was set to star in the sci-fi thriller Brilliance, an adaptation of Marcus Sakey's novel of the same name scripted by Jurassic Park writer David Koepp, but he left the project to work on the Ridley Scott-produced sports drama Concussion.[72][73]

In Concussion, Smith played Dr. Bennet Omalu of the Brain Injury Research Institute, the first to discover chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Smith reported he had doubts about the film early in the production, saying, "some of my happiest memories are of watching my son catch and throw a football. I didn't want to be the guy who did a movie saying football could be dangerous." These views subsided when he met Omalu, whose words about American ideals resonated with Smith.[74] Smith's performance was praised for being "sensitive [and] understated".[75]

In 2016, Smith played Deadshot in the supervillain team-up action film Suicide Squad.[76] Smith's participation in the film meant choosing it over a role in Independence Day: Resurgence, which he said would be like "clinging and clawing backwards."[77] While Suicide Squad was a massive financial success, earning over $700 million at the box office, the film received negative reviews from critics. Christopher Orr, film critic from The Atlantic wrote that "the latest offering from the DC Comics superhero universe may be the most disastrous yet".[78] Later that year, Smith starred in director David Frankel's drama Collateral Beauty, playing a New York advertising executive who succumbs to a deep depression after a personal tragedy.[79] Weeks after signing Smith onto the film, his father was diagnosed with cancer, from which he died in 2016.[80] As part of his role required him to read about religion and the afterlife, he was brought closer to the elder Smith, calling the experience "a beautiful way to prepare for a movie and an even more majestic way to say goodbye to my father."[81] The film marked the lowest box office opening of Will Smith's career.[82] The film also received near universal negative reviews from film critics.[83] Hollywood Reporter critic David Rooney criticized Smith's performance writing as "the least interesting component in a madly overqualified cast".[84]

His film Bright was distributed via Netflix on December 22, 2017. An urban fantasy, it was the most expensive film for Netflix to date. Smith collaborated with his director from Suicide Squad, David Ayer.[85] This would also be another critical disappointment for Smith, with critics panning the movie. Richard Roeper of The Chicago Sun-Times criticized the film and Smith's performance writing, "By the time Will Smith barks [the line, "Dude, you can't go through elf town!"] with 100 percent urgency and sincerity in the mindboggling mess that is "Bright," it's clear we are watching a truly terrible, mountainous pile of genre-blending garbage."[86]

Also in 2017, Smith released the song "Get Lit" a collaboration between him and his former group mate Jazzy Jeff[87][88] and launched his own YouTube channel, which as of July 2019 has over 6 million subscribers and 294 million total views.[89]

 
Smith performed the soccer 2018 World Cup's official song "Live It Up"

Smith performed the official song "Live It Up" alongside American singer Nicky Jam and Kosovar singer Era Istrefi at the closing ceremony of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia.[90] That September, Smith appeared, alongside Bad Bunny, on the Marc Anthony song "Está Rico".[91]

Smith portrayed The Genie (originally voiced by Robin Williams) in the live-action adaptation of Disney's Aladdin, directed by Guy Ritchie. He also participated in the soundtracks by recording singles: "Arabian Nights (2019)", "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali".[92] The film was released on May 24, 2019.[93] Aladdin grossed over $1 billion worldwide to become Smith's highest-grossing film, surpassing Independence Day.[94] Smith was also featured on rapper Logic's song "Don't Be Afraid To Be Different" (2019), from his fifth studio album Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.[95]

Smith appeared as an assassin who faces off against a younger clone of himself in Ang Lee's Gemini Man, released on October 11, 2019.[96] The film was a box office bomb and received negative reviews from critics. Variety's Peter DeBruge called the film "a high-concept misfire" and wrote: "In practice, it's been a nearly impossible project to get made, passing through the hands of countless actors and falling through multiple times because the technology wasn't there yet. At least, that's been the excuse, although judging by the finished product, it was the script that never lived up to the promise of its premise."[97]

Later that year, Smith had his second starring role in an animated film, in Spies in Disguise, opposite Tom Holland. Smith voiced Lance Sterling, a spy who teams up with the nerdy inventor who creates his gadgets (Holland).[98] In 2020, he reteamed with Martin Lawrence for the third film in their franchise, Bad Boys for Life. In 2019, Smith invested $46 million in esports organization Gen.G with Smith's Dreamers Fund, which he co-founded with Keisuke Honda.[99] In June 2020, it was announced that Smith would star in Emancipation, directed by Antoine Fuqua, in which he portrays Peter, a runaway slave, who outsmarts hunters and the Louisiana swamp on a journey to the Union Army.[100]

2020–present: Memoir and King Richard

Smith's memoir Will, which was written with Mark Manson, the author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, was published on November 9, 2021, and promoted with a tour.[101][102] The book is a journey of self-knowledge recalling childhood traumas, his relationship with his father, and his experiences with ayahuasca.[103][104] In the same year, he and his Westbrook Studios company signed a deal with National Geographic.[105]

Smith portrayed Richard Williams, father and coach of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, in the 2021 film King Richard. For his performance, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor,[106] Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.[107]

On February 7, 2022, National Geographic announced that Smith would star in a series titled Pole to Pole, which will stream on Disney+. The show will follow Smith and his film crew as they go on a 26,000-mile (42,000 km) trek from the South Pole to the North Pole, crossing all of Earth's biomes and spending time in communities along the way.[108]

2022 Oscars confrontation

During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, Smith walked onstage and slapped presenter and comedian Chris Rock who had made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head[109] with a reference to the main protagonist in the film G.I. Jane. Smith then returned to his seat and yelled at Rock, twice saying "Keep my wife's name out your fucking mouth!"[110][111][112] Pinkett Smith had been diagnosed with alopecia areata in 2018 and would later shave her head due to the condition.[113][114] The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) said that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony but he refused.[115] Later in the night, Smith was named Best Actor for King Richard and apologized to the Academy and the other nominees, but not to Rock, in his acceptance speech.[116][117][118] Following public backlash, Smith issued a formal apology via a public Instagram post.[119][120] ABC, AMPAS, and the Screen Actors Guild condemned Smith following the incident, prompting an investigation by the Academy's Board of Governors.[121] Rock declined to press charges against Smith, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.[122] On April 1, 2022, Smith tendered his resignation from the Academy, writing in part:

I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film. So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate.

The AMPAS President David Rubin accepted the resignation in an official statement but said they would continue their investigation.[123] Smith's resignation means he is no longer able to vote on Oscar nominations as a member of the Academy.[124] Commentators have speculated that Smith's resignation from the Academy and other related fallout from the slap would damage his "family brand".[125]

On April 8, 2022, the Academy announced its decision to ban Smith from future Oscars galas and associated events for a period of 10 years.[126] Several film projects that Smith had been involved in were put on hold as a result of the controversy.[127] In a statement to CNN, Smith stated: "I accept and respect the Academy's decision."[128][129] Smith offered an on camera apology on July 29, saying he was "deeply remorseful" for his actions.[130]

Personal life

Relationships and family

 
Smith at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway with his family (left to right: son Jaden Smith, wife Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith, daughter Willow Smith)

Smith married Sheree Zampino in 1992. Their son Willard Carroll "Trey" Smith III was born on November 11, 1992.[131] The two divorced in 1995. Trey appeared in his father's music video for the 1998 single "Just the Two of Us". He also acted in two episodes of the sitcom All of Us, and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the David Blaine: Real or Magic TV special.[132]

Smith married actress Jada Koren Pinkett on December 31, 1997.[133] They met when Pinkett auditioned for a role as Smith's character's girlfriend in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The pair produce films through their joint production company Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook Inc.[134][135] Together they have two children: Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (born 1998), his co-star in The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth; and Willow Camille Reign Smith (born 2000), who appeared as his daughter in I Am Legend.

Smith and his wife Jada have expressed unconventional practices in their marriage, jokingly calling their commitment "bad marriage for life".[136] Both he and Pinkett Smith have admitted to having extramarital relationships and believing in the freedom to pursue them. Smith has said he wanted a polyamorous relationship with actress Halle Berry and ballerina Misty Copeland but ultimately abandoned the idea after therapy.[137]

Business

Smith and his brother Harry own Treyball Development Inc.,[138] a Beverly Hills–based company named after Trey Smith, and his family resides in Los Angeles, California.[139] In 2018, Smith celebrated his 50th birthday by performing a bungee jump from a helicopter in the Grand Canyon.[140] Smith was insured by Lloyd's of London for $200 million for the jump, which raised money for the charity Global Citizen.[141]

Religious and political views

Smith was raised in a Baptist household and attended a Roman Catholic school and church. In a 2013 interview, he said he did not identify as religious.[142] In 2015, Smith said in an interview with The Christian Post that his Christian faith, which was instilled in him by his grandmother, helped him to accurately portray Bennet Omalu in Concussion, saying: "She was my spiritual teacher, she was that grandmother at the church, the one having the kids doing the Easter presentations and putting on the Christmas plays and her kids and grandkids had to be first. She was the most spiritually certain person that I had ever met in my entire life. Even to the point that when she was dying she was happy, like she was really excited about going to heaven."[143] In 2018, Smith performed the Hindu rite of abhisheka of Shiva at Haridwar, India. He also performed an arti of the holy river Ganga. He has said that he feels a deep connection to Hindu spirituality and Indian astrology.[144] Smith and his family also met and spent time with the Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru, stating that he enjoyed the heartfelt conversations between them.[145]

Smith donated $4,600 to the 2008 presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama.[146] On December 11, 2009, Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, to celebrate Obama's winning of the prize.[147] In 2012, Smith said he supported legalizing same-sex marriage.[148] In 2021, Smith announced that production of his upcoming film, Emancipation, was being pulled from the U.S. state of Georgia because of the recent passage of the Election Integrity Act of 2021, which critics viewed as a restrictive voting law, negatively impacting non-white voters. Smith and director Antoine Fuqua released a joint statement: "We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access".[149][150]

Public image and legacy

Smith has often been noted for achieving groundbreaking success throughout his musical career, and with his work as an actor in television and film. He has been cited as one of the "greatest actors" of his generation by several publications.[151][152] Forbes referred to him as the "biggest movie star of the post-9/11 era".[153] His transition from music to acting has influenced multiple rappers to also become actors, with him being cited as a pioneer for the rappers crossing over into acting by Complex.[154][155] In 2006, Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world;[156] in 2008, Esquire named him one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century.[157]

Musical artistry and impact

His work as a member of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince made them the first rap act to win a Grammy Award, as well as the first to win an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video, when the song "Parents Just Don't Understand" won in the inaugural rap categories at both award show ceremonies.[13][158][159] XXL has referred to him as "one of the most important rappers of all time".[160] As of 2013, his debut solo album Big Willie Style (1997) is among the best-selling rap albums of all time.[161]

Legacy on screen

Television

Smith launched his acting career by starring in the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; the show's success is considered to be a watershed moment for Hip-Hop and Black television,[162][163] with many publications referring to it as one of the "Greatest Sitcoms of All Time".[164][165] Professor Andrew Horton said, "Smith's genre of comedy, popularized on the sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air translated well into commercial box-office appeal. The Fresh Prince watered down and capitalized upon the then growing popularity of Hip Hop and almost anticipated its dominance on the American scene".[166]

Moreover, author Willie Tolliver noted, "What The Fresh Prince did accomplish was to put Smith and his character Will into an environment of affluence and possibility, thus changing the terms of his own Black identity. This social and cultural mobility is central to Smith's racial significance, and this will become evident again and again; he moves the image of the Black male into unaccustomed spaces just as Smith himself was in the process of conquering Hollywood."[167]

Film

After starring in his debut film Where the Day Takes You (1992), Smith quickly became one of Hollywood's most successful and bankable stars.[168] He currently holds the record for the most consecutive $100-million-plus hits at the US box office, with eight.[169] Smith starred as Daryl in the movie Bright (2017), which broke the record at the time for the most-viewed Netflix film ever for its first week,[170] and became the first major Hollywood film to skip theatrical release over streaming platform for simultaneous viewing by more than 100 million people worldwide.[171]

For his role as Agent J in Men in Black 3 (2012), Smith earned the highest-paid movie role of all time, when he reportedly earned $100 million for his role in the film; furthermore his roles in the movies King Richard and Bright are also among the highest-paid roles of all time.[172][173] His film Emancipation (2022) was sold to Apple Studios for $120 million in June 2020, which made it the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.[174] In 2022, Smith became the fifth black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor.[106]

Discography

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Smith has received multiple awards throughout his career, including an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams, the prolific father and coach to championship tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, in the biopic King Richard (2021)—a role that also won him a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Award in the same category; in addition to a producer nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Prior to this award, he had been nominated several times for the Academy Award (2; for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness), the Golden Globe Award (5; for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness and Concussion), and the Screen Actors Guild Award (once for The Pursuit of Happyness). In 2005, he received the honorary César Award; that same year, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical for Fela!; and in 2021, he was nominated as a producer of Cobra Kai for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Aside from acting and behind-the-scenes work on screen and stage, Smith has made ventures into hip hop with the release of several songs, four of which won him Grammy Awards—one for Best Rap Performance (for "Parents Just Don't Understand"), one for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (for "Summertime"), and two for Best Rap Solo Performance (for "Men in Black" and "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"); the former two of which he won as a member of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.

His Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award nominations make him one of few black actors to be nominated for all four major entertainment awards in the US.

See also

References

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  2. ^ Britt, Bruce (May 24, 2019). "Will Smith, a pioneering black nerd, helped raise and change rap music". Andscape. from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  3. ^ Smith, Will (November 13, 2021). "Will Smith: 'I watched my father punch my mother so hard she collapsed'". The Times. from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022. My full name is Willard Carroll Smith II — not Junior.
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  5. ^ . Fantasy Moguls. July 3, 2008. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
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  10. ^ "Artists Will Smith". Grammy.com. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
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  13. ^ a b "Will Smith: Chris Rock's Oscar Joke about Jada Pinkett Smith not scripted, insider says". independent.co.uk. March 29, 2022. from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  14. ^ "The Academy bans Will Smith for 10 years for Chris Rock slap". NPR. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
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Further reading

  • Iannucci, Lisa M. (2009). Will Smith: A Biography. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-37610-8.
  • Smith, Will; Manson, Mark (2021). Will. New York: Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-984-87792-5. Memoir.

External links

  • Official website  
  • Will Smith at IMDb
  • Will Smith discography at MusicBrainz

will, smith, self, titled, fresh, prince, character, fresh, prince, other, people, named, disambiguation, other, people, with, similar, names, willard, smith, william, smith, willard, carroll, smith, born, september, 1968, briefly, known, fresh, prince, americ. For his self titled Fresh Prince character see Will Smith The Fresh Prince of Bel Air For other people named Will Smith see Will Smith disambiguation For other people with similar names see Willard Smith and William Smith Willard Carroll Smith II 3 born September 25 1968 briefly known as the Fresh Prince is an American actor and rapper He has received multiple accolades including an Academy Award a BAFTA Award and four Grammy Awards 4 5 6 As of 2023 his films have grossed over 9 3 billion globally 7 making him one of Hollywood s most bankable stars 8 9 Will SmithSmith in 2019BornWillard Carroll Smith II 1968 09 25 September 25 1968 age 54 Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S Other namesThe Fresh PrinceOccupationsActorrapperfilm producerYears active1985 present 1 OrganizationsWestbrook Overbrook EntertainmentAgentsCreative Arts Agency James LassiterWorksFilmographydiscographySpousesSheree Zampino m 1992 div 1995 wbr Jada Pinkett m 1997 wbr Children3 including Jaden and WillowAwardsFull listMusical careerGenresPop rap 2 LabelsInterscope Columbia RCA JiveFormerly ofDJ Jazzy Jeff amp the Fresh PrinceWebsitewww wbr willsmith wbr comSignatureSmith began his acting career starring as a fictionalized version of himself on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air 1990 1996 He first gained recognition as part of a hip hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff with whom he released five studio albums and the US Billboard Hot 100 top 20 singles Parents Just Don t Understand A Nightmare on My Street Summertime Ring My Bell and Boom Shake the Room from 1984 to 1994 He released the solo albums Big Willie Style 1997 Willennium 1999 Born to Reign 2002 and Lost and Found 2005 which contained the US number one singles Gettin Jiggy wit It and Wild Wild West He has received four Grammy Awards for his rap performances 10 Smith achieved wider fame as a leading man in films such as the action film Bad Boys 1995 its sequels Bad Boys II 2003 and Bad Boys for Life 2020 and the sci fi comedies Men in Black 1997 Men in Black II 2002 and Men in Black 3 2012 After starring in the thrillers Independence Day 1996 and Enemy of the State 1998 he received Academy Award for Best Actor nominations for his portrayal as Muhammad Ali in Ali 2001 and as Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness 2006 He then starred in a range of commercially successful films including I Robot 2004 Shark Tale 2004 Hitch 2005 I Am Legend 2007 Hancock 2008 Seven Pounds 2008 Suicide Squad 2016 and Aladdin 2019 11 For his portrayal of Richard Williams in the biographical sports drama King Richard 2021 Smith won the Academy Award BAFTA Award Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor 12 At the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony shortly before winning Smith faced public backlash for slapping and shouting at Oscar presenter Chris Rock after Rock made an unscripted joke 13 referencing Smith s wife Jada Pinkett Smith Smith subsequently resigned from the Academy and was banned from attending all Academy functions including the Oscars for ten years 14 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 1985 1992 DJ Jazzy Jeff amp the Fresh Prince 2 2 1993 1997 Solo music and film breakthrough 2 3 1998 2007 Leading man status 2 4 2008 2019 Blockbusters and critical disappointments 2 5 2020 present Memoir and King Richard 2 5 1 2022 Oscars confrontation 3 Personal life 3 1 Relationships and family 3 2 Business 3 3 Religious and political views 4 Public image and legacy 4 1 Musical artistry and impact 4 2 Legacy on screen 4 2 1 Television 4 2 2 Film 5 Discography 6 Filmography 7 Awards and nominations 8 See also 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External linksEarly lifeWillard Carroll Smith II was born on September 25 1968 in Philadelphia to Caroline nee Bright a school board administrator and Willard Carroll Smith Sr 15 16 a US Air Force veteran 17 and refrigeration engineer His mother graduated from Carnegie Mellon University 18 He grew up in West Philadelphia s Wynnefield neighborhood 19 and was raised Baptist 20 He has an elder sister named Pamela and two younger siblings twins Harry and Ellen 19 He attended Our Lady of Lourdes a private Catholic elementary school in Philadelphia 21 and Overbrook High School 22 His parents separated when he was 13 23 and divorced around the year 2000 24 Smith began rapping at age 12 When his grandmother found a notebook of his lyrics which he described as containing all his little curse words she wrote him a note on a page in the book Dear Willard truly intelligent people do not have to use words like this to express themselves Please show the world that you re as smart as we think you are Smith said that this influenced his decision not to use profanity in his music 25 CareerFurther information Will Smith filmography Will Smith discography and List of awards and nominations received by Will Smith 1985 1992 DJ Jazzy Jeff amp the Fresh Prince Smith at the Emmy Awards 1993 Smith started as the MC of the hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff amp the Fresh Prince with his childhood friend Jeffrey DJ Jazzy Jeff Townes as turntablist and producer 26 Townes and Smith were introduced to each other by chance in 1985 as Townes was performing at a house party only a few doors down from Smith s residence and he was missing his hype man Smith decided to fill in They both felt strong chemistry and Townes was upset when his hype man finally made it to the party 27 Soon after the two decided to collaborate Smith enlisted a friend to join as the beatboxer of the group Clarence Holmes aka Ready Rock C making them a trio Philadelphia based Word Records released their first single in 1986 when A amp R man Paul Oakenfold 28 introduced them to Champion Records with their single Girls Ain t Nothing but Trouble a tale of funny misadventures that landed Smith and his former DJ and rap partner Mark Forrest Lord Supreme in trouble 29 The song sampled the theme song of I Dream of Jeannie Smith became known for light hearted story telling raps and capable though profanity free battle rhymes The single became a hit a month before Smith graduated from high school 30 Based on this success the duo were brought to the attention of Jive Records and Russell Simmons The duo s first album Rock the House which was first released on Word Up in 1986 debuted on Jive in March 1987 The group received the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989 for Parents Just Don t Understand 1988 though their most successful single was Summertime 1991 which earned the group their second Grammy and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Smith and Townes are still friends and claim that they never split up having made songs under Smith s solo performer credit 31 Smith spent money freely around 1988 and 1989 and underpaid his income taxes 26 The Internal Revenue Service eventually assessed a 2 8 million tax debt against Smith took many of his possessions and garnished his income 32 Smith was struggling financially in 1990 when the NBC television network signed him to a contract and built a sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air around him 26 The show was successful and began his acting career Smith set for himself the goal of becoming the biggest movie star in the world studying box office successes common characteristics 23 In 1989 Smith was arrested in relation to an alleged assault on his record promoter William Hendricks the charges were later dismissed 33 1993 1997 Solo music and film breakthrough Smith s first major roles were in the drama Six Degrees of Separation 1993 and the action film Bad Boys 1995 in which he starred opposite Martin Lawrence The latter film was commercially successful grossing 141 4 million worldwide 34 However critical reception was generally mixed 35 In 1996 Smith starred as part of an ensemble cast in Roland Emmerich s Independence Day The film was a massive blockbuster becoming the second highest grossing film in history at the time and establishing Smith as a prime box office draw 36 In the summer of 1997 he starred alongside Tommy Lee Jones in the hit Men in Black playing Agent J The film was released on July 2 by Columbia Pictures and grossed over 589 3 million worldwide against a 90 million budget becoming the year s third highest grossing film with an estimated 54 616 700 tickets sold in the US 37 It received positive reviews with critics praising its humor as well as Jones s and Smith s performances During the summer of 1997 Smith also began his solo music career with the release of Men in Black the theme song for the film which topped singles charts in several regions across the world including the UK 38 Men in Black and second single Just Cruisin was later included on Smith s debut solo album Big Willie Style which reached the top ten of the US Billboard 200 and was certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America RIAA 39 40 The third single from the album Gettin Jiggy wit It became Smith s first Billboard Hot 100 number one when it was released in 1998 41 1998 2007 Leading man status Smith in 1999 In 1998 Smith starred with Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State 26 The following year he turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix in favor of Wild Wild West 1999 Despite the disappointment of Wild Wild West Smith said that he has no regrets about his decision asserting that Keanu Reeves s performance as Neo was superior to what Smith himself would have achieved 42 although in interviews subsequent to the release of Wild Wild West he said that he made a mistake on Wild Wild West That could have been better 43 Smith s second album was again supported by the release of a film theme song as the lead single Wild Wild West featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the RIAA 40 41 The album in question Willennium reached number five on the Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA 39 40 Will 2K the second single from the album reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 41 Before the end of 1999 a video album was released featuring Smith s seven music videos released to date 44 which reached number 25 on the UK Music Video Chart 45 The same year he was also featured on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air co star Tatyana Ali s single Boy You Knock Me Out which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK R amp B Singles Chart 38 46 Smith portrayed heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali in the 2001 biopic Ali For his performance he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor Motion Picture Drama 47 48 In 2002 following a four year musical hiatus Smith returned with his third album Born to Reign which reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA 39 40 The album s lead single was the theme song from Smith s film Men in Black II called Black Suits Comin Nod Ya Head which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart 38 Later in the year Smith s first compilation album Greatest Hits was released featuring songs from his three solo albums as well as those produced with DJ Jazzy Jeff 49 2003 saw Smith return for Bad Boys II the sequel to the 1995 film Bad Boys the film follows detectives Burnett and Lowrey investigating the flow of ecstasy into Miami Despite receiving generally negative reviews the film was a box office success grossing 270 million worldwide 34 In the following year he starred in the science fiction film I Robot and the animated film Shark Tale both films were box office successes despite mixed reviews Smith s latest album Lost and Found was released in 2005 peaking at number six on the Billboard 200 39 Lead single Switch reached the top ten of both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart 38 41 In 2005 Smith was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for attending three premieres in a 24 hour time span 50 Smith and his son Jaden played father and son in the 2006 biographical drama The Pursuit of Happyness In the film Smith portrays Chris Gardner Smith first became interested in making a film about Gardner after seeing him on 20 20 and connected with him during production The film along with Smith s performance received praise 51 52 Smith hosting the 2011 Walmart Shareholders Meeting On December 10 2007 Smith was honored at Grauman s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard Smith left an imprint of his hands and feet outside the theater in front of many fans 53 Later that month Smith starred in the film I Am Legend released on December 14 2007 Alongside marginally positive reviews 54 its opening was the largest ever for a film released in the United States during December Smith himself has said that he considers the film to be aggressively unique 55 A reviewer said that the film s commercial success cemented Smith s standing as the number one box office draw in Hollywood 56 On December 1 2008 TV Guide reported that Smith was selected as one of America s top ten most fascinating people of 2008 for a Barbara Walters ABC special that aired on December 4 2008 57 2008 2019 Blockbusters and critical disappointments In 2008 Smith was reported to be developing a film entitled The Last Pharaoh in which he would be starring as Taharqa 58 Smith later starred in the superhero movie Hancock 59 which grossed 227 946 274 in the United States and Canada and had a worldwide total of 624 386 746 60 On August 19 2011 it was announced that Smith returned to the studio with producer La Mar Edwards to work on his fifth studio album 61 Smith again reprised his role as Agent J with Men in Black 3 which opened on May 25 2012 his first major starring role in four years 62 63 After the release of the film Smith was content with ending his work with the franchise saying I think three is enough for me Three of anything is enough for me We ll look at it and we ll consider it but it feels like that it might be time to let someone else do that 64 Men in Black 3 released ten years after Men in Black II 2002 grossed over 624 million worldwide 65 66 Unadjusted for inflation it is the highest grossing film in the series 67 68 In 2013 Smith starred in After Earth with his son Jaden The film was a disappointment at the domestic box office and was panned critically 69 Calling the film the most painful failure in my career Smith ended up taking a year and a half break as a result 70 Smith and Suicide Squad co star Margot Robbie in 2016 Smith starred opposite Margot Robbie in the romance drama Focus released on February 27 2015 71 He played Nicky Spurgeon a veteran con artist who takes a young attractive woman under his wing Smith was set to star in the sci fi thriller Brilliance an adaptation of Marcus Sakey s novel of the same name scripted by Jurassic Park writer David Koepp but he left the project to work on the Ridley Scott produced sports drama Concussion 72 73 In Concussion Smith played Dr Bennet Omalu of the Brain Injury Research Institute the first to discover chronic traumatic encephalopathy Smith reported he had doubts about the film early in the production saying some of my happiest memories are of watching my son catch and throw a football I didn t want to be the guy who did a movie saying football could be dangerous These views subsided when he met Omalu whose words about American ideals resonated with Smith 74 Smith s performance was praised for being sensitive and understated 75 In 2016 Smith played Deadshot in the supervillain team up action film Suicide Squad 76 Smith s participation in the film meant choosing it over a role in Independence Day Resurgence which he said would be like clinging and clawing backwards 77 While Suicide Squad was a massive financial success earning over 700 million at the box office the film received negative reviews from critics Christopher Orr film critic from The Atlantic wrote that the latest offering from the DC Comics superhero universe may be the most disastrous yet 78 Later that year Smith starred in director David Frankel s drama Collateral Beauty playing a New York advertising executive who succumbs to a deep depression after a personal tragedy 79 Weeks after signing Smith onto the film his father was diagnosed with cancer from which he died in 2016 80 As part of his role required him to read about religion and the afterlife he was brought closer to the elder Smith calling the experience a beautiful way to prepare for a movie and an even more majestic way to say goodbye to my father 81 The film marked the lowest box office opening of Will Smith s career 82 The film also received near universal negative reviews from film critics 83 Hollywood Reporter critic David Rooney criticized Smith s performance writing as the least interesting component in a madly overqualified cast 84 His film Bright was distributed via Netflix on December 22 2017 An urban fantasy it was the most expensive film for Netflix to date Smith collaborated with his director from Suicide Squad David Ayer 85 This would also be another critical disappointment for Smith with critics panning the movie Richard Roeper of The Chicago Sun Times criticized the film and Smith s performance writing By the time Will Smith barks the line Dude you can t go through elf town with 100 percent urgency and sincerity in the mindboggling mess that is Bright it s clear we are watching a truly terrible mountainous pile of genre blending garbage 86 Also in 2017 Smith released the song Get Lit a collaboration between him and his former group mate Jazzy Jeff 87 88 and launched his own YouTube channel which as of July 2019 update has over 6 million subscribers and 294 million total views 89 Smith performed the soccer 2018 World Cup s official song Live It Up Smith performed the official song Live It Up alongside American singer Nicky Jam and Kosovar singer Era Istrefi at the closing ceremony of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow Russia 90 That September Smith appeared alongside Bad Bunny on the Marc Anthony song Esta Rico 91 Smith portrayed The Genie originally voiced by Robin Williams in the live action adaptation of Disney s Aladdin directed by Guy Ritchie He also participated in the soundtracks by recording singles Arabian Nights 2019 Friend Like Me and Prince Ali 92 The film was released on May 24 2019 93 Aladdin grossed over 1 billion worldwide to become Smith s highest grossing film surpassing Independence Day 94 Smith was also featured on rapper Logic s song Don t Be Afraid To Be Different 2019 from his fifth studio album Confessions of a Dangerous Mind 95 Smith appeared as an assassin who faces off against a younger clone of himself in Ang Lee s Gemini Man released on October 11 2019 96 The film was a box office bomb and received negative reviews from critics Variety s Peter DeBruge called the film a high concept misfire and wrote In practice it s been a nearly impossible project to get made passing through the hands of countless actors and falling through multiple times because the technology wasn t there yet At least that s been the excuse although judging by the finished product it was the script that never lived up to the promise of its premise 97 Later that year Smith had his second starring role in an animated film in Spies in Disguise opposite Tom Holland Smith voiced Lance Sterling a spy who teams up with the nerdy inventor who creates his gadgets Holland 98 In 2020 he reteamed with Martin Lawrence for the third film in their franchise Bad Boys for Life In 2019 Smith invested 46 million in esports organization Gen G with Smith s Dreamers Fund which he co founded with Keisuke Honda 99 In June 2020 it was announced that Smith would star in Emancipation directed by Antoine Fuqua in which he portrays Peter a runaway slave who outsmarts hunters and the Louisiana swamp on a journey to the Union Army 100 2020 present Memoir and King Richard Smith s memoir Will which was written with Mark Manson the author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F ck was published on November 9 2021 and promoted with a tour 101 102 The book is a journey of self knowledge recalling childhood traumas his relationship with his father and his experiences with ayahuasca 103 104 In the same year he and his Westbrook Studios company signed a deal with National Geographic 105 Smith portrayed Richard Williams father and coach of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams in the 2021 film King Richard For his performance he won the Academy Award for Best Actor 106 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor Motion Picture Drama and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role 107 On February 7 2022 National Geographic announced that Smith would star in a series titled Pole to Pole which will stream on Disney The show will follow Smith and his film crew as they go on a 26 000 mile 42 000 km trek from the South Pole to the North Pole crossing all of Earth s biomes and spending time in communities along the way 108 2022 Oscars confrontation Main article Will Smith Chris Rock slapping incident Further information 94th Academy Awards During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27 2022 Smith walked onstage and slapped presenter and comedian Chris Rock who had made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith s shaved head 109 with a reference to the main protagonist in the film G I Jane Smith then returned to his seat and yelled at Rock twice saying Keep my wife s name out your fucking mouth 110 111 112 Pinkett Smith had been diagnosed with alopecia areata in 2018 and would later shave her head due to the condition 113 114 The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences AMPAS said that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony but he refused 115 Later in the night Smith was named Best Actor for King Richard and apologized to the Academy and the other nominees but not to Rock in his acceptance speech 116 117 118 Following public backlash Smith issued a formal apology via a public Instagram post 119 120 ABC AMPAS and the Screen Actors Guild condemned Smith following the incident prompting an investigation by the Academy s Board of Governors 121 Rock declined to press charges against Smith according to the Los Angeles Police Department 122 On April 1 2022 Smith tendered his resignation from the Academy writing in part I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work I am heartbroken I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film So I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate The AMPAS President David Rubin accepted the resignation in an official statement but said they would continue their investigation 123 Smith s resignation means he is no longer able to vote on Oscar nominations as a member of the Academy 124 Commentators have speculated that Smith s resignation from the Academy and other related fallout from the slap would damage his family brand 125 On April 8 2022 the Academy announced its decision to ban Smith from future Oscars galas and associated events for a period of 10 years 126 Several film projects that Smith had been involved in were put on hold as a result of the controversy 127 In a statement to CNN Smith stated I accept and respect the Academy s decision 128 129 Smith offered an on camera apology on July 29 saying he was deeply remorseful for his actions 130 Personal lifeRelationships and family Smith at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo Norway with his family left to right son Jaden Smith wife Jada Pinkett Smith Smith daughter Willow Smith Smith married Sheree Zampino in 1992 Their son Willard Carroll Trey Smith III was born on November 11 1992 131 The two divorced in 1995 Trey appeared in his father s music video for the 1998 single Just the Two of Us He also acted in two episodes of the sitcom All of Us and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the David Blaine Real or Magic TV special 132 Smith married actress Jada Koren Pinkett on December 31 1997 133 They met when Pinkett auditioned for a role as Smith s character s girlfriend in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air The pair produce films through their joint production company Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook Inc 134 135 Together they have two children Jaden Christopher Syre Smith born 1998 his co star in The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth and Willow Camille Reign Smith born 2000 who appeared as his daughter in I Am Legend Smith and his wife Jada have expressed unconventional practices in their marriage jokingly calling their commitment bad marriage for life 136 Both he and Pinkett Smith have admitted to having extramarital relationships and believing in the freedom to pursue them Smith has said he wanted a polyamorous relationship with actress Halle Berry and ballerina Misty Copeland but ultimately abandoned the idea after therapy 137 Business Smith and his brother Harry own Treyball Development Inc 138 a Beverly Hills based company named after Trey Smith and his family resides in Los Angeles California 139 In 2018 Smith celebrated his 50th birthday by performing a bungee jump from a helicopter in the Grand Canyon 140 Smith was insured by Lloyd s of London for 200 million for the jump which raised money for the charity Global Citizen 141 Religious and political views Smith was raised in a Baptist household and attended a Roman Catholic school and church In a 2013 interview he said he did not identify as religious 142 In 2015 Smith said in an interview with The Christian Post that his Christian faith which was instilled in him by his grandmother helped him to accurately portray Bennet Omalu in Concussion saying She was my spiritual teacher she was that grandmother at the church the one having the kids doing the Easter presentations and putting on the Christmas plays and her kids and grandkids had to be first She was the most spiritually certain person that I had ever met in my entire life Even to the point that when she was dying she was happy like she was really excited about going to heaven 143 In 2018 Smith performed the Hindu rite of abhisheka of Shiva at Haridwar India He also performed an arti of the holy river Ganga He has said that he feels a deep connection to Hindu spirituality and Indian astrology 144 Smith and his family also met and spent time with the Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru stating that he enjoyed the heartfelt conversations between them 145 Smith donated 4 600 to the 2008 presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama 146 On December 11 2009 Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo Norway to celebrate Obama s winning of the prize 147 In 2012 Smith said he supported legalizing same sex marriage 148 In 2021 Smith announced that production of his upcoming film Emancipation was being pulled from the U S state of Georgia because of the recent passage of the Election Integrity Act of 2021 which critics viewed as a restrictive voting law negatively impacting non white voters Smith and director Antoine Fuqua released a joint statement We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access 149 150 Public image and legacySmith has often been noted for achieving groundbreaking success throughout his musical career and with his work as an actor in television and film He has been cited as one of the greatest actors of his generation by several publications 151 152 Forbes referred to him as the biggest movie star of the post 9 11 era 153 His transition from music to acting has influenced multiple rappers to also become actors with him being cited as a pioneer for the rappers crossing over into acting by Complex 154 155 In 2006 Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world 156 in 2008 Esquire named him one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century 157 Musical artistry and impact His work as a member of DJ Jazzy Jeff amp the Fresh Prince made them the first rap act to win a Grammy Award as well as the first to win an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video when the song Parents Just Don t Understand won in the inaugural rap categories at both award show ceremonies 13 158 159 XXL has referred to him as one of the most important rappers of all time 160 As of 2013 his debut solo album Big Willie Style 1997 is among the best selling rap albums of all time 161 Legacy on screen Television Smith launched his acting career by starring in the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air the show s success is considered to be a watershed moment for Hip Hop and Black television 162 163 with many publications referring to it as one of the Greatest Sitcoms of All Time 164 165 Professor Andrew Horton said Smith s genre of comedy popularized on the sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel Air translated well into commercial box office appeal The Fresh Prince watered down and capitalized upon the then growing popularity of Hip Hop and almost anticipated its dominance on the American scene 166 Moreover author Willie Tolliver noted What The Fresh Prince did accomplish was to put Smith and his character Will into an environment of affluence and possibility thus changing the terms of his own Black identity This social and cultural mobility is central to Smith s racial significance and this will become evident again and again he moves the image of the Black male into unaccustomed spaces just as Smith himself was in the process of conquering Hollywood 167 Film After starring in his debut film Where the Day Takes You 1992 Smith quickly became one of Hollywood s most successful and bankable stars 168 He currently holds the record for the most consecutive 100 million plus hits at the US box office with eight 169 Smith starred as Daryl in the movie Bright 2017 which broke the record at the time for the most viewed Netflix film ever for its first week 170 and became the first major Hollywood film to skip theatrical release over streaming platform for simultaneous viewing by more than 100 million people worldwide 171 For his role as Agent J in Men in Black 3 2012 Smith earned the highest paid movie role of all time when he reportedly earned 100 million for his role in the film furthermore his roles in the movies King Richard and Bright are also among the highest paid roles of all time 172 173 His film Emancipation 2022 was sold to Apple Studios for 120 million in June 2020 which made it the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history 174 In 2022 Smith became the fifth black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor 106 DiscographyMain articles Will Smith discography and DJ Jazzy Jeff amp The Fresh Prince discography Big Willie Style 1997 Willennium 1999 Born to Reign 2002 Lost and Found 2005 FilmographyMain article Will Smith filmographyAwards and nominationsMain article List of awards and nominations received by Will Smith Smith has received multiple awards throughout his career including an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams the prolific father and coach to championship tennis players Venus and Serena Williams in the biopic King Richard 2021 a role that also won him a Golden Globe Award BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Award in the same category in addition to a producer nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture Prior to this award he had been nominated several times for the Academy Award 2 for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness the Golden Globe Award 5 for The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Ali The Pursuit of Happyness and Concussion and the Screen Actors Guild Award once for The Pursuit of Happyness In 2005 he received the honorary Cesar Award that same year he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical for Fela and in 2021 he was nominated as a producer of Cobra Kai for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series Aside from acting and behind the scenes work on screen and stage Smith has made ventures into hip hop with the release of several songs four of which won him Grammy Awards one for Best Rap Performance for Parents Just Don t Understand one for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for Summertime and two for Best Rap Solo Performance for Men in Black and Gettin Jiggy wit It the former two of which he won as a member of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff amp The Fresh Prince His Emmy Grammy Oscar and Tony Award nominations make him one of few black actors to be nominated for all four major entertainment awards in the US See also Philadelphia portalAfrican American culture List of black Academy Award winners and nominees Representation of African Americans in media TelevisionReferences Huey Steve DJ Jazzy Jeff amp the Fresh Prince AllMusic Archived from the original on June 16 2019 Retrieved September 26 2019 Britt Bruce May 24 2019 Will Smith a pioneering black nerd helped raise and change rap music Andscape Archived from the original on November 13 2021 Retrieved November 16 2021 Smith Will November 13 2021 Will Smith I watched my father punch my mother so hard she collapsed The Times Archived from the original on January 14 2022 Retrieved January 14 2022 My full name is Willard Carroll Smith II not Junior Top Actors and Actresses Star Currency Forbes Archived from the original on December 20 2013 Retrieved May 20 2014 WEEKEND ESTIMATES Hancock Delivers 107M 5 Day Opening Giving Will Smith a Record Eighth Consecutive 100M Grossing Movie WALL E with 33M 3 Day Wanted Down 60 Percent for 20 6M Kit Kittredge a Disaster Fantasy Moguls July 3 2008 Archived from the original on July 6 2008 Retrieved July 7 2008 Smith Sean April 9 2007 The 4 Billion Man Newsweek Archived from the original on January 24 2011 Retrieved July 7 2011 Will Smith Movie Box Office Results Archived from the original on December 5 2016 Retrieved December 30 2016 Ide Wendy November 13 2021 Will Smith now Hollywood royalty the star s rise has been far from painless The Guardian Archived from the original on March 26 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Miller Julie June 22 2016 Why Will Smith Regrets Wanting to Be the World s Biggest Movie Star Vanity Fair Archived from the original on February 25 2021 Retrieved March 28 2022 Artists Will Smith Grammy com Retrieved June 23 2022 Will Smith Turner Classic Movies TCM Retrieved August 18 2022 Grein Paul March 28 2022 30 Milestones in Hip Hop Awards History Will Smith Lauryn Hill amp More Billboard Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 30 2022 a b Will Smith Chris Rock s Oscar Joke about Jada Pinkett Smith not scripted insider says independent co uk March 29 2022 Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 29 2022 The Academy bans Will Smith for 10 years for Chris Rock slap NPR Retrieved May 28 2022 Willard C Smith Sr Terry Funeral Home Archived from the original on March 22 2018 Retrieved March 22 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original on December 1 2007 James Lipton producer January 13 2002 Will Smith Inside the Actors Studio Season 8 Episode 806 Bravo Archived from the original on January 2 2016 Retrieved August 24 2015 Rowley Glenn January 15 2020 Here s How Will Smith s Grandmother Influenced His 90s Rap Lyrics Billboard Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 a b c d Stated on Inside the Actors Studio 2002 DJ Jazz Jeff Interview Made From Scratch DJ Jazzy Jeff amp the Fresh Prince Fan Site Archived from the original on May 16 2008 Retrieved May 14 2008 Paul Oakenfold Archived April 29 2008 at the Wayback Machine D J Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince December 1 2007 Archived from the original on December 1 2007 Retrieved May 28 2019 Will Smith My Work Ethic Is Sickening CBS November 30 2007 Archived from the original on May 27 2008 Retrieved May 14 2008 DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince to reunite URLFan Archived from the original on July 7 2008 Retrieved May 14 2008 Smith Will December 2 2007 60 Minutes Interview Interviewed by Steve Kroft CBS Reed Megan August 27 2014 7 Celebrities You Never Knew Had Criminal Records Archived from the original on April 11 2019 Retrieved May 28 2019 a b Bad Boys 1995 Box Office Mojo IMDb Archived from the original on July 30 2010 Retrieved August 12 2010 Bad Boys 1995 Rotten Tomatoes Flixster Archived from the original on July 31 2010 Retrieved August 12 2010 Independence Day Box Office Mojo Archived from the original on September 23 2016 Retrieved July 24 2011 Men in Black Box Office Mojo May 30 2016 Archived from the original on August 4 2016 Retrieved May 30 2016 a b c d Will Smith Full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Archived from the original on March 31 2016 Retrieved April 10 2016 a b c d Billboard 200 Will Smith Chart History Billboard Archived from the original on August 11 2016 Retrieved April 10 2016 a b c d Gold amp Platinum Artist Search Will Smith Recording Industry Association of America Archived from the original on April 18 2016 Retrieved April 10 2016 a b c d The Hot 100 Will Smith Chart History Billboard Archived from the original on August 11 2016 Retrieved April 10 2016 Smith has no Matrix Regrets Contactmusic com Archived from the original on April 23 2009 Retrieved June 23 2010 O Toole Lesley Will Smith The Total Film Interview Total Film February 2009 Issue 151 pp 120 125 Future Publishing Ltd London England Phares Heather The Will Smith Music Video Collection Will Smith Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Archived from the original on November 18 2015 Retrieved April 10 2016 19 December 1999 25 December 1999 Official Music Video Chart Top 50 Archive Official Charts Company Archived from the original on June 3 2016 Retrieved April 10 2016 07 February 1999 12 February 1999 Official R amp B Singles Chart Top 40 Archive Official Charts Company Archived from the original on May 23 2016 Retrieved April 10 2016 Will Smith Hollywood Foreign Press Association Archived from the original on December 20 2016 Retrieved September 28 2016 The 74th Academy Awards Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Archived from the original on October 1 2016 Retrieved October 1 2016 Ruhlmann William Greatest Hits Will Smith Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Archived from the original on April 14 2016 Retrieved April 10 2016 Saney Daniel February 23 2005 Will Smith in Guinness Book of Records Digital Spy Archived from the original on May 1 2010 Retrieved May 3 2008 Dargis Manohla December 15 2006 Climbing Out of the Gutter With a 5 Year Old in Tow The New York Times Archived from the original on September 17 2017 Retrieved February 23 2017 Holz Adam R Pursuit of Happiness Plugged In Archived from the original on July 13 2015 Retrieved July 8 2016 Will Smith Immortalized at Grauman s Chinese Theater HHWorlds com Archived from the original on January 17 2010 Retrieved June 23 2010 I Am Legend Rotten Tomatoes Archived from the original on April 21 2020 Retrieved June 23 2010 Will Smith He is a legend video interview with stv tv December 2007 Archived October 10 2008 at the Wayback Machine Pandya Gitesh December 16 2007 Box Office Guru Wrapup Will Smith Rescues Industry With Explosive Opening For I Am Legend Rotten Tomatoes Archived from the original on January 18 2008 Retrieved December 17 2007 Barbara Walters Gets Up Close with 2008 s Most Fascinating People Archived October 7 2014 at the Wayback Machine TV Guide December 1 2008 Retrieved December 3 2008 Will Smith set to conquer Egypt Jam Showbiz March 23 2008 Archived from the original on July 9 2012 Retrieved March 23 2008 There May Never Be Another Movie Star As Big As Will Smith Vulture Archived from the original on September 27 2015 Retrieved September 28 2015 Hancock 2008 Box Office Mojo Amazon com Archived from the original on June 18 2009 Retrieved December 3 2008 Anderson Kyle August 19 2011 Will Smith making a new album A producer says yes Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on October 7 2011 Retrieved August 20 2011 Child Ben December 19 2011 Men in Black 3 returns Will Smith to the big screen but doesn t add up The Guardian Archived from the original on August 26 2016 Retrieved July 10 2016 Men in Black 3 Director Barry Sonnenfeld Talks Will Smith amp Big Heads screenrant com Archived from the original on February 17 2020 Retrieved April 28 2020 Will Smith is Not Sure About Men in Black 4 Says 3 Is Enough For Me screenrant com Archived from the original on February 17 2020 Retrieved April 28 2020 MIB 3 2012 Box Office Mojo Archived from the original on August 21 2012 Retrieved August 24 2012 Men in Black III 2012 Rotten Tomatoes Archived from the original on April 21 2017 Retrieved May 28 2019 Box Office Report Men in Black 3 Becomes Highest Grossing Title in Franchise The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on August 18 2012 Retrieved September 15 2012 Men in black 3 becomes most successful in franchise Den of Geek Archived from the original on July 4 2012 Retrieved September 15 2012 Beaumont Thomas Ben Will Smith A thing got broken in my mind following After Earth flop The Guardian Archived from the original on October 18 2017 Retrieved October 17 2017 Raab Scott February 12 2015 Will Smith on Kids His Career Ferguson and Failure Esquire Archived from the original on November 11 2017 Retrieved October 18 2017 UPDATE Warner Bros Sets 2015 Release Dates For Run All Night Man From U N C L E And Focus Deadline Hollywood February 22 2014 Archived from the original on January 26 2018 Retrieved December 20 2019 Toro Gabe June 4 2014 Will Smith in Talks To Star in Ridley Scott Produced NFL Concussion Drama CinemaBlend Archived from the original on February 17 2020 Retrieved April 28 2020 Frances Laura May 30 2014 Will Smith Drops Out of Brilliance Latino Review Archived from the original on June 2 2014 Riley Jenelle December 29 2015 Why Concussion Changed Will Smith s Life Archived from the original on February 22 2018 Retrieved December 11 2017 Concussion movie review The Denver Post December 25 2015 Archived from the original on January 27 2016 Retrieved January 20 2016 Suicide Squad Cast Revealed Jared Leto to Play the Joker Will Smith is Deadshot Variety December 2 2014 Archived from the original on February 19 2017 Retrieved December 11 2017 Robinson Will December 9 2016 Will Smith Why he chose Suicide Squad over Independence Day Resurgence Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on November 22 2019 Retrieved April 28 2020 Suicide Squad Is the Worst of the Worst The Atlantic August 5 2016 Archived from the original on November 29 2020 Retrieved March 7 2022 Will Smith s Collateral Beauty Lands Director David Frankel Variety November 10 2015 Archived from the original on January 19 2016 Retrieved January 18 2016 Will Smith Opens Up About How Collateral Beauty Helped Him Deal With Dad s Death The Hollywood Reporter December 8 2016 Archived from the original on February 11 2021 Retrieved April 28 2020 Ryan Patrick December 13 2016 How Collateral Beauty helped Will Smith say goodbye to his father USA Today Archived from the original on August 20 2017 Retrieved June 13 2017 Rogue One Flying To 152M Weekend Collateral Beauty A Career B O Low For Will Smith PM Update Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on December 19 2016 Retrieved March 8 2022 COLLATERAL BEAUTY Rotten Tomatoes Archived from the original on May 2 2018 Retrieved March 7 2022 Collateral Beauty Film Review The Hollywood Reporter December 13 2016 Archived from the original on March 8 2022 Retrieved March 7 2022 Buchanan Kyle July 20 2017 Will Smith on His Netflix Film You Almost Can t Make New Movie Stars Anymore Vulture com Archived from the original on December 20 2019 Retrieved December 20 2019 Put an orc in it Will Smith s cop fantasy Bright a Netflix disaster The Chicago Sun Times March 7 2022 Archived from the original on March 8 2022 Retrieved March 8 2022 Colburn Randall August 28 2017 Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff s new song Get Lit is tremendously bad Consequence of Sound Archived from the original on May 24 2018 Retrieved May 24 2018 Kaye Ben October 18 2017 Will Smith unveils the studio version for Get Lit his incredibly shitty new EDM song Consenquence of Sound Archived from the original on May 24 2018 Retrieved May 24 2018 Will Smith Archived from the original on October 20 2018 Retrieved July 14 2018 via YouTube Nicky Jam Will Smith will sing this year s official FIFA 2018 World Cup song NBC News May 23 2018 Archived from the original on July 18 2018 Retrieved July 16 2018 Browning Justine Watch Will Smith return to rap roots with Marc Anthony and Bad Bunny for Esta Rico Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on March 2 2019 Retrieved March 2 2019 Aladdin Soundtrack Details Film Music Reporter Filmmusicreproter com Archived from the original on November 18 2020 Retrieved June 8 2019 Aladdin Disney Casts Will Smith Mena Massoud Naomi Scott Variety Archived from the original on July 15 2017 Retrieved July 15 2017 Will Smith Movie Box Office Results Box Office Mojo Archived from the original on July 6 2019 Retrieved June 27 2019 Fu Eddie Will Smith Drops References To The Fresh Prince of Bel Air On Logic s Don t Be Afraid To Be Different Genius Archived from the original on April 21 2021 Retrieved March 23 2021 Lee Ashley July 6 2017 Ang Lee s Gemini Man Gets October 2019 Release The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on February 14 2020 Retrieved April 28 2020 DeBruge Peter September 26 2019 Film Review Will Smith in Gemini Man Variety Archived from the original on March 8 2022 Retrieved March 7 2022 Lang Brent October 9 2017 Will Smith Tom Holland to Star in Animated Movie Spies in Disguise EXCLUSIVE Variety Archived from the original on October 12 2017 Retrieved October 11 2017 Actor Will Smith joins 46m investment into esports organisation Gen G GamesIndustry biz April 18 2019 Archived from the original on June 29 2021 Retrieved June 29 2021 Kroll Justin June 15 2020 Will Smith and Antoine Fuqua Team on Runaway Slave Thriller Emancipation Archived from the original on June 17 2020 Retrieved June 19 2020 Blanchet Brenton June 19 2021 Will Smith Shares Title Cover of His First Book WILL Complex Archived from the original on June 20 2021 Retrieved June 20 2021 WILL SMITH Announces WILL AN EVENING OF STORIES WITH FRIENDS at the Savoy Theatre BestofTheatre September 24 2021 Archived from the original on September 24 2021 Retrieved August 19 2021 Mosley Tonya November 10 2021 Will Smith says he crafted a joyful image to cover the pain of the past NPR Archived from the original on January 31 2022 Retrieved January 31 2022 Gilman Greg November 20 2021 Ayahuasca Helped Will Smith Surrender and More Psychedelic Revelations From Actor s Memoir Psychedelic Spotlight Archived from the original on January 31 2022 Retrieved January 31 2022 Will Smith s Westbrook Studios Signs First Look Deal With Nat Geo TheWrap August 18 2021 Archived from the original on August 19 2021 Retrieved August 19 2021 a b Zilko Christian March 28 2022 Will Smith Wins Best Actor Oscar for King Richard Following Unexpected Live TV Confrontation IndieWire Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Golden Globes 2022 winners The full list as Will Smith Nicole Kidman Kate Winslet and more are honoured at low key awards Sky News January 10 2022 Archived from the original on January 14 2022 Retrieved January 14 2022 Porter Rick February 7 2022 Will Smith Will Travel From South Pole to North Pole for National Geographic Series Billboard Archived from the original on February 8 2022 Retrieved February 7 2022 Bellamy Claretta January 7 2022 How Jada Pinkett Smith is uplifting Black women with alopecia NBC News Archived from the original on March 28 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Watch the uncensored moment Will Smith smacks Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars drops F bomb Guardian News Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 via YouTube ABC7 Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the Oscars after joke at wife Jada Pinkett Smith s expense archived from the original on March 29 2022 retrieved March 28 2022 via YouTube Respers Lisa France Elam Stephanie March 27 2022 Will Smith appeared to strike Chris Rock on Oscars telecast CNN Archived from the original on March 28 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Richards Kimberley December 29 2021 Jada Pinkett Smith Shares Update On Her Journey With Alopecia HuffPost Archived from the original on April 9 2022 Retrieved April 9 2022 Stevens Matt March 28 2022 Will Smith hits Chris Rock after joke about his wife Jada The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on March 28 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Sperling Nicole Jacobs Julia March 30 2022 Written at Los Angeles Will Smith Refused to Leave Oscars After Slap Academy Says The New York Times New York City Archived from the original on March 31 2022 Retrieved March 31 2022 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Gajewski Ryan March 28 2022 Will Smith Tearfully Apologizes to Academy After Chris Rock Oscars Slap The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on March 28 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Arkin Daniel March 27 2022 Will Smith appeared to hit Chris Rock at the Oscars over joke about Jada Pinkett Smith NBC News Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Whelan Robbie March 27 2022 Will Smith Takes to Oscar Stage Appears to Strike Chris Rock After Joke About Jada Pinkett Smith The Wall Street Journal Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Shafer Ellise March 28 2022 Will Smith Apologizes to Chris Rock for Oscars Slap I Was Out of Line and I Was Wrong Variety Archived from the original on March 28 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Arkin Daniel Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock for slapping him at the Academy Awards NBC News Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Film academy governor Whoopi Goldberg Nobody is OK with what happened with Smith Los Angeles Times March 29 2022 Archived from the original on March 31 2022 Retrieved March 30 2022 Yeo Amanda March 28 2022 Chris Rock won t press charges against Will Smith for that Oscars slap Mashable Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 28 2022 Will Smith resigns from Academy after Oscars slap news yahoo com Archived from the original on April 2 2022 Retrieved April 2 2022 Tangcay Jazz April 2 2022 Here s What Will Smith s Resignation From the Academy Means Variety Archived from the original on April 2 2022 Retrieved April 2 2022 Ryzik Melena Sperling Nicole Stevens Matt April 2 2022 A Slap Could Sting the Smith Family Brand The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on April 3 2022 Retrieved April 2 2022 Will Smith banned from Oscars for 10 years over slap BBC News April 8 2022 Archived from the original on April 8 2022 Retrieved April 8 2022 Kreps Daniel April 3 2022 Will Smith s Upcoming Film Projects Reportedly Paused in Aftermath of Oscars Slap Rolling Stone Archived from the original on April 4 2022 Retrieved April 8 2022 Actor Will Smith banned from attending Oscars for 10 years CNN April 8 2022 Ricardo P Lloyd Why I am so over the Will Smith Oscar Incident Student Pocket Guide UK Student Magazine April 25 2022 Retrieved April 25 2022 Will Smith Breaks Silence Deeply Remorseful For Oscar Slap Deadline July 29 2022 Smith Will November 11 2013 Happy 21st bday Trey Archived from the original on April 28 2020 Retrieved February 28 2014 via Facebook non primary source needed Williams Jean A March 2007 Will Smith in Pursuit of Excellence Archived from the original on October 25 2007 Retrieved October 23 2007 Will Smith Jada Pinkett wed Fairbanks Daily News Miner Baltimore Maryland The Associated Press January 2 1998 via newspaperarchive com Jarvey Natalie March 4 2021 How Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith s Westbrook Media Thrived in a Pandemic The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on April 17 2021 Retrieved April 17 2021 Darrisaw Michelle May 4 2020 Why Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith s Marriage Is So Enduring Oprah Maga Archived from the original on June 26 2020 Retrieved July 1 2020 Hoffman Jordan July 10 2020 Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Chuckle About Their Complicated Marriage Vanity Fair Archived from the original on June 22 2021 Retrieved September 28 2021 Lowery Wesley September 27 2021 Introducing the real Will Smith GQ Archived from the original on September 28 2021 Retrieved September 28 2021 Treyball Development Treyball Development Archived from the original on March 2 2001 Retrieved June 23 2010 Will Smith Forbes Archived from the original on December 4 2017 Retrieved September 18 2017 Will Smith bungee jumps out of helicopter for 50th birthday BBC September 26 2018 Archived from the original on October 10 2018 Retrieved October 16 2018 Will Smith bungee jump insured up to 200mn via Lloyd s The Insurance Insider October 15 2018 Archived from the original on October 16 2018 Retrieved October 16 2018 Mr and Mr Smith Will and Jaden Psych Up for After Earth Vulture May 2013 Archived from the original on May 27 2013 Will Smith Touched by God on Set of Concussion The Christian Post Archived from the original on January 4 2019 Retrieved January 3 2019 Kumar Yogesh October 11 2018 In Haridwar Will Smith performed Rudra Abhishek to nullify ill effects of Saturn The Times of India Archived from the original on March 29 2019 Retrieved May 28 2019 I have been following Sadhguru for a while Will Smith The Indian Express October 20 2020 Archived from the original on November 2 2021 Retrieved March 29 2022 Will Smith s Federal Campaign Contribution Report newsmeat com Archived from the original on January 21 2008 Retrieved January 11 2008 The Nobel Peace Prize Concert nobelpeaceprize org Archived from the original on June 26 2011 Retrieved January 11 2011 Will Smith supports gay marriage Sky News Archived from the original on July 24 2013 Retrieved May 16 2012 Sperling Nicole April 12 2021 Will Smith s production pulls out of Georgia citing the state s voting law The New York Times Archived from the original on December 28 2021 Lisa Respers France April 12 2021 Will Smith and Antoine Fuqua pull Emancipation production from Georgia CNN Archived from the original on April 13 2021 Retrieved April 13 2021 Bonner Mehera March 27 2022 Get Acquainted With Will Smith s Full Oscars History Cosmopolitan Archived from the original on March 29 2022 Retrieved March 27 2022 Brown Preezy March 26 2022 Hollywood Shuffle Will Smith s 10 Most Iconic Movie Roles Vibe Archived from the original on March 27 2022 Retrieved March 27 2022 Mendelson Scott How Will Smith s Assault On Chris Rock Could Hurt His Movie Career Forbes Archived from the original on April 2 2022 Retrieved April 1 2022 A Definitive List of Rappers as Actors Complex Archived from the original on February 26 2022 Retrieved February 26 2022 Yaniz Robert Jr November 21 2016 5 Best Rappers Turned Actors Showbiz Cheat Sheet Archived from the original on February 26 2022 Retrieved February 26 2022 Schickel Richard May 8 2006 The 2006 TIME 100 TIME Time ISSN 0040 781X Archived from the original on October 20 2021 Retrieved February 25 2022 The 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century Esquire September 16 2008 Archived from the original on December 23 2014 Retrieved February 25 2022 Fields Kiah February 22 2016 Best Hip Hop Moments of BHM Will Smith Wins First Rap Grammy The Source Archived from the original on February 25 2022 Retrieved February 25 2022 Steiner B J Today In Hip Hop DJ Jazzy Jeff amp The Fresh Prince Win The First VMA For Rap XXL Mag Archived from the original on February 25 2022 Retrieved February 25 2022 High Kemet Why Will Smith s G O A T Status Isn t Up for Debate XXL Mag Archived from the original on February 25 2022 Retrieved February 25 2022 The 50 Best Selling Rap Albums of All Time Complex Archived from the original on March 24 2022 Retrieved March 27 2022 The story behind Will Smith s iconic hug scene in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air The Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Archived from the original on February 25 2022 Retrieved February 26 2022 Uschan Michael V March 13 2009 Will Smith Greenhaven Publishing LLC ISBN 978 1 4205 0201 5 Archived from the original on March 28 2022 Retrieved March 11 2022 Becoats Kellen February 10 2022 Sitcom or Not The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Knew How to Pull Off Drama The Ringer Archived from the original on February 26 2022 Retrieved February 26 2022 Fresh Prince GOAT GQ Australia Archived from the original on March 31 2022 Retrieved February 26 2022 Horton Andrew Rapf Joanna E December 14 2015 A Companion to Film Comedy John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 978 1 119 16955 0 Archived from the original on March 28 2022 Retrieved March 11 2022 Tolliver Willie January 6 2022 Deconstructing Will Smith Race Masculinity and Global Stardom McFarland ISBN 978 1 4766 7569 5 Archived from the original on March 28 2022 Retrieved March 11 2022 Obenson Tambay March 13 2022 Will Smith s 14 Best Movies Ranked IndieWire Archived from the original on March 24 2022 Retrieved March 27 2022 Every Box Office Record Held By Will Smith ScreenRant June 12 2020 Archived from the original on March 29 2021 Retrieved March 27 2022 Fleming Mike Jr January 3 2018 Netflix Firms Bright Sequel With Will Smith Deadline Archived from the original on June 17 2018 Retrieved March 27 2022 Netflix makes history with Will Smith starrer Bright The Philippine Star Archived from the original on March 28 2022 Retrieved March 27 2022 Jack Sparrow to The Joker 19 top paid movie roles in Hollywood South China Morning Post March 29 2021 Archived from the original on March 25 2022 Retrieved March 27 2022 Clark Travis August 19 2021 25 highest paid movie roles of all time for actors list Business Insider Archived from the original on March 24 2022 Retrieved March 27 2022 Will Smith Once Earned 100 Million for ONE Movie and Now His Net Worth Is Astronomical Yahoo News Archived from the original on October 28 2021 Retrieved March 27 2022 Further readingIannucci Lisa M 2009 Will Smith A Biography Santa Barbara Calif Greenwood Press ISBN 978 0 313 37610 8 Smith Will Manson Mark 2021 Will New York Penguin Press ISBN 978 1 984 87792 5 Memoir External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Will Smith Wikiquote has quotations related to Will Smith Official website Will Smith at IMDb Will Smith discography at MusicBrainz Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Will Smith amp oldid 1155296125, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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