Will Smith may have fallen in love with Stockard Channing on the set of 1993's Six Degrees of Separation, but Channing only felt “motherly” to the rising star, who was 23 and a newly married, first-time father at the time.
During the 53-year-old King Richard star's first marriage to ex-wife Sheree Zampino — with whom he shares 28-year-old son Trey — the Pennsylvania native claimed he “fell in love” with Stockard Channing while they worked together on Six Degrees of Separation in 1993.
"My character was in love with Stockard Channing's character. And I actually fell in love with Stockard Channing." He added that the experience caused him to quit Method acting. "That was my last experience with Method acting, where you're reprogramming your mind," he shared.
Channing was born in Manhattan, and she grew up on the Upper East Side. She was the daughter of Mary Alice (née English), who came from a large Brooklyn Irish Roman Catholic family, and Lester Napier Stockard (died 1960), who was in the shipping business.
Here's Why Will Smith Fell In love With An Older White Woman Stockard Channing
When did Will Smith fall in love with Stockard Channing?
Will Smith opened up about how he "fell in love" with Stockard Channing in his new memoir. In an excerpt of "Will" published by People, Smith said that he fell for her during his first marriage. Smith was method acting for "Six Degrees of Separation," which he said made him fall for his co-star.
Stockard Channing really did break her ankle in real life (it was a hiking accident). Rather than shelving the character or severely limiting where she could be shown, it was decided to give the First Lady the same injury in the show.
“My character was in love with Stockard Channing's character. And I actually fell in love with Stockard Channing. So the movie was over and I went home, and I was dying to see Stockard.
One of Broadway and Hollywood's perennial and cleverer talents who tends to shine a smart, cynical light on her surroundings, Stockard Channing was born Susan Williams Antonia Stockard on February 13, 1944 in New York City to a Protestant father and a Catholic mother of Irish descent.
The late Olivia Newton-John, who costarred as Sandy, was 29 at the time Grease was filmed; Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo, was the principal cast's oldest member at 33 during filming, according to a 2016 Vanity Fair article about the production.
Speaking with PEOPLE for her October cover story, Jada further detailed the state of her marriage to Will, noting, “We're still figuring it out.” “We've been doing some really heavy-duty work together,” she told PEOPLE. “We just got deep love for each other and we are going to figure out what that looks like for us.”
Circa 1994. Will met Jada on the set of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but he was married to Sheree Zampino at the time. Once he and Sheree split, Will straight-up called Jada and asked if she was seeing anybody.
On 18 May 2012, Sediuk kissed Will Smith at the premiere of Men in Black 3 in Moscow, prompting Smith to slap him and ask "What the hell is your problem, man?" Sediuk was attempting to interview Smith at the time he kissed him.
October 11, 2023: Jada confirms her separation from Will in a clip from her forthcoming NBC News prime-time special with Hoda Kotb promoting her memoir, Worthy. She and Will live “completely separate lives” and function as divorced people do.
Who did Will Smith fall in love with while filming a movie?
While making the acclaimed 1993 drama Six Degrees of Separation, Will Smith found himself experiencing a one-sided love with his co-star Stockard Channing. At the time, he was married to his first wife Sheree Zampino.
Besides her role in Grease, Channing is best known for her seven-year turn as Dr. Abbey Bartlet on The West Wing, from 1999 to 2006. As First Lady to President Jed Barlet (Martin Sheen), Channing was Emmy nominated for best supporting actress six times.
Did Stockard Channing comment on Olivia Newton-John's death?
Stockard Channing paid tribute to her late "Grease" costar Olivia Newton-John in a new statement. "I will miss her enormously," Channing, who played Rizzo in the musical film, said to People. Newton-John died on Monday at age 73. Channing called her "the essence of summer."
