In 1968, Will Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he has become a ubiquitous figure in entertainment. Smith began his career in the entertainment industry by singing rap songs with Jeff Townes at age 16, and he soon earned two Grammy awards with him.
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 producer, as well as Ready Rock C (Clarence Holmes) as the human beat box.
He began his career as a musician selling millions of records worldwide before crossing over into television with the beloved “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” In 1998 he and partner James Lassiter founded production and management company Overbrook Entertainment, which has produced numerous top film and television projects.
executive Benny Medina as well as the actor who plays him of the same name (although in the show 'Will' is short for William, while in real life it is short for Willard). Smith's charming and mischievous personality earned him the nickname "Prince," which eventually became "Fresh Prince".
From 1988 to 1990 alone, Celebrity Net Worth reports that Smith earned an estimated $10 million thanks to his music career. His transition into film and television earned him millions more throughout the years, with films like 1995's Bad Boys earning him an estimated $2 million.
Will Smith | Biography | Born in 1970, Fresh Prince in 1990 to Action Star & A-List Celeb in 2020
Why did Will Smith use his real name?
Fresh Prince's original show decided to use Will Smith's real name because Smith already had name recognition from his music career, plus Smith and Carlton actor Alfonso Ribeiro realized they would be called by their characters' names for eternity if the show became a hit.
Will Smith was already a millionaire before he even started his famous role in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, having become extremely wealthy while he was still at high school. It's strange to think, but Will Smith has actually been in the public eye for well over three decades now.
Will Smith experienced many ups and downs throughout his childhood while being raised by his parents, Caroline Bright and Willard Carroll Smith Sr. Growing up in West Philadelphia, the actor was one of four kids.
Like many scripted shows, Smith was quite a few years older than the teenage character he was playing. When the first episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered in September 1990, Smith was 22 years old. Banks was 23 years old when the first episode of Bel-Air aired in February 2022.
The actor and rapper took to Facebook where he posted the visual for Joyner Lucas' latest single. “Broski,” while singing the artist's praises. “My Favorite Rapper!,” Smith wrote Smith, alongside the clip.
Sheree Zampino was married to Will Smith for three years, and the two share one son, Trey Smith. Both went on to marry other people — Smith tied the knot with actress Jada Pinkett Smith in December 1997, while Zampino married former NFL player Terrell Fletcher in 2007 (although they divorced in 2014).
Smith began rapping at age 12, emulating heroes like Grandmaster Flash but tingeing his rhymes with a comedic element that would later become his trademark. At 16 Smith met future collaborator Jeff Townes at a party. The pair became friends, and the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince was born.
Smith. The television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which began in 1990, was loosely based on Smith's real-life persona. It ran on NBC for six successful seasons, ending at the star's request, and during its run Smith garnered two Golden Globe Award nominations and served as an executive…
The King Richard star has three kids: sons Trey, 31, and Jaden, 25, plus daughter Willow, 23. All three of them have followed in his footsteps, pursuing careers in the entertainment industry. Smith welcomed his first son, Trey, in 1992 with then-wife Sheree Zampino.
A decade and change ago, Will Smith earned the nickname “Mr. July,” for his blockbuster near-Independence Day releases like Men in Black, Wild Wild West, and that other one. The week of the 4th was Smith's stomping ground — the films he chose fit right into the American holiday.
The actor, 52, has three children: Trey, 30, whom he shares with his ex-wife Sheree Zampino, and Willow, 22, and Jaden, 25, whom he shares with his estranged wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
During the two-and-a-half-hour interview in the podcast, she addressed her relationship with Tupac, claiming that although they were kindred spirits, they had no physical nor sexual chemistry arguing that when she dared him to kiss her, they both had an 'Eew' moment.
