Born on September 25, 1968, Will Smith started his career as a rapper, gaining popularity as a member of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. He then transitioned into television with the hit sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which catapulted him to mainstream success.
'' 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.
The Internal Revenue Service eventually assessed a $2.8 million tax debt against Smith, took many of his possessions, and garnished his income. 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.
How did Will Smith get the part in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
So as fate would have it, in December 1989, Quincy Jones was throwing a birthday party for himself at his home. Will Smith and Benny Medina conversed even more while at the shindig and, as the actor explained during The Fresh Prince Reunion in 2020, that's where Medina formally pitched the show to him.
During the 2001-02 season, Smith played professional basketball for the Colima Tuberos in the LNBP League in Colima, Mexico. During that time, Smith also served as a tutor, and a conversation English teacher at the University of Colima. Smith lettered four times in basketball at Hamilton High School (Memphis).
How I Became The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | STORYTIME
How old was Will Smith in Fresh Prince season 1?
Born in 1968, Smith was 22 years old when the series first aired in 1990, potentially 21 if his September birthday hadn't yet arrived (and likely 21 when filming began). By definition, then, he was already an adult and much older than the high school-aged teenager he was purporting to be.
Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian agree to move Will out to Bel-Air, after Will's mother started to fear his safety in the inner-city streets of Philadelphia. Phil and Vivian Banks serve the purpose of teaching their nephew how to become a successful individual.
Why did Will Smith keep his name in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
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.
While playing street basketball, Will accidentally hits a group of gang members with the ball, causing a confrontation that frightens his mother, who sends him to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in the opulent neighborhood of Bel Air, Los Angeles.
In the late 1980s, Smith achieved modest fame as a rapper under the name The Fresh Prince. In 1990, his popularity increased dramatically when he starred in the popular television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
How old was Will Smith when he finished Fresh Prince?
Filming for the final episode of the series wrapped up on March 21, 1996 and aired on May 20, 1996. With that being said, Will Smith was between the ages of 21 and 27 when he starred in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” TV show.
How much did Will Smith get paid from Fresh Prince?
Smith made $2.8 million for the first three seasons of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, but he hardly saw a dime of it because he owed money in back taxes from his rap career.
However, his fame somehow ended up making the actor hit a financial bump. Around the same time, he admitted in his autobiography, Will that he got a notice from the IRS which informed him about owing $2.8 million back taxes.
Will Smith SAT score was a perfect 1600. A rare score few people have earned. Despite this incredible score, Will chose not to attend college, did not even enroll, and decided to pursue his career in music.
Lou abandoned his family (Will and Viola "Vy" Smith) when Will was five years old and explains his motives for leaving by saying he was scared to be a father and started to feel trapped. Sometime during the 14-year period that he was absent from Will's life, he became a trucker.
Fan reaction and letters to Will Smith and NBC persuaded them to renew the show. It ran for two more seasons and ended when Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey the Butler) said he intended to quit his role and return to the UK, prompting the rest of the cast to quit their roles and end the series.
The resentment of having been lied to builds up in Will. He's left feeling as though he doesn't know who to trust and so he leaves Bel-Air with a few possessions and a wad of cash Carlton covertly slips into his pocket.
Carlton hugs Will and slips a clip of money in his coat pocket before he leaves. Carlton then seeks out Lisa to help him find Will, because his cousin never turned his back on him, and Carlton needs that now more than ever.
Contrary to what many people assumed, Hubert was not fired from the show. In fact, she turned down a new contract offer following the third season in the hopes of a renegotiation. "They offered me 10 weeks of work and they said you can't work anywhere else. My agent said you cannot accept this.
In 2020, during the Fresh Prince reunion show on HBO Max, he would explain that leading into Season 4, the studio offered her a new deal that had a salary cut. and she wasn't allowed to work on any other project. She rejected it. and the role was immediately recast.
Not only were the women different skin complexions, but their personalities and how they portrayed the character was opposite. Fans noticed and many never got over Hubert's exit, choosing her as the favorite. Even Smith once said Hubert was his favorite version of Aunt Viv.
In an interview with Deadline last year, Smith praised the series before it premiered. “The pilot for Bel-Air is all the nostalgia you're going to want, but there are parts where you're going to stand up and cheer and hold your mouth. It's such a perfect balance and a reimagining of this world.
As members of the Banks family and Geoffrey prepare for their moves, Will tries to pretend that he also has big plans for moving forward. After admitting the truth, Will makes a decision to stay in California and finish school.
Later on, Will meets Lisa Wilkes, who have a strong relationship, so strong that makes Will give up his "chicktionary" to Carlton, stating that he's a one-woman man. Their relationship goes a step further when Will proposes to Lisa in a hospital. In the end, Will and Lisa have their wedding.
