Smith starred opposite Channing in one of his first major dramatic roles, playing a charming con artist in the 1993 film adaptation of “Six Degrees of Separation.” The film gave Channing an Academy Award nomination and apparently Smith, who went full method for the role, a major crush on Channing.
I found myself desperately yearning to see and speak to Stockard.” Back in February 2015, the Hitch actor previously opened up about his crush on the Grease star, now 77. “With Six Degrees of Separation, I got a taste early of the dangers of going too far for a character,” Smith told Esquire.
In his new memoir, Will Smith recalls falling in love with his 'Six Degrees of Separation' co-star Stockard Channing during the filming of the 1993 movie.
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.
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.
Stockard Channing Prefers Doing Theatre to Film or TV | Lorraine
Why did Stockard Channing change her name?
Susan Stockard of Park Avenue hadn't planned on being an actress until studying American history at Radcliffe, where she first smelled the greasepaint. At Harvard, she became hooked. Joining Theatre Company of Boston, she combined her maiden name with her married name to become Stockard Channing.
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.”
Stockard Channing sings lead on two of the tracks; the two tracks remain her only significant contribution to recorded popular music to date. The title track is featured twice on the soundtrack and performed by Frankie Valli, who had no other connection with the film.
"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.
Kelly Ward brought the youngest member of the T-Birds, Putzie, to life in a role specifically created for the film. Grease wasn't his first time working with costar John Travolta, as the two worked together on 1976's made-for-television movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.
Hollywood star Henry Winkler revealed on Thursday the surprising reason he turned down John Travolta's star-making role as Danny Zuko in Grease. The comedian, 77, told Kyle and Jackie O that he declined the role of the cheeky greaser because it felt too similar to his iconic Happy Days character The Fonz.
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.
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.
While shooting the movie, Smith realized that he was falling in love with his costar Channing, even though they kept their relationship strictly professional.
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 and Will Smith have a relationship?
Smith — who had just welcomed son Trey with his then-wife Sheree Zampino — remained in character even while off the set of the 1993 film. As his romantic feelings for Channing grew, their relationship remained professional, the star writes.
He may be one of the youngest people in the cast, but he was still a guy in his early '20s playing a 17-year-old. Stockard Channing, who portrayed headstrong Pink Lady Betty Rizzo, was 33 when she was hired. The late Olivia Newton-John was 29 when she played Sandy Olsson, the film's female lead.
