Will Smith, whose full name is Willard Carroll Smith Jr., is an American actor, rapper, and producer. He gained fame as a rapper in the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Townes).
But before Before achieving fame and success, Will Smith started his career as a hip-hop artist, performing alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff. His transition from the music industry to acting was marked by his breakthrough role in the sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
From there, he continued to build his acting career, earning acclaim for his performances in films like "Ali" and "The Pursuit of Happyness," which garnered him Oscar nominations.
In addition to his acting accomplishments, Will Smith showcased his skills and diverse talents, including his ability to solve a Rubik's Cube in under a minute, a shared trait with Justin Bieber.
His personal life includes a relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith, with whom he has two children who have also made their mark in the entertainment industry, Willow and Jaden Smith.
Smith's career reached new heights with a series of successful summer blockbusters, such as "Independence Day," "Men in Black," "I Am Legend," and "Suicide Squad." These films contributed significantly to his estimated net worth of around $260 million.
Will Smith's journey is a testament to his talent, versatility, and perseverance in both the music and film industries.
Despite growing up in West Philadelphia, born to William Carroll Smith Jr. and Caroline Smith, and coming from a middle-class academic family, Will Smith aspired to become a rapper. He declined an opportunity to attend MIT and instead pursued music with his close friend and collaborator, DJ Jazzy Jeff.
By the age of 18, they achieved significant success, with Will becoming a millionaire. However, he faced financial troubles as he spent money as quickly as he earned it.
These challenges were compounded when he encountered legal issues, including assault charges stemming from a confrontation involving a security guard and a record producer, which led to his incarceration.
Will Smith was born on September 25, 1968, and grew up in a multicultural neighborhood in West Philadelphia. He was raised in a Baptist household with his older sister Pamela and younger twin siblings Harry and Ellen.
Their middle-class home provided a comfortable upbringing, and they attended Our Lady of Lourdes, a private Catholic elementary school.
Will's quick wit and humor often helped him navigate strict teachers and earned him the nickname "Pritzy," which brought amusement to the situation.
When Will Smith was 12 years old, he developed a strong interest in the emerging rap movement that was sweeping the country. He admired trailblazers like Grandmaster Flash and began rapping himself.
In 1981, he attended Overbrook High School. Around the same time, his parents' relationship became shaky, and they separated when he was 13.
At a party when he was 16, Will hit it off with the DJ, Jeff Townes. The two formed a rap duo, with Will as the MC and Jeff as the producer, and they became known as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.
They gained attention for their impressive skills, and their family-friendly and humorous songs offered a safe and marketable alternative to the emerging gangster rap of the West Coast. Hits like "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" paved the way for their debut album "Rock the House," which achieved commercial success.
Despite his mother securing him a spot in the MIT pre-engineering program, Will focused on his rap career and had no intention of pursuing further studies.
Their popularity continued to grow, and their album "He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper" even won the first-ever rap Grammy in 1988. Concurrently, Will started exploring acting opportunities and made his first appearance as a t-shirt salesman on an ABC after-school special.
However, he admitted that his early acting attempts were not great. Just as Will was facing financial difficulties, an opportunity came in the form of a leading role on the NBC sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Although he initially took the role for financial reasons, the show became a huge success and showcased his talent as a confident and hilarious actor.
Despite the show's popularity, Will faced challenges such as financial struggles and legal issues, including charges of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
Eventually, his financial situation improved, and the charges against him were dropped. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ran for six seasons and further solidified Will's status as a talented actor.
Due to his financial difficulties, Will Smith was obligated to pay the IRS 70% of his salary over the first three seasons of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." However, Hollywood wanted to gauge his potential as a bankable actor, leading to his first major role in the drama film "Six Degrees of Separation."
Although the movie wasn't a huge success at the box office, Smith's performance received critical acclaim. Fortunately, his next role would prove his ability to transition to the big screen with ease.
In the action-comedy film "Bad Boys," alongside Martin Lawrence, Smith achieved tremendous commercial success. This role solidified his position as a formidable leading man and set him on the trajectory to becoming one of the biggest movie stars in the industry today.