Will Smith Transformation From The Fresh Prince To Hollywood A-Lister
Who would have thought that the child star who gave us such classics as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Big Willie Style would grow up to become one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood? Will Smith has successfully transitioned from television to film, as he has been nominated for two Academy Awards, including one for Best Actor in 2006 for his role as Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happiness. The following guide will show you how Smith was able to turn his fame from a sitcom star to an Academy Award nominee.
How Will Smith Got His Start
Will Smith is an American actor, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has enjoyed success in television, film, and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood. Born on September 25th, 1968 in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a middle-class family. Will Smith’s parents were Carolyn Elizabeth and Willard Carroll Smith, Jr. His mother was a schoolteacher and his father was an air traffic controller.
He attended Overbrook High School but had trouble staying focused because he was more interested in performing than studying; though he did have some successes with singing as part of a group called DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (thus leading to his stage name). After high school, he moved out west to study at UCLA but dropped out after only one semester and took up DJing full-time at 18 years old under his stage name The Fresh Prince.
The Evolution of His Acting Career
Will Smith‘s first big break came as a rapper in 1987 when he was a member of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. However, he soon left the music industry to focus on his acting career. Since then, he has starred in many movies and television shows such as The Pursuit of Happiness (2006), Men In Black 3 (2012), and Wild Wild West (1999). His most notable roles are his performances in Ali (2001) and I Am Legend (2007). Other notable films starring Will Smith include Independence Day (1996), Hitch (2005), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), I Robot (2004), Enemy Of The State (1998), and Hancock(2008). One thing that makes Will Smith so successful is that he has been able to play different types of characters ranging from an alien hunter in I Am Legend to a streetwise criminal in Independence Day. He can be serious or comedic as seen with both Enemy Of The State and Hitch respectively. One thing that really stands out about his work is how relatable it can be, especially with playing characters with strong morals who don’t compromise themselves like in Independence Day and Men In Black 3.
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His Foray Into Music
Will Smith was born in West Philadelphia, to Ora and Willard Carroll Smith. His father had been a jazz musician, while his mother was a singer and piano player; they divorced when he was 10 years old. He attended the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, where he focused on both acting and music.
He would go on to have one of the most accomplished careers in the world as an actor, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He played in popular TV series such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990) and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). In 2011 he starred in the film Men In Black III, which became one of his highest-grossing films up until that point.
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His Life Outside of Acting
Will Smith has been in the industry for over two decades, but it was his portrayal of DJ Jazzy Jeff in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that made him a household name. In addition to acting, Will has found success as a producer, rapper, and songwriter. He is also the owner of a record label and an Academy Award winning actor. His most recent film credits include The Pursuit of Happiness, Hitch, I Am Legend and I Am Legend. Aside from his success in Hollywood, he is also involved with philanthropic work through his foundation, which combats poverty and homelessness among other things.
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Final Thoughts
Will Smith is an American actor, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He was born on September 25, 1968, in West Philadelphia. Starting at the age of eight he starred in the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He has gone on to star in many successful movies and create his own production company. Will Smith has had a successful career and continues to make strides with his latest movie Bright.
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