# Will Smith

> Will Smith is a Philadelphia-born actor, rapper, and producer who built a $350 million empire spanning music, film, television, and digital media. With over $10 billion in worldwide box office receipts, four Grammy Awards, and an Academy Award for Best Actor (King Richard, 2021), he is one of the most commercially successful entertainers in history. Known as 'The Fresh Prince,' Smith transitioned from teenage rap star to global movie icon before a 2022 Oscars incident with Chris Rock triggered a career reckoning - one he has been navigating with characteristic resilience through his 2025 album comeback, a National Geographic travel series, and an upcoming I Am Legend sequel.

- **Role:** Actor and Founder at Westbrook Inc. / Overbrook Entertainment
- **Organizations:** Westbrook Inc., Overbrook Entertainment, Westbrook Studios, Slang Recordings
- **From:** Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Elementary School, Our Lady of Lourdes, High School Diploma, Overbrook High School
- **Known for:** Academy Award for Best Actor - King Richard (2021); 5th Black actor in history to win, 3 Academy Award nominations total (Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness, King Richard), 4 Grammy Awards including first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Performance (1989)

## Career timeline

- **1985** — Met DJ Jazzy Jeff at a Philadelphia house party; formed DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
- **1986** — Released debut single 'Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble'; became a local sensation
- **1987** — Debut album 'Rock the House' released; became a millionaire before age 18
- **1988** — 'He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper' goes multi-platinum; became one of hip-hop's biggest acts
- **1989** — Won first Grammy Award (Best Rap Performance) for 'Parents Just Don't Understand' - the first Grammy ever given in that category
- **1989** — Faced $2.8 million IRS tax debt; possessions seized; a financial reckoning that shaped his future discipline
- **1990** — 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' premieres on NBC; Smith plays a fictionalized version of himself
- **1991** — Won second Grammy for 'Summertime' with DJ Jazzy Jeff
- **1993** — Film debut in Six Degrees of Separation - his first dramatic role
- **1995** — 'Bad Boys' releases; first major action film ($141M worldwide)
- **1996** — 'Independence Day' becomes the highest-grossing film of the year ($817M worldwide)
- **1996** — 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' ends after 6 seasons and 148 episodes
- **1997** — 'Men in Black' launches major franchise ($589M worldwide); solo album 'Big Willie Style' goes 9x Platinum
- **1998** — 'Gettin' Jiggy wit It' hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 - his first solo chart-topper
- **1999** — 'Wild Wild West' hits #1; 'Willennium' album goes 2x Platinum
- **2001** — Earned first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 'Ali'; trained extensively with boxing coaches
- **2006** — Second Oscar nomination for Best Actor in 'The Pursuit of Happyness' ($307M worldwide)
- **2007** — 'I Am Legend' sets record December opening ($77.2M); grosses $585M worldwide
- **2017** — Launched YouTube channel at age 48; grew to 6M+ subscribers; pioneered celebrity digital content
- **2019** — 'Aladdin' grosses $1.051 billion - his highest-earning single film ever
- **2021** — Won Academy Award for Best Actor for 'King Richard'; became 5th Black actor to win the award
- **2021** — Published autobiography 'Will' (co-written with Mark Manson); became NYT bestseller
- **2022** — Slapped Chris Rock onstage at 94th Academy Awards; resigned from Academy; banned from ceremonies for 10 years
- **2024** — 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' grosses $405M - first major post-Oscars box office success
- **2024** — Released first solo single in 20 years ('You Can Make It'); signed with Slang Recordings
- **2025** — Released album 'Based on a True Story'; announced first-ever European headlining concert tour (26 dates)
- **2025** — First public awards appearance since the Oscars at 67th Grammy Awards (February 2025)
- **2025** — A block on 59th Street in Philadelphia officially named after him (March 26, 2025)
- **2026** — 'Pole to Pole' travel series premieres on Disney+/Hulu (January 14, 2026)
- **2026** — 'I Am Legend' sequel confirmed with Michael B. Jordan; director Steven Caple Jr. attached

## Achievements

- Academy Award for Best Actor - King Richard (2021); 5th Black actor in history to win
- 3 Academy Award nominations total (Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness, King Richard)
- 4 Grammy Awards including first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Performance (1989)
- Over $10 billion in worldwide box office receipts across career
- Aladdin (2019) - highest-grossing film: $1.051 billion worldwide
- Six consecutive #1 film opening weekends
- 9x Platinum solo debut album 'Big Willie Style' (1997)
- Third rap act in history to receive platinum certification (with DJ Jazzy Jeff)
- Independence Day (1996) - highest-grossing film of the year ($817M)
- I Am Legend (2007) - record December opening weekend ($77.2M)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - King Richard
- BAFTA Award for Best Actor - King Richard
- Honorary Cesar Award (France, 2005)
- 59th Street in Philadelphia named in his honor (March 2025)
- Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People (2006)
- New York Times bestselling author - 'Will' (2021)

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — I Am Legend sequel confirmed with Michael B. Jordan; director Steven Caple Jr. attached
- **2026-01** — Pole to Pole (National Geographic travel series) premiered on Disney+ and Hulu on January 14, 2026
- **2025-03** — Released album 'Based on a True Story' (March 28, 2025); first-ever European headlining tour (26 dates) announced
- **2025-03** — A block on 59th Street in Philadelphia officially named after him on March 26, 2025
- **2025-02** — Made first major awards show appearance since 2022 Oscars at 67th Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025
- **2024-06** — Bad Boys: Ride or Die released June 7, 2024; grossed $405M worldwide - first major box office success post-Oscars
- **2024-06** — Released first solo single in nearly 20 years: 'You Can Make It' (June 27, 2024)

## Links

- Website: https://www.willsmith.com
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/willsmith
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WillSmith
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willsmith
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillSmith
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@willsmith

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/will-smith
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-29