Will Smith is a talented American actor, rapper, and film producer. He has been seen as a groundbreaking entertainer in Hollywood since the 1980s. His career and personal life might have been a bumpy ride, but Will always bounces back like a Genie. In this Hollywood spotlight post, we look at the career of this multi-talented star.
His work
Will had a rough start with his parents separating when he was 13, but the star still found success. He was admitted into the MIT pre-engineering program but chose not to attend because he wanted to rap. Instead, he started as an MC of the hip-hop duo Don-Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince with his childhood friend Jeffrey Townes.
Jeffrey Townes was already a small entertainer and had a show a few blocks from Will’s house. When Jeffrey’s hype man did not show up for the party, he and Will collaborated to form the duo. The latter added a friend to join the group as a beatboxer, making them a trio. They made their first hit a month before Will graduated from high school. Smith became known as a light-hearted rapper who stayed away from profanities.
The trio’s most successful song was ‘Summertime’ which earned the group their second Grammy. Will and Townes are still friends and say they never split up. Will was struggling financially around 1988 and 1989 due to underpaid taxes. NBC television then signed him to a contract and built a sitcom around him, ‘The Fresh-Prince of Bel-Air,’ a success. Will began his acting career with the show and set the goal of becoming the biggest movie star in the movie world.
Film Breakthrough
Smith’s primary roles were in the drama Six Degrees of Separation and Bad Boys’ successful action film. He made a massive blockbuster after Bad Boys. This achievement established Will Smith as a prime box office draw.
In 1997, he starred alongside Tommy Lee in the movie ‘Men in Black,’ another success. However, everyone loved his performance in the film. Even critics praised the humor and outstanding performances of Will Smith and his co-star. Will took advantage of the movie’s success and produced a song. This song became the theme song and topped the singles chart in several regions worldwide, including the UK.
Will Smith’s decision to take Wild Wild West over Matrix has been mentioned on and on over the years. However, while he praised Keanu Reeves for his superior acting, he admitted he could have done better with Wild Wild West. Will Smith has performed other roles, including Big Bad Boys 2, I am Legend, The biopic, Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness, ‘I, Robot,’ King Richard more recently, and many more. His hard work, humor, and charm have paid off over the years.
Awards
Will has won four Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe. In addition, he has been nominated for four Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. In 2021, his films grossed over $9.3 billion at the global box office, and he holds several box office records.
Charity
In 2007, Smith donated $1.3 million to charities, with $450,000 going to two Christian ministries and $122,500 going to three Scientology organizations; the rest went to “a mosque in Los Angeles, other Christian schools and churches, and Israel’s Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Center,” according to Smith. Smith and his wife also founded the New Village Leadership Academy, a private elementary school in Calabasas, California. According to federal tax records, Smith gave $1.2 million to the institution in 2010.
Will Smith has a social media page, and we are kept waiting for his next exciting project. His children are making waves already, but we hope it is not an end to his gen.