Will Smith

Season 8, Episode 806

Original Airdate: January 13, 2002

Many have attempted to cross from the music world to the film and television world (and vice versa), but few have achieved greater success than Will Smith.

Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Will Smith was one of four children to Willard (refrigeration company owner) and Caroline (school board member) Smith. Smith gained his nickname, Prince, at an early age by being able to charm his way out of trouble. While still a teenager this Fresh Prince hooked up with Jeff Townes (DJ Jazzy Jeff) at a party and the duo went on to produce two platinum albums and win a Grammy.

Smith's next project was television. With Benny Medina's help, he produced and starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a sitcom that ran for six seasons and is still running in syndication. His acting earned him two Golden Globe nominations.

While still working on television, Will Smith began to branch out into film acting. After Where the Day Takes You (1992) and Made in America (1993), Smith gained critical acclaim for his role in Six Degrees of Separation (1993), in which he starred opposite Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland.

He then began making one blockbuster after another with Independence Day (1996), Men In Black (1997), Enemy of the State (1998), Wild Wild West (1999), and The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000). Will Smith's most recent role is that of boxing great Muhammad Ali in Ali (2001), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama.