Will Smith

Will Smith is an American actor, rapper, and producer known for his crossover from Grammy-winning music to television and major films, including his Academy Award-winning performance in King Richard. He is also a co-founder of the media company Westbrook.

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About Will Smith

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

United States · Actor, Rapper, Producer · 1 affiliation

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Known for: Film and television performance; Hip-hop music; Screen and media production
Country: United States

Actor
Rapper
Producer

At a glance

Smith established his television career in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and later starred in major films including Bad Boys, Men in Black, and King Richard.
He won the 2022 Academy Award for Actor in a Leading Role for King Richard, while the Recording Academy lists him with four Grammy wins.
His production work includes King Richard and Bel-Air, and Westbrook identifies him as a co-founder.
Philadelphia honored Smith in 2025 by naming a section of 59th Street in West Philadelphia as Will Smith Way.

Philadelphia background

Smith was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School. His connection to the city was formally recognized in 2025 when Philadelphia named a section of 59th Street in West Philadelphia as Will Smith Way.

Music and television crossover

Smith first gained prominence in hip-hop through recordings with D.J. Jazzy Jeff and as a solo artist. His Grammy-winning work includes "Parents Just Don't Understand," "Summertime," "Men In Black," and "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It." Beginning in 1990, he starred in NBC's The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which established his crossover from music to television.

Film career and production

Smith's screen career includes major roles in Bad Boys, Men in Black, and King Richard. He won the Academy Award for Actor in a Leading Role for King Richard and was also credited as a producer on the film, which received a Best Picture nomination. His television-production work includes serving as an executive producer of Bel-Air, the dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that premiered in 2022.

Academy resignation and attendance restriction

Following the onstage incident involving Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, Smith announced his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on April 1, 2022, and the Academy said it accepted the resignation. On April 8, the Academy announced that Smith would be barred from attending its events and programs, including the Oscars, for 10 years.

Affiliations

Westbrook Co-founder present

Timeline

1968-09-25 Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1989 Won a Grammy with D.J. Jazzy Jeff for "Parents Just Don't Understand."
1990 Began starring in NBC's The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
2019 Westbrook was launched, with Smith identified by the company as one of its founders.
2022-03-27 Won the Academy Award for Actor in a Leading Role for King Richard.
2022-04-01 Announced his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the Academy said it accepted the resignation.
2022-04-08 The Academy announced a 10-year restriction on Smith's attendance at Academy events and programs, including the Oscars.
2025-03-26 Philadelphia honored Smith by naming a West Philadelphia street Will Smith Way.

Additional verified details

Current context

The Recording Academy lists Smith with four Grammy wins and eight nominations. This reflects the tally displayed on the Recording Academy artist profile when accessed.
Westbrook's current company profile identifies Will Smith as a co-founder. This is based on Westbrook's company-managed LinkedIn profile and corroborating company materials; a separate current leadership page specifying an operating title was not located.
The Academy's announced restriction bars Smith from attending Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, for 10 years beginning April 8, 2022. The stated 10-year term has not elapsed as of the assessment date. No authoritative source reviewed showed that the restriction had been modified or rescinded.

Biographical facts

Smith was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Smith attended Overbrook High School in Philadelphia.
Smith's Grammy-winning recordings include work with D.J. Jazzy Jeff and solo recordings, including "Parents Just Don't Understand," "Summertime," "Men In Black," and "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It."
Smith starred as the protagonist of NBC's The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a role that established his television crossover from music.
Smith served as an executive producer of Bel-Air, the dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that premiered in 2022.
Smith has starred in major screen works including Bad Boys, Men in Black, and King Richard.
Smith was credited as a producer on King Richard, which was nominated for Best Picture at the 94th Academy Awards.
On April 1, 2022, Smith announced his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after the onstage incident involving Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards; the Academy said it accepted the resignation.
Philadelphia renamed a section of 59th Street in West Philadelphia as Will Smith Way in his honor.