theOscarSite Facts:
Birth Name:
  • Willard Christopher Smith Jr.
Birth Date:
  • 25 September 1968
Birthplace:
  • Philadelphia, PA
Quote:
  • "People laugh, but if I set my mind to it, within the next 15 years I would be president."
Education:
  • Overbrook High School, Winfield, Pennsylvania
Factoids:
  • Nicknamed "The Prince" by a high-school teacher because of his regal attitude; "fresh" was adopted later from the street word meaning "cool".
  • Turned down a scholarship to MIT to pursue his singing career.
  • Grammy winner Best Rap Performance 1988, 1991, 1998
  • Turned down the role of Neo in THE MATRIX (1999)
  • Speaks fluent Spanish.
  • Salary WHERE THE DAY TAKES YOU (1992): $50,000
    Salary MEN IN BLACK II (2002): $20,000,000 + 10% of the Gross
Significant Other(s):
  • Wife: Jada Pinkett Smith, actress; met 1990; married New Year's Eve 1997
  • Wife: Sheree Zampino Smith; married May 9, 1992; divorced 1995
  • Tanya Moore, 1988-1991
Family:
  • Father: William C. Smith Sr., refrigeration engineer
  • Mother: Caroline Smith, school board employee
  • Sister: Pam Smith; b. 1964
  • Sister: Ellen Smith; twin of Harry; b. 1971
  • Brother: Harry Smith; b. 1971
  • Son: Willard C. Smith III (aka Trey Smith); b. 1992; mother, Sheree Zampino
  • Son: Jaden Christopher Syre Smith; b. 1998; mother, Jada Pinkett
  • Daughter: Willow Camille Reign Smith; b. 2000; mother, Jada Pinkett Smith
Feature Film
Credits:
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7, Seven Pounds, Hancock (2008)
    I Am Legend (2007)
    The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Hitch (2005)
    Shark Tale (voice) (2004)
    I, Robot (2004)
    Bad Boys II (2003)
    Men in Black II (2002)
    Ali (2001)
    The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
  • Wild Wild West (1999)
    Enemy of the State (1998)
    Men in Black (1997)
    Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child - Pinocchio (1997)
    Independence Day (1996)
    Bad Boys (1995)
    Made in America (1993)
    Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
    Where the Day Takes You (1992)
Academy Awards®:
  •  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2001: ALI
  •  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2006: THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

  • 2 nominations