Will Smith

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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes meet their fans
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes arrive
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Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith at the premiere of ‘Lakeview Terrace’
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Best Actor in a Drama nominee Will Smith 'The Pursuit of Happyness'
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The tall, dark, handsome and of course, well dressed Will Smith
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes arrive at M:i:III LA premiere
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
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Tom Cruise arrives in the Bugatti Veyron

Latest News

November 16, 2009

Will, Jada & Jay-Z Backing Broadway’s ‘Fela!’

It’s official: After weeks of speculation, Jay-Z and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have joined the producing team of the Broadway musical “Fela!”

Jay-Z told The Associated Press last month that he might be getting involved in the show, an Afrobeat musical about the life of Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

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overview

It would have been easy to write off the smooth-talking star of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” television series as just another crossover musician/actor flash in the pan — except for one thing — Will had real talent. Already a hip-hop star when he was approached to star in the series, he jumped at the chance and, in the process, rescued himself from bankruptcy that his high-flying ways in the music world had brought on. While shooting the series he branched out in a notable dramatic role big screen role in “Six Degrees of Separation” and went on to solidify his action hero status as the star of the wildly successful “Independence Day” and the “Men in Black” franchise.

Along the way, Will kept himself involved in the music world and made himself one of the rare stars to excel in three mediums: music, television and film. He earned Oscar nominations for his roles in 2001’s “Ali” and 2006’s “The Pursuit of Happyness.” One interesting role that he turned down — the role of Neo in the cult hit-turned box office behemoth “The Matrix,”choosing instead to star in one of his very rare critical duds, “Wild Wild West.”

Smith had one of the largest openings of his career in 2007 with the sci-fi thriller, “I Am Legend.”

Will’s future projects to look out for include the summer 2008 superhero flick, “Hancock,” alongside Oscar-winner Charlize Theron.

Name: Will Smith
Birthdate: September 25, 1968
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

fun facts

Will met his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, when she tried out for a role on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Will got the nickname “Prince” from his grade school teachers because of his smooth, Prince Charming-like demeanor.
Before Keanu, WIll turned down the role of Neo in “The Matrix.”
Will turned down a scholarship to M.I.T. to pursue his singing career.
Will was on the verge of bankruptcy when he was cast in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
For the first few months of “Fresh Prince,” Will would memorize and mouth the lines of his co-stars, which can be clearly seen in some early episodes.