Will Smith

Will Smith has come a long way from his beginnings as Philadelphia rapper The Fresh Prince. Making radio-friendly songs like “Parents Just Don’t Understand” with childhood friend DJ Jazzy Jeff, Smith became the first rapper to win a Grammy in 1989 for the duo’s second album, “He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper.” He soon crossed over into acting, starring in the long-running sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” before making his first foray into film with Six Degrees of Separation. Blockbuster action flicks like Bad Boys, Independence Day, and Men In Black followed, earning Smith the nickname “Mr. July” for his ability to pull big audiences at the box office (most of his films have worldwide gross earnings of over $100 million, some over $500 million). Serious dramatic roles like Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness have earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. Besides running his production company Overbrook Entertainment, Smith has three children, two with his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith.