Known for his blockbuster hits, mesmeric charisma, and immeasurable talent, Will Smith is one of the most popular and iconic figures in Hollywood. Born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Smith relished a productive career stretching across three decades. Be it music, television, or film, Smith has proven his versatility and evolving appeal in all fields. Today, on his birthday, let’s take a look back at the top five highlights of his career that have demonstrated his impressive journey to legendary status today.
Before we all came to know Will Smith as the popular Hollywood actor, he made his mark on television with ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ series which premiered in 1990 and ran for six successful seasons. This story revolves around Will Smith’s character ‘Will Banks’, a teenager from West Philadelphia sent to reside with his affluent relatives in the opulent Bel-Air neighbourhood. The sitcom, to this date, remains one of the most loved shows of the 1990s. Smith’s comedic timing and a likeness in his charm, made Will Banks an unforgettable character. The show’s theme song, performed by Smith himself, is still instantly recognizable, and the series has continued to garner renewed popularity through reruns and streaming platforms, even leading to a dramatic reboot (‘Bel-Air’) in 2022.
Did you know, Will Smith was an award-winning rapper before he made his mark in acting? Under the epithet ‘The Fresh Prince’, he collaborated with DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeffrey Townes) to release a series of albums that boomed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their hit: ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’ (1988), helped the duo clinch their first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance. In 1991, the duo was accoladed with the second Grammy award for ‘Summertime’, a song that became a summer anthem for a lot of fans.
Rap music was mostly unrelatable to most of the audience back then because it lacked mainstream characteristics and was not so family-friendly. Smith’s music filled this void and presented the audience with a rarity that they didn’t expect in rap music.
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Will Smith had already made a successful transition from his music and television career to Hollywood by the mid-1990s. However, it was ‘Independence Day’ directed by Roland Emmerich, that transformed him into a box-office powerhouse. The film was the highest-grossing in 1996, garnering more than $817 million globally. Smith played the role of Captain Steve Hiller, a haughty fighter pilot who was spearheading the charge against an alien invasion.
The film’s superhit success cemented Smith’s position as one of the leading men in science fiction and action movies in Hollywood. His unforgettable one-liners and influential on-screen presence took the film beyond just a typical summer blockbuster to a memorable career highlight.
One of Will Smith’s iconic roles has been ‘Agent J’ in Barry Sonnenfeld’s ‘Men in Black’ (1997), where he played a rookie member of a secret organization that supervises extraterrestrial activity on Earth. With his signature humour, comedic timing, and boundless charisma, he fine-tuned his role, and even garnered further appreciation for perfecting his chemistry with Tommy Lee Jones, forming a remarkable on-scren duo.
Grossing $589 million globally, ‘Men in Black’ emerged as a massive commercial blockbuster hit spawning three sequels. Smith also contributed to the film’s soundtrack with the chart-topping single *Men in Black*, which became a pop culture phenomenon.
It was in 2022 when Will Smith touched one of the highest points in his career by winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in ‘King Richard’. The film follows the story of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, who played a pivotal role in shaping their career as legendary tennis players. Smith’s refined performance was globally praised for its depth and emotional genuineness. This film portrayed how Smith, often known for his humor, can master serious and dramatic roles, underscoring his versatility.
Before Smith won the Oscar, his films like ‘Ali’ (2001) and ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ (2006) were highly praised and even went ahead for Oscar nominations for Best Actor, but failed to win.
The Pursuit of Happyness
Happy Birthday, Will Smith! Here's to many more memorable moments in the years to come
