Will Smith

Will Smith began his music career in 1985 as the MC of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, alongside childhood friend Jeffrey “DJ Jazzy Jeff” Townes. The group also included beatboxer Ready Rock C. In 1986, Philadelphia-based Word Records released their first single, “Girls Ain’t Nothing but Trouble.” Their debut album, Rock the House, was initially released in 1986 and debuted on Jive Records in March 1987. The duo gained recognition with “Parents Just Don’t Understand” (1988), which earned them the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989. Their single “Summertime” (1991) reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned the group a second Grammy Award.

In 1990, Smith began his acting career starring in the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which was developed around him. The series established him as a television actor and ran until 1996.

Smith made his film debut in the drama Six Degrees of Separation in 1993. In 1995, he starred opposite Martin Lawrence in the action comedy Bad Boys, which grossed $141.4 million worldwide. In 1996, he appeared in Roland Emmerich’s science fiction film Independence Day, which became one of the highest-grossing films in history at the time and established Smith as a leading box-office star.

In 1997, Smith starred opposite Tommy Lee Jones as Agent J in the science fiction comedy Men in Black. The film grossed more than $589 million worldwide. That summer, he launched his solo music career with the release of “Men in Black,” the film’s theme song, which topped singles charts in several countries. The song and his subsequent single “Just Cruisin’” appeared on his debut solo album, Big Willie Style, released in 1997. The album reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 and was certified nine-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Its third single, “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998.

In 1998, Smith starred opposite Gene Hackman in the thriller Enemy of the State. In 1999, he starred in the western science fiction comedy Wild Wild West, which featured the title song of the same name. The single, featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the RIAA. His second solo album, Willennium, was released in 1999 and reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200. Its second single, “Will 2K,” reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Smith also appeared on Tatyana Ali’s single “Boy You Knock Me Out,” which reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK R&B Singles Chart.

In 2001, Smith portrayed boxer Muhammad Ali in the biographical film Ali. His performance earned him nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. In 2002, he released his third solo album, Born to Reign, which reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA. The album’s lead single, “Black Suits Comin’ (Nod Ya Head),” served as the theme song for Men in Black II (2002) and reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. That year, Smith also released his first greatest-hits compilation, Greatest Hits, featuring songs from his solo albums and recordings with DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.

In 2003, Smith reprised his role as Detective Mike Lowrey in Bad Boys II, the sequel to Bad Boys. The film grossed $270 million worldwide. In 2004, he starred in the science fiction film I, Robot and voiced Oscar in the animated film Shark Tale. Both films were commercial successes. In 2005, Smith released his fourth solo album, Lost and Found, which reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, “Switch,” reached the top 10 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.

In 2006, Smith starred opposite his son Jaden Smith in the biographical drama The Pursuit of Happyness, portraying businessman Chris Gardner. The film received positive reviews, as did Smith’s performance. In 2007, he starred in the science fiction film I Am Legend, released on December 14. That year, he was also honored at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, where he left imprints of his hands and feet.

In 2008, Smith starred in the superhero film Hancock, which grossed more than $624 million worldwide. He was also reported to be developing a film titled The Last Pharaoh, in which he would portray Taharqa, although the project did not proceed as described in the provided information. In 2011, Smith returned to the recording studio to work on his fifth studio album with producer La Mar Edwards.

In 2012, Smith reprised his role as Agent J in Men in Black 3. The film grossed more than $624 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing installment in the franchise without adjusting for inflation.

In 2013, Smith starred alongside Jaden Smith in the science fiction film After Earth. In 2015, he starred opposite Margot Robbie in the romantic crime drama Focus, portraying a veteran con artist. That year, he also starred in the sports drama Concussion as Dr. Bennet Omalu, the physician who identified chronic traumatic encephalopathy in former football players.

In 2016, Smith portrayed Deadshot in the superhero film Suicide Squad. He also starred in David Frankel’s drama Collateral Beauty, playing a New York advertising executive dealing with a personal tragedy. In 2017, he starred in the Netflix urban fantasy film Bright, directed by David Ayer. That year, Smith released “Get Lit,” a collaboration with DJ Jazzy Jeff, and launched his YouTube channel.

In 2018, Smith performed “Live It Up,” the official song of the FIFA World Cup, alongside Nicky Jam and Era Istrefi at the tournament’s closing ceremony in Moscow. That September, he appeared on Marc Anthony’s song “Está Rico” alongside Bad Bunny.

In 2019, Smith portrayed the Genie in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Aladdin, directed by Guy Ritchie. He recorded three songs for the film’s soundtrack: “Arabian Nights (2019),” “Friend Like Me” and “Prince Ali.” The film grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, becoming Smith’s highest-grossing film at the time. He also appeared on Logic’s song “Don’t Be Afraid to Be Different,” from the rapper’s album Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. In October 2019, Smith starred in Ang Lee’s science fiction film Gemini Man, playing an assassin who confronts a younger clone of himself. Later that year, he voiced spy Lance Sterling in the animated film Spies in Disguise, opposite Tom Holland.

In 2020, Smith reunited with Martin Lawrence for Bad Boys for Life, the third installment in the Bad Boys franchise. That year, he was announced as the star of Emancipation, directed by Antoine Fuqua, in which he portrayed Peter, an enslaved man who escapes and attempts to reach the Union Army.

In 2021, Smith portrayed Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, in King Richard. His performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. On November 9, 2021, he published his memoir, Will, co-written with Mark Manson. That year, Smith and his production company, Westbrook Studios, signed a deal with National Geographic.

In 2022, National Geographic announced that Smith would star in Pole to Pole, a series scheduled to stream on Disney+. The series follows Smith and a film crew on a journey spanning 26,000 miles from the South Pole to the North Pole. In December 2022, Smith starred in Emancipation, which was released to mixed reviews.

In 2023, Smith was announced as a co-star in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth installment in the franchise. He was also attached to star in a sequel to I Am Legend alongside Michael B. Jordan, which entered development. Other projects associated with Smith included the science fiction films Brilliance and Resistor. He was also attached to star in the crime thriller Sugar Bandits but exited the project in September 2024 because of scheduling conflicts, remaining involved as a producer.

Smith returned to music in 2024 with the release of “You Can Make It,” featuring Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir. The single, released in June, was his first solo single in nearly 20 years. In July 2024, he signed a distribution deal with the independent label Slang and released “Work of Art,” featuring his son Jaden Smith and Russ. In December 2024, he released “Tantrum,” a collaboration with Joyner Lucas. In 2025, Smith signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures through Westbrook. He released his fifth studio album, Based on a True Story, on March 28, 2025. The 14-track album included five previously released singles and nine new songs. On March 23, 2025, he performed at the CONCACAF Nations League final at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.