- Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have filed a restraining order against former employee Marilu Cooley -- Documents filed to support the request specify that Mr. Cooley approached the children while they were playing in a park and attempted to use them as, quote, pawns in his attempts to extort money, and also threatened to disclose, quote, embarrassing allegations about the Smiths unless he was paid an outrageous sum of money. (October 24, 2003)
- Smith says at the London premiere of his latest film THE BAD BOYS II he'll give up action movies in three years time. (October 1, 2003)
- Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's former housekeeper is suing the celebrity couple for allegedly failing to pay her about 1,640 hours of overtime pay and firing her after she complained to them. (September 20, 2003)
- Smith reveals that talks of a sequel to hit 1996 movie INDEPENDENCE DAY have fallen through and he now doubts the movie will ever be made. (August 21, 2003)
- Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith say their new UPN family sitcom, ALL OF US, which is touted as an autobiographical series, is ''very, very loosely'' based on their life -- The Hollywood power couple is producing the comedy, which stars Duane Martin as a reporter who juggles relationships with his ex-wife who dumped him, his 5-year-old son and his new fiancée. (July 24, 2003)
- Smith says the opening scene of BAD BOYS, with him running down the street with his shirt open, turned him into a sex symbol -- Up until that point, nobody ever looked at me (as a sex symbol) - I've always been a little goofy, he said. (July 19, 2003)
- Was one of the most powerful celebrity according to 2003 Forbes Top 100 Celebrity List (#11)
- Will Smith and Martin Lawrence had so much fun making their upcoming action flick BAD BOYS II they are already lobbying for a third installment. (June 21, 2003)
- With just three days to go before Los Angeles works out how best to host the Oscars during wartime, Smith has become the first actor to declare publicly that he won't be attending the ceremony - His publicist explained he felt uncomfortable in attending and respectfully asked to be excused. (March 21, 2003)
- Smith, who first appeared on the US music scene in the late 1980s, has been dropped by his record label Sony, because he's too old -- the music giants have decided that, at 34, Smith hitmaker is past it as an artist and told him to concentrate on his movie career. (January 17, 2003)
- Smith impersonator sentenced to three years -- Carlos Lomax of Duquesne, Penn., who used Smith's name on credit cards gets prison term after guilty plea. Carlos Lomax of Duquesne, Penn., "William Smith impersonator," was sentenced to three years in federal prison last week for charging nearly $33,000 to credit card accounts opened under Smith's full name, Willard D. Smith. (December 19, 2002)
- Smith's identity was stolen -- a man who racked up nearly $33,000 in credit card bills in the name of Smith has pleaded guilty to one count of the use of an unauthorized access device. (September 21, 2002)
- Has come to the defense of fellow rapper Slick Rick Walters, who could face deportation because he was convicted of attempted murder 11 years ago.
- Predicts non-white people and women will rule the country from Washington D.C.
- His first big screen role was in the film WHERE THE DAY TAKES YOU (1992).
- Left the Oscars in March (2002) before the Best Actor category was announced (he was up for ALI) so he could be with Jada and Willow, who had been taken to the hospital with an ear infection and high fever.
- He met his friend and co-rapper DJ Jazzy Jeff at an LA party when Will told a joke and Jazz was the only one in the room laughing.
- Met wife Pinkett when she tried out for the role of his girlfriend on THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR (1990). The role eventually went to Nia Long.
- Chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. (1998)
- He has said he molded his character Captain Steven Hiller in INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996) after his favorite big screen hero, Harrison Ford. Most notably his performances of Han Solo in the STAR WARS trilogy.
- Turned down a scolarship to MIT to pursue his singing career.
- Also known as rap artist The Fresh Prince.
- Enjoys playing chess.
- Smith's pilot test show for THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR (1990) (qv) was directed by Debbie Allen.
- As a public role model, hosted the Presidential Inaugural Celebration for Youth, as part of the Gala for Pres. Bill Clinton. (January 1993)
- Turned down the role of Neo in THE MATRIX (1999)
- First hip-hop artist to be nominated for an Academy Award.
- In ALI (2001) he gained 35 pounds to match Ali's 220.
- After reading the script, he did not want to accept the role in MEN IN BLACK. It was wife Jeda that convinced him to take the part.
- At one point in SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (1993), Will Smith makes a disparaging remark about THE LORD OF THE RINGS (with sarcasm THE LORD OF THE RINGS... soooo imaginative...). He directs this comment to Ian McKellen, who would of course go on to play the role of Gandalf in the 2001 film version.
- Ross Bagley, who becomes his stepson in INDEPENDENCE DAY, also stars as his nephew Nicky in THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR.
- When he and Jeff Goldblum depart on the alien attacker in INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996), Smith goes backwards and hits a wall and then he says whoops, 'cause someone wrote the instructions wrong. The situation and quote was taken from a cartoon of Duck Roger (starring Duffy Duck).
- His real name and fathers name is Williard not William.
- Will Smith's divorce from ex-wife Sheree Zampino led to a $900,000 lump-sum divorce settlement for Zampino plus $24,000 per month in alimony and child support.
- He says he didn't really get into his character in MEN IN BLACK 2 until Tommy Lee Jones arrived on set.
- Nominated for Best On-Screen Team at MTV Movie Awards for BAD BOYS II (2004) - shared with Martin Lawrence
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for ALI (2002)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for ALI (2002)
- Nominated for Best Male Performance at MTV Movie Awards for ENEMY OF THE STATE (1999)
- Nominated for Best On-Screen Duo at MTV Movie Awards for MEN IN BLACK (1998) - shared with Tommy Lee Jones
- Nominated for Best Comedic Performance at MTV Movie Awards for MEN IN BLACK (1998)
- Nominated for Best Male Performance at MTV Movie Awards for INDEPENDENCE DAY (1997)
- Nominated for Best On-Screen Duo at MTV Movie Awards for BAD BOYS (1996) - shared with Martin Lawrence
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical at Golden Globe Awards for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1994)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical at Golden Globe Awards for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1993)
Quotes- "As a matter of fact, I believe I could become a president if I only tried. But I'm only 33, I don't have any political ambition yet."
- "I was trying so hard. I would memorize the entire script, then I'd be lipping everybody's lines while they were talking. When I watch those episodes, it's disgusting. My performances were horrible." [On his first season of THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR (1990)]
- "I'm human viagra. I'm Willagra. I'm a sex machine now. I'm raring to go every second of the day. My wife's loving it." (On the change in his body that Ali's intense physical training required)
- "My biggest emotional defeat and the greatest emotional pain I've had as an actor was when WILD WILD WEST opened up to $52 million. The movie wasn't good. And it hurt so bad to be the No. 1 movie, to open at $52 million and to know the movie wasn't good."
- "Parents just don't understand"
- "A human being having a full emotional conversation with a dog is funny, innately. It's one of those things where you get in a scene and you always go for what is the best joke, and a talking dog for some reason, whatever he says, is hilarious." (about his role wiht a talking dog in the forthcoming MEN IN BLACK sequel.
- "We're talking about doing a whole album together to support the film. It's still a little premature, but that's the idea." (about his next collaboration with Jennifer Lopez.
- "I honestly believe that if I decided to be the president of the United States, I could do it. That might sound foolish to some. But in my mind, if Ronald Reagan can become president, why not Will Smith?"
- "My skin is hard when it comes to my music. But with my movies, I'm still a virgin in a lot of ways. I'm not used to being shot down for no reason."
- "I had to focus and create a character, not just do my 'Will Smith' thing and get paid." [on his role in Bagger Vance]
- "The first eight years of schooling was with all white people. So that helped me to understand how white people think. I think that transition is what helped me bridge the gap, because that's what my success has really been about: bridging the gap between the black community and the white community."
- "There's no reason to rush into anything. We are very much in love and life is just so beautiful. We really haven't talkwed about it. But I'd never have children out of wedlock." [on his relationship to then-girlfriend Jada Pinkett, now his wife]
Awards- Kids' Choice Awards: Wannabe Award (2003)
- BET Awards: Best Actor (2002)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best Male Performance, ALI (2002)
- ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award - Male Star of the Year (2002)
- Razzie Awards: Worst Screen Couple, WILD WILD WEST (2000) - shared with Kevin Kline
- ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures, WILD WILD WEST (2000)
- Razzie Awards: Worst Original Song, WILD WILD WEST (2000)
- Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Actor - Action/Adventure, ENEMY OF THE STATE (1999)
- Image Awards: Special Award - Entertainer of the Year (1999)
- ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award - Actor of the Year (1999)
- ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures, MEN IN BLACK (1998)
- Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Actor - Sci-Fi, MEN IN BLACK (1998)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best Fight, MEN IN BLACK (1998) - between Will Smith and an alien (the giant cockroach)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best Movie Song, MEN IN BLACK (1998)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best Kiss, INDEPENDENCE DAY (1997) - shared with Vivica A. Fox
- Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Actor - Science Fiction, INDEPENDENCE DAY (1997)
- ShoWest Convention: Special Award - International Box Office Achievement (1997)
- Sci-Fi Universe Magazine: Universe Reader's Choice Award - Best Actor in a Genre Motion Picture, INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996)
- ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award - Male Star of Tomorrow (1995)
- ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Top TV Series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1994)
- Grammy Awards: Best Rap Performance, Parents Just Don't Understand (1989)
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