Will Smith

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Willard Carroll Smith II is an accomplished American actor and rapper known for his dynamic range of roles. He first gained recognition as part of a hip hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff, releasing five studio albums together and hitting the US Billboard Hot 100 top 20 singles with tracks like "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "A Nightmare on My Street." Smith continued his musical career with solo albums Big Willie Style, Willennium, Born to Reign, and Lost and Found, earning four Grammy Awards for his rap performances.

In 1990, he launched his acting career starring as a fictionalized version of himself on the hit NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran until 1996. Smith's acting talents truly shined when he transitioned into leading roles in blockbuster films. He starred alongside Martin Lawrence in the action-packed Bad Boys (1995) and its sequels, as well as taking on memorable roles in sci-fi comedies like Men in Black, Independence Day, and Enemy of the State.

Smith's versatility earned him Academy Award for Best Actor nominations for his portrayals of Muhammad Ali in Ali (2001) and Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). He went on to star in a range of commercially successful films, including I, Robot, Shark Tale, Hitch, I Am Legend, Hancock, Seven Pounds, Suicide Squad, and Aladdin.

In 2021, Smith portrayed Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, in the biographical sports drama King Richard. This powerful performance won him an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood's most talented and versatile actors.