Will Smith: From Rap Royalty to Hollywood Icon – A Journey of Talent, Triumph, and Transformation | Biography
Will Smith Biography Willard Carroll Smith II , known globally as Will Smith, was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He emerged as a multifaceted entertainer, excelling as a rapper, actor, and producer, and became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. Early Life and Musical Beginnings Raised in West Philadelphia, Smith was the second of four children. His father, Willard Carroll Smith Sr., owned a refrigeration company, and his mother, Caroline Bright, worked as a school board employee. Smith attended Overbrook High School, where he earned the nickname "Prince" for his charismatic demeanor. Opting not to attend college, he pursued a career in music. In the mid-1980s, Smith partnered with his childhood friend Jeffrey Townes to form the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. Their lighthearted and humorous style set them apart in the rap scene. The duo's 1988 hit "Parents Just Don't Understand" earned them the first-ev...