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Happy Birthday Will Smith: Looking Back at Actor’s Career on His 53rd

Actor Will Smith turns 53 years old on Saturday, so let’s take a tour, Outsiders, through his career as both musician and actor.

Will Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sept. 25, 1968. His initial success in the music world as a rapper known as “The Fresh Prince.”

Smith would be the MC of hip-hop’s “DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince” with childhood friend Jeffrey “DJ Jazzy Jeff” Townes as producer. Ready Rock C (Clarence Holmes) was the human beatbox. They did funny radio-friendly songs like “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “Summertime”. They won the first Grammy Award in the Rap category (1988).

Will Smith Sang As ‘The Fresh Prince’ And Starred in ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’

Yes, Outsiders, that’s where creators for the TV sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” picked up his character’s name.

The TV series ran on NBC from 1990-96 and entered the world of reruns after it finished. Yet Smith was just getting started. He would turn his attention to movies and what a bang Smith made on the big screen.

Films like “Ali,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Bad Boys,” and “Men In Black” are just some of his massive hits. Ironically, Will Smith is the only actor with eight straight films grossing more than $100 million in domestic box office sales. Meanwhile, 11 consecutive films from Smith have grossed more than $150 million worldwide.

Actor Most Regrets Making ‘Wild Wild West,’ Passed On Being Neo In ‘The Matrix’

Outsiders, we’re not through tallying up the Will Smith success train. He had eight straight films as the lead actor start at the No. 1 slot in domestic box office sales.

Other films he’s been in include “Independence Day” and “Wild Wild West.” It’s reported that “Wild Wild West,” which is a remake of the old CBS drama that starred Robert Conrad and Ross Martin, was his film that he regrets making.

All actors usually have a role they passed on and wished they hadn’t in hindsight. For instance, Smith didn’t portray Neo in “The Matrix”.

As for his personal life, Will Smith is married to actress Jada Pinkett Smith and they have two children, Jaden and Willow.

Back in 2007, Will Smith received the title of “the most powerful actor in Hollywood” by Newsweek. What about awards? Well, he has four Grammy Awards at home. He also has nominations for two Academy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards, too.

But TV viewers get a chance to see him in those “Fresh Prince” reruns. Movie fans can pop on their Netflix or other movie channel and look for a Smith flick.

In other words, he’s had quite a career. Happy birthday to Will Smith.