Willard Carroll Smith II was born September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia. He is an American actor, rapper and film producer. He gained recognition as part of a hip hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff, with whom he released five studio albums and the US Billboard Hot 100 top 20 singles. As of 2024, his films have grossed over $9.3 billion globally, making him one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.