Willard Carroll Smith II was born September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia. He is an actor, rapper, and film producer. He was the MC of hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, with whom he released five studio albums. As of 2025, his films have grossed over $9.5 billion globally, making him one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. Smith began his acting career as a fictionalized version of himself on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.