Willard Christopher Smith Jr

Willard C. Smith was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Willard and Caroline Smith. Will had an older sister named Pamela and young twins named Harry and Ellen.

In Will's early years his parents believed in hard work and that strictness would help them become successful. They also believed in learning. When Will was only thirteen, his parents divorced. Will and his brothers and sisters went to live with their mom. But Will's dad still played a big part in his son's life, even though he didn't live with him. Smith's elementary school in Philadelphia was a Catholic school called Our Lady of Lourdes. He went there from kindergarten to eighth grade. He went to Overbrook High, Will's favorite subjects were math science and English. Will started to experiment with poetry. But Will liked to make people laugh. He soon realized he could crack up his classmates with a joke or silly face. One of his teachers even called him Prince Charming because he made up so many good excuses for not turning in his homework. Will wasn't charming enough because one of his teachers even told his mom he wasn't working hard enough. Will told Teen Magazine that "I was the kid in the back of the room who had trouble paying attention." Will was also one of the best science students at Overbrook High. In Will's school yearbook he said he wanted to be an engineer. Little did he know that in just a little while, he would become a very famous rapper and movie star.

He told Biography Magazine that he wouldn't do anything his mom couldn't turn on the radio and listen to. He also would never do anything to amend his family. His first album ROCK THE HOUSE sold over six hundred thousand copies, enough to qualify for a golden record. Will was only 17 and Jazzy Jeff and him were overnight sensations. Early in 1988 Will and Jeff made an album called HE'S THE DJ, I'M THE RAPPER. It was a hip hop first double album. The album went multi platinum, selling over 2.5 million albums. The first single was Parents just don't understand. It was about teen struggles. The hilarious music video helped them land a number 12 spot on the pop charts. Will and Jazzy Jeff proved hip hop was for all races not just African Americans.

In 1988 Jeff and Will toured the United States and they even opened for RUN DMC. At the end of the tour Will came back and bought a mansion. He had a basketball hoop installed in his living room. Then he bought a pool table and a hot tub. He also bought six luxury cars. Rich Will had no idea how to handle his money. He soon received a bill from the government saying he had a million dollars in taxes that he had to pay. Soon he had six luxury cars but they had no gas. So he moved back in with his mom for sometime. Will says money goes away faster than it comes in. Will may have had problems with money but his career was going well.

Will also wanted to keep doing music and he didn't know what to do. So in early 1991 he arranged for his old friend Jeff to be on the show as a guy named Jazz. The two worked on the show in the afternoon and the album home base at night.

In July 1991 the hit single Summertime came out that exact same year the duo won a Grammy for Summertime. The spring of 1992 brought some awards for Will's amazing acting. Will got nominated for a golden globe that year as well. He also got an award for best actor in a TV series as well. Another thing he received was an NACP award and best comedy series.

Not only was Will's career going well but so was his personal life. In 1992 Will married Sheree Zampino. He meet her while visiting the set of a Different World. The next thing, Will was in was a movie where he was Tea Cake Walters. He was also in the film with Whoopie Goldberg. He was also in Seven Degrees of Separation. It was a movie that took a look at a Broadway play that took a serious look at racism. That is how Will Smith prepared for success.

I picked Wll Smith because he is a great dad. He's a tremendous rapper and has won tons of met awards and seven Grams. That is why I chose Will Smith. I hope you like my hero and if you don't I understand