Happy Birthday! Will Smith Turns 48 Years Old Today

Happy birthday, Will Smith! The actor and rapper turns 48 today.In West Philadelphia, born and [...]

By Megan Peters

Happy birthday, Will Smith! The actor and rapper turns 48 today.

In West Philadelphia, born and raised, Will Smith might've spent most of his days playing basketball as a teen. The actor was born in 1968 to parents Caroline and Willard. He was raised in a the city's Wynnefield neighborhood alongside his three siblings and quickly discovered his interest in hip-hop.

Will began his music career as the MC of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. The trio gained attention for their catchy, humorous songs which garnered them a Grammy in the Rap category. However, Will went on to gain national attention when he agreed to star in a NBC sitcom named The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a show based on Will's life. The sitcom was an instant hit and ran for six seasons.

After his television stint, Will moved onto the big screen and became a leading man in Hollywood. The blockbusting actor starred in films like Six Degrees of Separation, Bad Boys, Independence Day, Men in Black, I Am Legend, and more. For his work in Ali and The Pursuit of Happiness, Will received critical praise and Oscar nominations.

Most recently, fans have seen Will star in several films which caught fans' attention. He played Dr. Bennet Omalu in Concussion, a film which follows the doctor who connected football to traumatic brain injuries. And, of course, he played the DC Comics mercenary Deadshot in Suicide Squad.

Happy birthday, Will!

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