Will Smith, once a prominent rapper and now a Hollywood celebrity is a headline actor with a substantial reputation. From his early raps at the age of 12 to international acting acclaim, here’s a quick overview of Will Smith’s physical characteristics.
Will Smith was born September 25, 1968 and is currently 54 years old. He is 6ft 1½, or 1.88m. His weight ranges from 154-181 lbs, (70-81 kg) depending on the role he is playing, but his current weight is listed around 155 lbs.
Will Smith is best known today for his acting career, but long before that, he was a well-accredited musician, and only stepped onto the Hollywood scene in the mid ‘90s. In this article, we’ll go over all of Will Smith’s characteristics and rise to fame.
How Tall Is Will Smith?
Will Smith is 6 ft 1½, which hasn’t changed noticeably in his almost 3 decades of television and movie stardom.
How Old Is Will Smith?
Currently, Will Smith is 54 years old as of June, 2023. His birthday is coming up in September on the 25th.
How Much Does Will Smith Weigh?
Will Smith’s weight has varied wildly depending on the roles he has played, some of which necessitated bulking up. His weight is currently about 155 lbs. He reported gaining weight during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been hitting the gym to work it off. At that point, he noted, he was in “the worst shape of [his] life” and regularly engaged with his social media community to get back on track with his weight goals.
Will Smith’s fitness journey has been publicized to great success, and Smith reported that he’s partnered with YouTube for a six-part docu series titled Best Shape of My Life, throughout which he challenges himself in every fitness aspect, from strength to recovery.
What Was Will Smith’s Early Life Like?
Will Smith was born as Willard Carroll Smith Jr. in 1968 to parents Willard and Caroline Smith. Growing up in a middle-class family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he attended a Catholic school, despite his family being practicing Baptists.
In school, he earned the nickname “Prince” for his charm and quick wit, something that would translate nicely into a budding rapping career. Reportedly, he started rapping at 12, tying in his now-trademark comedic elements with great success. At 16, he encountered Jeff Townes, and the two formed a collaborative rap group
Will Smith’s Music Career
The duo steered clear of conventions and profanity in their music, a markedly different style than the gangsta that pervaded middle America. Their first single released in 1986, “Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble,” was a hit, followed by album Rock the House, which hit the Billboard Top 200. Before the age of 18, Smith was a millionaire, which would be a marked change in his life.
In fact, Smith’s entertainment industry success put the notion of early college to rest, and sources suggest Smith turned down an MIT scholarship in Boston. Instead, he plugged away at his music career, releasing another album in 1988 titled He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper.”
The pair’s radio-friendly sound and distinct style earned them a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance, the first of its kind. A year later, And In This Corner… would cement the pair’s success.
Will Smith’s TV and Movie Career
Shortly after, Will Smith segued his career into acting, signing on as, well, himself in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a sitcom playing into his rapper persona and creating comedy with the juxtaposition of a street-smart kid in upper class Bel-Air. The show ran for six seasons, during which Will Smith continued to produce songs like “Summertime,” “Ring My Bell,” and “Boom! Shake the Room,” all of which were well-received.
During the latter part of filming for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith took on small roles in movies, including Where the Day Takes You, Made in America, and Six Degrees of Separation. His first step into movie stardom came with the film Bad Boys (1995). A high budget film featuring two Black leads, in which Smith played the cool to Lawrence’s decidedly clownish cucumber.
Independence Day (1996) cemented his success as a blockbuster star, and his execution of witty one-liners—a callback to his silver-tongued middle-school days—were irresistible to casters. Most Will Smith fans recognize this iconic Smith character from Men in Black, wherein Jay (Will Smith) plays a comically inexperienced new recruit opposite the old hat Kay (Tommy Lee Jones).
Smith cemented his legacy as beloved character Jay (and likely contributed to the success of the movie) by rapping the theme song and including it in his solo album Big Willie Style. Years of success would follow, from a conspiracy thriller to a golf movie.
Will Smith continued to show great dedication to his roles, starring in the 2001 biopic Ali, and undergoing an excruciating training regimen to do the character justice. While it wasn’t a box office success, Smith earned an Academy Award nomination for his stellar work. To date, Will Smith has starred in over 35 movies and continues to be a highly sought-after Hollywood talent.
Interesting Facts about Will Smith
Will Smith has the catchphrase “Aw, hell no!” which he uses in almost every film he features in. He’s been married twice, his first marriage to Sheree Zampino in 1992, that lasted only 3 years. Since 1997, he’s been married to Jada Pinkett Smith. Their son Jaden was born in 1998, and daughter Willow was born in 2000.
Final Thoughts
Will Smith has been a prolific musician and actor since the early ‘90s, starting from the age of 12 and becoming a millionaire before he was 18. His wide-reaching film impact, from the iconic Men in Black to modern retellings of classic tales like 2019’s Aladdin, are essential to his success as a comedic and profound actor and have cemented him as one of Hollywood’s favorite celebrities.
