History of Will Smith in Timeline
Will Smith is a highly successful American actor, rapper, and film producer. He has received numerous awards, including an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and four Grammys. Smith is one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, with his films grossing over $10 billion globally. He is renowned for his contributions to both the film and music industries, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in entertainment.
November 11, 1992: Birth of son Trey
On November 11, 1992, Will Smith's son, Willard Carroll "Trey" Smith III, was born.
1995: Divorce from Sheree Zampino
In 1995, Will Smith divorced his first wife, Sheree Zampino.
1997: Big Willie Style album release
In 1997, Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style was released and became one of the best-selling rap albums of all time.
December 31, 1997: Marriage to Jada Pinkett
On December 31, 1997, Will Smith married actress Jada Koren Pinkett.
1998: Trey appeared in the "Just the Two of Us" music video
In 1998, Trey Smith appeared in his father's music video for the single "Just the Two of Us".
1998: Birth of son Jaden
In 1998, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's son, Jaden Smith, was born.
2000: Birth of daughter Willow
In 2000, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's daughter, Willow Smith, was born.
2005: Received honorary César Award and nominated for Tony Award for Fela!
In 2005, Will Smith received the honorary César Award; that same year, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical for Fela!.
2006: Named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time
In 2006, Will Smith was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time.
2008: Donated to Barack Obama's presidential campaign
In 2008, Will Smith donated $4,600 to the presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama.
2008: Named one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century by Esquire
In 2008, Will Smith was named one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century by Esquire.
December 11, 2009: Hosted Nobel Peace Prize Concert
On December 11, 2009, Will Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, to celebrate Barack Obama's winning of the prize.
2012: Supported legalizing same-sex marriage
In 2012, Will Smith publicly stated his support for legalizing same-sex marriage.
2013: Big Willie Style among best selling rap albums
As of 2013, Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style (1997) is among the best-selling rap albums of all time.
2013: Did not identify as religious
In 2013, Will Smith stated in an interview that he did not identify as religious.
February 27, 2015: Release of Focus
On February 27, 2015, the romance drama 'Focus,' starring Will Smith opposite Margot Robbie, was released. Smith played Nicky Spurgeon, a veteran con artist.
2015: Christian faith helped to accurately portray Bennet Omalu in Concussion
In 2015, Will Smith said that his Christian faith, instilled in him by his grandmother, helped him to accurately portray Bennet Omalu in the movie Concussion.
2016: Starred in Suicide Squad and Collateral Beauty; Father's Death
In 2016, Will Smith played Deadshot in 'Suicide Squad' but the film received negative reviews, also in 2016 Smith starred in 'Collateral Beauty', around that time his father died of cancer.
2016: Separation from Jada Pinkett Smith
In October 2023, Jada Pinkett Smith revealed that she and Will Smith had been separated since 2016, though they have no intention to divorce.
December 22, 2017: Netflix release of Bright
On December 22, 2017, Will Smith's film 'Bright' was distributed via Netflix. It was the most expensive film for Netflix to date, but received critical disappointment.
2017: Released the song "Get Lit" and launched YouTube channel
In 2017, Will Smith released the song "Get Lit" with Jazzy Jeff and launched his YouTube channel.
2017: Film Bright broke record for most-viewed Netflix film in first week
In 2017, Will Smith's film Bright broke the record at the time for the most-viewed Netflix film ever for its first week.
2018: Jada Pinkett Smith's Alopecia Diagnosis
In 2018, Jada Pinkett Smith was diagnosed with alopecia areata, leading her to shave her head later due to the condition.
2018: 50th Birthday Bungee Jump
In 2018, Will Smith celebrated his 50th birthday by performing a bungee jump from a helicopter in the Grand Canyon, raising money for the charity Global Citizen.
2018: Performed Hindu rite of abhisheka of Shiva at Haridwar, India
In 2018, Will Smith performed the Hindu rite of abhisheka of Shiva at Haridwar, India, and also performed an arti of the holy river Ganga. He expressed a deep connection to Hindu spirituality and Indian astrology and spent time with the Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru.
May 24, 2019: Release of Aladdin
On May 24, 2019, the live-action adaptation of Disney's Aladdin, starring Will Smith as the Genie, was released. The film grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
July 2019: YouTube channel viewership
As of July 2019, Will Smith's YouTube channel had over 6 million subscribers and 294 million total views.
October 11, 2019: Release of Gemini Man
On October 11, 2019, 'Gemini Man,' starring Will Smith, was released. The film was a box office bomb and received negative reviews.
2019: Investment in Gen.G
In 2019, Will Smith and Keisuke Honda led a $46 million investment round in esports organization Gen.G.
June 2020: Apple Studios acquired Emancipation for $120 million
In June 2020, Will Smith's action thriller drama Emancipation was sold to Apple Studios for $120 million, making it the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.
June 2020: Announcement of starring role in Emancipation
In June 2020, it was announced that Will Smith would star in 'Emancipation,' directed by Antoine Fuqua.
November 9, 2021: Publication of Memoir Will
On November 9, 2021, Will Smith's memoir 'Will,' written with Mark Manson, was published.
2021: Pulled Emancipation production from Georgia due to voting law
In 2021, Will Smith announced that production of his film, Emancipation, was being pulled from Georgia because of the Election Integrity Act, which they viewed as a restrictive voting law.
2021: Portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard
In 2021, Will Smith portrayed Richard Williams in the film 'King Richard', and won several awards for his performance.
2021: Won multiple awards for role in King Richard
In 2021, Will Smith won an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard. He also received a producer nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture and was nominated as a producer of Cobra Kai for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
February 7, 2022: Announcement of Pole to Pole series
On February 7, 2022, National Geographic announced that Will Smith would star in a series titled 'Pole to Pole' on Disney+.
March 27, 2022: Slapping incident at the 94th Academy Awards
On March 27, 2022, during the 94th Academy Awards, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith later won Best Actor for 'King Richard'.
April 1, 2022: Resignation from the Academy
On April 1, 2022, Will Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences following the slapping incident at the Oscars.
April 8, 2022: Academy ban
On April 8, 2022, the Academy banned Will Smith from future Oscars galas and associated events for 10 years due to the slapping incident.
December 2022: Release and reception of Emancipation
In December 2022, 'Emancipation' was released to mixed reviews and commercial failure, partially attributed to the controversy surrounding Will Smith.
2022: Won Academy Award for Best Actor and Slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards
In 2022, Will Smith became the fifth black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for King Richard. However, his public image was tarnished after slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, leading to debates about his legacy and reputation.
2022: Emancipation
Will Smith's action thriller drama Emancipation (2022) was sold to Apple Studios for $120 million in June 2020, which made it the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.
September 2023: Collaboration with Joyner Lucas on a joint album
In September 2023, it was reported that Joyner Lucas and Will Smith would be working together on a joint album.
October 2023: Pinkett Smith reveals separation
In October 2023, Jada Pinkett Smith stated that she and Will Smith had been separated since 2016, though they have no intention to divorce.
2023: Announcement of Bad Boys: Ride or Die
In 2023, it was announced that Will Smith would co-star in 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die', the fourth installment in the Bad Boys film series. The film includes a comedic moment inspired by the Oscars incident. Smith is set to co-star with Michael B. Jordan in a sequel to I Am Legend.
June 27, 2024: Announcement of First Solo Single
On June 27, 2024, Will Smith announced his first solo single in nearly 20 years, "You Can Make It", was releasing the following day.
July 24, 2024: Signed new distribution deal
On July 24, 2024, Will Smith signed a new distribution deal with SLANG, a newly formed independent label.
July 26, 2024: Released the single "Work of Art"
On July 26, 2024, Will Smith released another single "Work of Art", featuring his son Jaden and Russ.
September 2024: Exit from Sugar Bandits
In September 2024, Will Smith exited the project of the movie 'Sugar Bandits', due to scheduling conflicts.
2024: New music coming
In 2024, Will Smith confirmed new music coming, describing it as his most personal music ever, with Teddy Swims confirming he recorded music with Will for the upcoming project.
March 23, 2025: Performance at the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League final
On March 23, 2025, Will Smith performed at the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League final at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
March 26, 2025: Added to red stripes at the bottom of street signs along a block of 59th Street
On March 26, 2025, Will Smith attended a ceremony where his name was added to red stripes at the bottom of street signs along a block of 59th Street in west Philadelphia.
March 28, 2025: Release of Based on a True Story
In 2025, Will Smith announced his fifth studio album, Based on a True Story, which was released on March 28, 2025. The album consists of 14 tracks, including five previously released singles and nine new songs.
Mentioned in this timeline
Margot Robbie is a highly successful Australian actress and producer...
The Billboard Hot is the primary music chart in the...
India officially the Republic of India is a South Asian...
Chris Rock is a highly acclaimed American comedian actor and...
An apple is a widely cultivated round edible fruit from...
Muhammad Ali often called The Greatest was a globally recognized...
Trending
3 months ago Waymo Charging Station Sparks Neighbor Complaints in Santa Monica Due to Incessant Beeping.
4 months ago Streisand, Madonna, and Midler's Near 'Annie Get Your Gun' Collaboration Revealed!
47 minutes ago Governors Aim for PJM Influence Amid Crisis; Electric Bills May Climb.
2 months ago Ketel Marte Hits Solo Home Run, Diamondbacks Take Early Lead Against Giants
1 day ago Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell Faces Burglary Trial: Defense Presents Its Case.
2 months ago Chiefs Dominate 2025 NFL Schedule with Seven Prime-Time Games
Popular
Pam Bondi is an American attorney lobbyist and politician A...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
KPop Demon Hunters is a animated musical fantasy action comedy...
Thomas Douglas Homan is an American law enforcement officer and...
William Franklin Graham III commonly known as Franklin Graham is...
Rosie O'Donnell is a multifaceted American entertainer known as a...