History of Will Smith in Timeline
Will Smith, an American actor, rapper, and film producer, has achieved significant success in both film and music. He has won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and four Grammy Awards. With his films grossing over $10 billion globally, he is recognized as one of Hollywood's most commercially successful stars.
November 11, 1992: Birth of son Willard Carroll "Trey" Smith III
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 Sheree Zampino.
1997: Reference to G.I. Jane
During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head with a reference to the main protagonist in the 1997 film G.I. Jane.
1997: Release of debut solo album Big Willie Style
In 1997, Will Smith's debut solo album, Big Willie Style, was released and went on to become one of the best-selling rap albums of all time.
December 31, 1997: Marriage to Jada Koren Pinkett
On December 31, 1997, Will Smith married actress Jada Koren Pinkett.
1998: Birth of son Jaden Smith
In 1998, Will Smith's son Jaden Smith was born.
1998: Trey's Appearance in Music Video
In 1998, Will Smith's son Trey appeared in his father's music video for the single "Just the Two of Us".
2000: Birth of daughter Willow Smith
In 2000, Will 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, and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical for Fela!.
2006: Named one of the 100 most influential people in the world
In 2006, Time magazine named Will Smith one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
2008: Named one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century
In 2008, Esquire named Will Smith as one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century.
2008: Donation to Barack Obama's presidential campaign
In 2008, Will Smith donated $4,600 to the presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama.
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 expressed his support for legalizing same-sex marriage.
2013: Big Willie Style one of the best-selling rap albums of all time
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 and Margot Robbie, was released. Smith played Nicky Spurgeon, a con artist who mentors a young woman.
2015: Credit to Christian faith for portrayal in Concussion
In 2015, Will Smith said his Christian faith, instilled by his grandmother, helped him accurately portray Bennet Omalu in the movie Concussion.
2016: Separation from Jada Pinkett Smith
In 2016, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith separated, though this was not publicly revealed until later.
2016: Roles in Suicide Squad and Collateral Beauty, and Father's Death
In 2016, Will Smith played Deadshot in Suicide Squad, choosing it over Independence Day: Resurgence. The film was financially successful but critically panned. He also starred in Collateral Beauty, during the filming of which his father was diagnosed with and died from cancer. He used his role preparation to connect with his father before his passing.
December 22, 2017: Netflix Release of Bright
On December 22, 2017, Will Smith's film Bright, directed by David Ayer, was released on Netflix. It was Netflix's most expensive film at the time, but received overwhelmingly negative reviews.
2017: Release of "Get Lit" and Launch of YouTube Channel
In 2017, Will Smith released the song "Get Lit" with Jazzy Jeff and launched his YouTube channel.
2017: Bright broke Netflix viewing record
In 2017, Will Smith's film Bright broke the record for the most-viewed Netflix film during its first week.
2018: Diagnosis of Jada Pinkett Smith
In 2018, Jada Pinkett Smith was diagnosed with alopecia areata, leading her to shave her head later.
2018: 50th Birthday Bungee Jump in the Grand Canyon
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: Hindu rite of abhisheka of Shiva in Haridwar, India
In 2018, Will Smith performed the Hindu rite of abhisheka of Shiva at Haridwar, India, and expressed a deep connection to Hindu spirituality and Indian astrology. He also met with 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, becoming Smith's highest-grossing film.
July 2019: YouTube Channel Growth
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: Roles in Spies in Disguise and Investment in Gen.G
In 2019, Will Smith had his second starring role in an animated film, Spies in Disguise. Also in 2019, Smith and Keisuke Honda led a $46 million investment round in esports organization Gen.G.
June 2020: Emancipation acquired by Apple Studios for $120 million
In June 2020, Will Smith's film Emancipation was sold to Apple Studios for $120 million, marking the largest film festival acquisition deal.
June 2020: Announcement of Emancipation
In June 2020, it was announced that Will Smith would star in Emancipation, directed by Antoine Fuqua, portraying a runaway slave.
November 9, 2021: Publication of Memoir Will
On November 9, 2021, Will Smith's memoir Will, co-written with Mark Manson, was published and promoted with a tour. The book explored his childhood traumas and experiences.
2021: Pulled production of Emancipation from Georgia
In 2021, Will Smith announced the production of his film, Emancipation, was being pulled from Georgia due to the Election Integrity Act of 2021, 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, earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, and the Screen Actors Guild Award.
2021: Won Academy Award for Best Actor for King Richard
In 2021, Will Smith received the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in King Richard, also winning a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Award in the same category.
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, streaming on Disney+. The series follows Smith's trek from the South Pole to the North Pole.
March 27, 2022: The Slap at the 94th Academy Awards
During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Smith later won Best Actor and apologized to the Academy. Jada Pinkett Smith had been diagnosed with alopecia areata in 2018.
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's Ban and Resulting Fallout
On April 8, 2022, the Academy banned Will Smith from future Oscars galas and associated events for 10 years following the slapping incident. Several film projects were put on hold as a result.
December 2022: Release and Failure of Emancipation
In December 2022, Emancipation was released to mixed reviews and was a commercial failure, partially attributed to the controversy surrounding Will Smith.
2022: Won Academy Award for Best Actor and Slapped Chris Rock
In 2022, Will Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actor for King Richard. During the ceremony, he slapped Chris Rock on stage, leading to intense debate about his public image and legacy.
2022: Action thriller drama Emancipation was sold to Apple Studios
In 2022, Will Smith's action thriller drama Emancipation 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: Joint Album Announcement with Joyner Lucas
In September 2023, it was reported that Joyner Lucas and Will Smith would be working together on a joint album.
October 2023: Public Revelation of Separation
In October 2023, Jada Pinkett Smith publicly 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 and I Am Legend sequel
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. 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 in 20 Years
On June 27, 2024, Will Smith announced on his Instagram that his first solo single in nearly 20 years, "You Can Make It", was coming out the following day.
July 24, 2024: Signing Distribution Deal with SLANG
On July 24, 2024, it was announced that Will Smith had signed a new distribution deal with SLANG, a newly formed independent label.
July 26, 2024: Release of "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 crime thriller Sugar Bandits due to scheduling conflicts but remains involved as a producer.
2024: Upcoming New Music
In 2024, Will Smith confirmed new music coming and that it is the most personal music he had ever done.
March 23, 2025: Performance at 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: Ceremony for adding name to street sign in Philadelphia
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 fifth studio album, 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.
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