Will Smith is an iconic actor, but how much do you really know about him? For this list, we’re diving into some lesser-known facts about Willard Carroll Smith Jr. – yes, that’s his full name. Our countdown includes insights like his Guinness World Record feat, his stand against the 1989 Grammys, the impact of his childhood trauma, and more!
#1. He Broke a Guinness World Record in 12 Hours
In 2005, Hitch made history by setting a record for the biggest romantic comedy opening at that time. While this record was eventually broken, Will Smith achieved another milestone while promoting the film. He set a Guinness World Record by attending three red carpet events in just 12 hours, covering ground from Manchester to London to Birmingham. His feat was all the more impressive as he did it without a single costume change, donning a casual camel coat, leather hat, and jeans throughout. However, in 2009, Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan broke this record with seven public appearances across 1,800 km in the same amount of time. Despite this, Smith remains a standout contender among Hollywood stars for such achievements.
#2. Money Problems Paved the Way for The Fresh Prince
Before becoming a successful actor, Will Smith was one-half of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. Early success led to lavish spending, but as album sales dipped, Smith failed to pay his taxes, eventually finding himself $2.8 million in debt. After the IRS seized his assets, Smith, following his then-girlfriend’s advice, appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show, where he met producer Benny Medina. Medina was working on a TV show based on his own life, which piqued Smith’s interest, especially after a party at Quincy Jones’ house. Ironically, while portraying the wealthy Fresh Prince, Smith was using 70% of his earnings to settle his tax debts during the first three seasons.
#3. He Boycotted the 1989 Grammys
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince saw early success with their Grammy win for Best Rap Performance for Parents Just Don’t Understand. This marked the first Grammy for both Smith and Jazzy Jeff, as well as the first for the newly established category. However, the Grammys chose not to broadcast this category during the 1989 telecast. In response, Smith and Jazzy Jeff decided to boycott the event, with Smith calling the decision “a slap in the face.” Fellow artists Salt-N-Pepa and LL Cool J joined their protest, prompting the Grammys to televise the category the following year. Smith went on to win his third Grammy in 1998 for Men in Black.
#4. Yes, He Can Solve a Rubik’s Cube That Quickly
In a third-season episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith’s character impresses a Princeton recruiter by solving a Rubik’s Cube in seconds. Although this scene was edited for TV, Smith later decided to master the puzzle in real life while preparing for his role in The Pursuit of Happyness. To do so, he trained with speedcubing champions Tyson Mao, Toby Mao, and Lars Petrus. In the film, Smith’s character solves the cube in about two minutes, impressing a prospective employer. He later demonstrated his skills live on a French talk show, solving the cube in just 55 seconds. Smith’s passion for problem-solving and intellectual challenges aligns with his interest in math and chess.
#5. The Impromptu Audition That Flipped His Life Upside Down
As previously mentioned, Smith was invited to a party at Quincy Jones’ house by Benny Medina in December 1989. At the party, Jones handed Smith a script for a TV pilot that never came to fruition. Also present were NBC president Brandon Tartikoff and his successor, Warren Littlefield. When Jones asked Smith to audition on the spot, Smith felt he needed time to prepare. Jones took Smith aside and pointed out that everyone necessary to green-light the show was already there, urging him not to miss the opportunity. Smith seized the moment, asking for just ten minutes to get ready. That night, the initial contract was drafted in a limo, and the pilot was filmed three months later.
#6. Jada & Tupac’s Friendship Evoked Envy
Before meeting Will Smith at a Fresh Prince audition, Jada Pinkett Smith shared a deep friendship with Tupac Shakur. They met at the Baltimore School for the Arts and formed a close, platonic bond. Tupac wrote poems about Jada, who described him as “one of [her] best friends” and likened him to a brother. In his memoir, Smith confessed to feeling intense jealousy over their friendship. He admitted experiencing a sense of victory when Jada started spending more time with him instead of Tupac. In hindsight, Smith regretted not overcoming his insecurities to become friends with Tupac, a sentiment he shared after dedicating his 1998 Grammy win to the late rapper.
#7. Childhood Trauma
Although Smith often presents a joyful demeanor, he has faced significant emotional struggles. At around nine years old, he witnessed his father physically assaulting his mother, which left him feeling powerless and ashamed. This incident haunted him into adulthood, even considering pushing his father down the stairs years later when he was suffering from cancer, believing he could get away with it. Despite these dark thoughts, Smith still felt love and admiration for his father. At 13, Smith also contemplated suicide after his mother left home. In his memoir and the docuseries Best Shape of My Life, Smith delves into his past traumas, discussing the connection between mental and physical health.
#8. His Feud & Reconciliation with Janet Hubert
Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, left after Season 3, with Daphne Maxwell Reid taking over the role. In a 1993 interview, Smith commented, “Janet Hubert wanted the show to be The Aunt Viv of Bel-Air Show.” Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton, also described Hubert as “crazy.” These remarks led many to believe Hubert was fired, but she left because the show planned to reduce her salary. Dealing with a new baby and an abusive, jobless husband, Hubert found herself out of favor in Hollywood. Though Hubert vowed in 2011 never to reunite with Smith, they sat down almost a decade later to reconcile, with Smith apologizing for not being more understanding.
#9. Eight $100 Million Domestic Movies in a Row
Will Smith has always been a box office favorite, but from 2002 to 2008, he was unstoppable. During this time, he became the first actor to star in eight consecutive movies that grossed over $100 million in the U.S. Men in Black II, Bad Boys II, I, Robot, and Hancock were all July releases, reinforcing his “Mr. July” nickname. But his box office appeal wasn’t confined to summer hits, as seen with Shark Tale, Hitch, The Pursuit of Happyness, and I Am Legend. While Smith did make a cameo in the box office flop Jersey Girl during this streak, all his lead films were major hits. His streak ended with Seven Pounds, although that film still made over $100 million worldwide.
#10. Roles That Could’ve Been
Despite his success, Smith has turned down several high-profile roles. He was considered for his film debut in Boyz n the Hood, but his commitment to The Fresh Prince meant the role went to Cuba Gooding Jr. Instead of playing Neo in The Matrix, Smith opted to star in Wild Wild West. He also passed on the title role in Django Unchained, believing that Dr. Schultz was the real lead. Smith has expressed reluctance to star in movies about slavery, stating he prefers to “be a superhero.” Ironically, Smith was once in the running to play Superman in Superman Returns but declined, fearing backlash. He eventually played a DC character in Suicide Squad, choosing it over a role in Independence Day: Resurgence.
