Will Smith has played some of the most iconic characters ever featured in a film, but today, young people might know him better for his children, Willow and Jaden. However, despite the fact that Smith has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Will Smith. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: He Met His Wife on the Set of Fresh Prince. In fact, Jada Pinkett auditioned for the role of Smith’s love interest on the show! They stayed in touch after she auditioned, and they finally married in 1997.
Number Fourteen: He Endorsed Fresh Prince Shoes. Smith endorsed a pair of Air Jordans that were called the Air Jordan 5 Bel-Air, after his hit show, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. We wonder if he actually wore them!
Number Thirteen: He Owns a Production Company. Smith co-founded Overbook Entertainment with Hollywood producer James Lassiter. The company has produced several of Smith’s own films, including Ali, Hitch, The Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, and After Earth.
Number Twelve: He Has the IRS to Thank for Fresh Prince. Smith only agreed to be in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air because he was having trouble with the IRS. For the first three seasons of the show, Smith was forced to fork over 70 percent of his salary so he could pay off his debts.
Number Eleven: He Has a Secret Talent. Well, it’s not so secret if you consider the fact he’s done it on screen…twice. Smith has solved a Rubik’s cube in both Fresh Prince and his film, The Pursuit of Happyness. He can reportedly solve one in less than a minute.
Number Ten: He Knows a Hit When He Sees One. Beginning with Men In Black and ending with Hancock, Smith was a star in eight consecutive films that grossed at least $100 million. Clearly, the man has talent.
Number Nine: He Got the First Rap Grammy. Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff got the very first Grammy Award in the category of Rap. They earned a Grammy for “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”