Will Smith with his daughter, Willow
Nationwide — Will Smith is one of the world’s most successful and popular actors with a long history starring in some of our favorite films and television shows. However, he is also the patriarch of a highly successful family. Will Smith’s family in entertainment include his wife, Jada, and his kids, Willow and Jaden. Jada is a skilled actress in her own right and continues to inspire others with her philanthropy and campaigns for the less privileged. Willow and Jaden have followed in him and his wife’s footsteps with their own acting and musical careers. Learn more about this influential family.
Jada Pinkett Smith has had an exciting career in entertainment, beginning with her appearances in many 90’s television shows including Doogie Howser, M.D and A Different World. Her most important role was in the American thriller, Menace II Society, which was a commercial success. Recently, Jada’s role in Bad Moms gave her another shot at the big screen, which also did very well at the box office, though it received mixed reviews from critics.
Although she is a successful actress, Jada is mostly known for her philanthropy – she and Will created a foundation which provides resources and mentorship to low-income inner-city youth. She donated $1 million to the Baltimore School of the Arts, which she attended in her youth, and has advocated against human trafficking with a new platform called Don’t Sell Bodies.
Willow Smith
Willow Smith started her career at the age of 7, with a featured role in the movie I am Legend alongside her father. A year later, she starred in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl for which she received a Young Artist Award in 2009. Her career really came to a head with the release of her hit single “Whip My Hair” – the song went Platinum. But, the road to success comes at a great cost. Recently in an interview with her mother, Willow revealed she began self-harming to cope with the stress of fame. Her frankness about her struggles was refreshing, as well as the fact that she didn’t let her struggles stop her from exploring different avenues in the world of entertainment. In 2015, she released her first R&B album Ardipithecus, and a year later she became Chanel’s brand ambassador – a pretty luxurious gig for a 15-year old girl.
Jaden Smith
Jaden has a similar beginning to his sister Willow. His breakout role in Karate Kid, starring alongside Jackie Chan was a box-office hit. Critics praised Jaden for his superb acting and effortless Kung-Fu skills, a result of months of intensive training. The Pursuit of Happyness was another one of his big-screen debuts; this time, he acted alongside his father, portraying his on-screen son (ironically). The pair’s relationship moved audiences, and fans and critics alike commended Jaden for his refined and authentic performance. Though his acting career hit a standstill after those initial hits, he decided to turn his focus entirely on his music career. In November 2017 he released his first studio album, Syre, and has quietly retreated from the limelight in the subsequent years.