Smith, Willard Carroll Jr.

1968- · Contribution: 1990-1996

Actor, Rapper & Producer

Starred in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' widely regarded as a watershed moment for hip-hop's entry into mainstream television; became the fifth Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor

Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech: collage image
Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech

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Quick facts

Born
1968
Active since
1985
Category
Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech
Best known for
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"Grammy-winning rapperAcademy Award for Best Actor

Impact on the world

Smith carried hip-hop from radio to network television to global movie stardom, becoming one of the most bankable stars in the world. He bridged music and film for a mass audience.

An alternative history

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Sources

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