Willard Carroll Smith II was born on September 25, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. One of the most versatile and successful entertainers in history, Smith began his career as a rapper in the late 1980s with DJ Jazzy Jeff under the name The Fresh Prince. He transitioned to acting on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996), which launched him to global fame. He became one of the highest-grossing film stars in Hollywood, starring in blockbusters including Men in Black, Independence Day, Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness, Hitch, I Am Legend, and the Bad Boys franchise. He is also a successful music artist and has released multiple platinum albums.