Transition to Acting
His music success led to the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which premiered in 1990. The show made him a household name and opened the door to film roles.
Actor Career Highlights
After the sitcom ended, Smith focused on movies. He starred in major films such as Independence Day, Men in Black, and The Pursuit of Happyness. Today he is widely recognized first as a movie star, though his early fame came from rap.
For a detailed timeline of his discography and filmography, see AllMusic - Will Smith Biography.
