Remembering Will Smith's Best Roles throughout His Acting Career

Will Smith, one of Hollywood's most respected stars, has landed great roles within his long-standing acting career. Let's run down some of his best roles.

In the 1980s, Will Smith started his profession as a rapper named Fresh Prince. He then appeared in numerous television shows and films that cemented his status as a beloved actor.

The 51-year-old's career has not slowed down ever since he began acting. Here are some of his unforgettable and best roles that are loved by many fans.

THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR

Created by Andy and Susan Borowitz, the hit television series originally aired from 1990 to 1996 on NBC. In the sitcom, Smith plays a fictionalized version of himself.

His character, Will, a teenager from West Philadelphia, was sent to move in with his rich relatives in their mansion in Bel Air after getting into a fight in his hometown.

But his way of life frequently conflicts with the lifestyle of his privileged relatives. All through the series, Will captured the hearts of viewers as he figured out how to explore his new surroundings.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

In the 1996 epic science fiction film, Smith portrays the role of Capt. Steven Hiller. One of the highlights of the film was his steamy kiss with actress Vivica A. Fox.

The award-winning actor starred opposite Hollywood heavyweights Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman. Roland Emmerich directed and co-wrote the film, which received mixed to positive reviews.

MEN IN BLACK

"Men in Black" (1997) is a science fiction action comedy film. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, Smith played the role Jay, who tries to beat aliens along with Tommy Lee Jones, who played Kay.

MUHAMMAD ALI

For the 2001 biopic titled "Ali," Smith played Muhammad Ali, who stands as one of the most recognized boxers in history. Ali passed away in June 2016 at the age of 74.

The acclaimed biopic covered around a decade worth of Ali's life. It focused on his successful boxing career and his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War.

I AM LEGEND

Directed by Francis Lawrence, the 2007 movie starred Smith as US Army virologist Robert Neville, who thinks he is the last human being living in New York.

"I Am Legend" is a post-apocalyptic movie, which is based on the novel by Richard Matheson. Smith's acting was the main highlight of the film, as he is only the character for a good portion of the film.

ALLADIN

In the live-action remake of "Alladin," Smith portrays the role of Genie, which was made popular by Robin Williams, who passed away in 2014 at 63 years old.

Unfortunately, when the first trailer for the 2019 film was shown to the public, the movie faced criticisms over the CGI for Smith's blue character, as it did not seem polished enough.

GEMINI MAN

In the 2019 action thriller film, Smith pulls double duty. He played as Henry, an aging assassin, and his younger clone, Junior, who was sent to kill him. Playing two characters in the film underscored his acting prowess.

Smith has been married to Jada Pinkett Smith for over two decades. Together the couple has two children — Jaden Christopher Syre Smith and Willow Camille Reign Smith.

Smith and Jada first met in 1994 on the set of the actor's TV series "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." A year later, the pair began dating. They exchanged their wedding vows in December 1997.