Jaden Smith

Actor

• Born: July 8, 1998
• Place of Birth: Malibu, California

Contribution: Jaden Smith is a musician and actor known for his roles in the films The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), The Karate Kid (2010), and After Earth (2013).

Background

Jaden Christopher Syre Smith was born on July 8, 1998, in Malibu, Los Angeles County, California. He is the first of two children born to actor-musician Will Smith and actor-producer Jada Pinkett Smith. Jaden Smith has an older half-brother, Willard Christopher “Trey” Smith III, who is the son of Will Smith and actor Sheree (Zampino) Fletcher, and a younger sister, Willow Smith.

In addition to being homeschooled by their parents, Smith and his sister have also attended the New Village Leadership Academy in Calabasas, California, a private elementary school funded and created by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith in 2008. The school’s ties to the Church of Scientology were controversial, though the Smiths denied this connection. The academy closed in June 2013 after the completion of the Smiths’ lease on the property.

Career

Jaden Smith’s first acting role was in the UPN/CW television series All of Us (2003–7), created by his parents and producer Betsy Borns. Smith appeared in six episodes between 2003 and 2004. The series revolves around the family drama of a television reporter, played by Duane Martin, and his children, career, and relationships. All of Us is loosely based on the blending of children from different relationships in the Smith family.

Smith’s next role was also his film debut, when he acted alongside his father in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). The film is about a single father, played by Will Smith, who tries to find a better career for the welfare of his young son. Will Smith was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor for his performance in the film, and Jaden Smith was nominated for a Black Reel Award for best breakthrough performance. A number of film critics praised the film—and the Smiths’ performances—as one of the best films of the year.

In 2008, Smith costarred in the science-fiction thriller The Day the Earth Stood Still, a film loosely based on the 1951 science-fiction film about an alien who visits Earth and helps humanity reach a new level of understanding about its propensity for violence. In the remake, Smith plays Jacob Benson, a young boy being raised by his stepmother, played by Jennifer Connelly, after the death of his father. The film also stars Keanu Reeves as the extraterrestrial visiting earth. For his role as Jacob, Smith won a Saturn Award for best performance by a younger actor.

In 2010, Smith starred in The Karate Kid, a remake of the 1984 film with a substantially altered plot. In the film, Smith plays a young boy named Dre Parker whose mother is forced to relocate to China due to her career. Smith’s character develops a relationship with a young Chinese girl, but he is thwarted by a kung fu student who becomes a bully. Smith then finds a friend and teacher in a maintenance man, Mr. Han, played by Jackie Chan, who teaches Smith’s character the art of kung fu. The film received generally negative reviews, but some media outlets praised Smith’s performance. He was nominated for a Black Reel Award for best actor and won a Young Artist Award for his role.

In 2013, Smith starred in the futuristic action/adventure film After Earth, directed by M. Night Shyamalan and also starring his father and Sophie Okonedo. The film is based on an idea originally created by Will Smith and developed by Shyamalan as a vehicle for Will Smith and his son. It tells the story of General Cypher Raige (Will Smith), leader of a futuristic military organization known as the Ranger Corps, who crash-lands on a futuristic Earth, long abandoned by humanity and under threat from an alien race planning on taking over the planet. Jaden Smith portrays Kitai, the son of the general, who is forced to navigate the dangerous fauna and unstable tectonic environment of Earth to rescue himself and his father.

Influenced by the musical career of his family—his rapper father, his singer-songwriter mother, his disc jockey brother (DJ AcE), and his pop-singer sister—Smith has also ventured into rap music and hip-hop dance. He collaborated with his friend Justin Bieber on the hit single “Never Say Never” (2010), which features Smith rapping. The song serves as the theme for The Karate Kid and was released as a 3-D concert film in February 2011. Smith released his first mixtape, The Cool Cafe: Cool Tape Vol. 1, in October 2012. He released a number of hip-hop singles—both from his mixtape and as separate tracks—as well as music videos, most notably “The Coolest” (2012) and “Hello” (2013).

Smith created his own lifestyle brand, MSFTS (pronounced “misfits”), in 2012, teaming up with actor brothers Moisés and Mateo Arias to create the brand’s clothing line, MSFTSRep. Inspired by the boys’ mutual love of skateboarding, the clothing began appearing on Smith and his friends in the fall of 2012 and premiered at BET’s “Rip the Runway” fashion and music show in March 2013. Smith has recorded two songs related to his brand, “MSFTS Anthem,” part of the Cool Cafe mixtape, and “MSFTS Anthem 2,” released in March 2013.

Smith returned to television with a minor role in the Netflix original musical drama The Get Down in 2016 and 2017, and a starring voice role in the Netflix original anime series Neo Yokio in 2017 and 2018. He then appeared in the 2018 drama Skate Kitchen. At the same time, Smith began shifting his focus more seriously to music. Back on the acting front, Smith appeared in the film Life in a Year in 2020. Smith did voice work on two television series in 2022: the voice of Jordan in Entergalactic and the voice of Roker in Prouder. In 2023, he appeared as himself on The Eric Andre Show.

Smith released his first studio album, Syre, in 2018, to mixed reviews. He released his third mixtape, The Sunset Tapes: A Cool Tape Story, the same year. In 2019, he released the EP Erys Is Coming in April, followed by his second studio album, Erys, in July. A third studio album, CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3, followed in 2020. In 2023, Smith was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his work on Justin Bieber's album Justice.

Impact

As the son of celebrated actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Jaden Smith began his career with access to high-profile film and television roles that may have been difficult to achieve if not for his pedigree. As his career has advanced, Smith has won praise from critics for his own acting ability. His music and MSFTS brand have also helped set him apart from his famous father and have made him a star in his own right.

Smith was the subject of a social media death hoax in 2023. Posts claimed that Will had publicly announced the death of his son. Most of the posts referred to Jaden as being only fifteen years old.

Personal Life

In 2009, Smith and his sister Willow joined Hasbro, Inc.’s Project Zambi as youth ambassadors. The project raises funds for programs that help African orphans who lost their parents to AIDS.

Bibliography

Bennett, Joy T. “Will and Jaden Smith: Hollywood’s Hottest Father/Son Duo.” Ebony Jan. 2007: 52–56. Print.

Burkeman, Oliver. “Will and Jaden Smith Give the Most Bizarre Interview in Hollywood History.” Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 30 May 2013. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.

Dabir, Marianne. “The Freshest Prince.” Teen Vogue June/July 2013: 104. Print.

"Jaden Smith." AllMusic, 2024, www.allmusic.com/artist/jaden-smith-mn0003834073. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.

"Jaden Smith." IMDb, 2024, www.imdb.com/name/nm1535523. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.

Patches, Matt. “After Earth Is Will Smith’s Love Letter to Scientology.” Rev. of After Earth, dir. M. Night Shyamalan. Vulture. New York Media, 31 May 2013. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.

Smith, Will, and Jaden Smith. “Mr. and Mr. Smith: Will and Jaden Psych Up for After Earth.” Interview by Claire Hoffman. Vulture. New York Media, 26 May 2013. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.