His energetic personality, daredevil antics, and natural ability to make people laugh have kept the world entertained since the late ’80s. Smith likes to live on the wild side and try as many things as he possibly can because, as he has said, “Life is lived on the edge.”
He showed just how adventurous he is on his 50th birthday when he and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith took on gravity for an extreme sports activity. Find out more about his life, wild boy behavior, and more, ahead.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith on the red carpet at an award show in February 2016 | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards Will Smith’s early life and career
Smith was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He gained fame in the ’80s under the rap moniker The Fresh Prince before parlaying his success into the hit comedy series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show debuted on NBC in 1990 and continued for six years before Smith walked away to focus on his blossoming acting career.
Smith went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, with roles in everything from romances and comedies to dramas and sci-fi flicks — including hits like Bad Boys (1995), Men in Black (1997), and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006).
His talent and reputation have helped him become one of the highest-paid actors in the world, with $35 million in earnings in 2019 alone (via Forbes).
For his 50th birthday in September 2018, Smith chose to go skydiving with some friends and family members, including Jada. Though she is afraid of heights and hates to fly, Jada told Jimmy Fallon in a later interview that she decided to go because Smith had asked her to come instead of getting him a gift.
“He said, ‘The only thing I want for my birthday, a birthday gift from you, is for you to jump out of a plane,’” she told to the famed television host, noting that she was tempted due to how hard it usually is to find the perfect birthday gift for her husband.
“It’s hard to find things for Will because he doesn’t necessarily like objects, so he doesn’t like material stuff,” she continued. “So I was like, ‘Man, if that’s what you really want, then daggonit, I’ll do it.’ I did it for his 50th because that’s what he wanted.”
Despite her fears, Jada admitted that the dive wasn’t so bad. However, she ruled out the possibility of ever doing it again. “I did it once for his 50th. We’re done!” she teased.
Meanwhile, Smith talked about the moment in an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, telling DeGeneres he thought Jada would actually like it. “I’m telling Jada, like, ‘You’re gonna meet heaven when you go up there… and she didn’t.’”
Though it probably wasn’t the most ideal way to celebrate his birthday, we’re sure it meant a lot to Smith that Jada joined him on the occasion. We just wouldn’t hold our breath for her to do it again.