So Fresh, and Still Clean

TBS still shows regular reruns of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It's nice to have something worth watching on daytime television. But it also reminds me that Will Smith has been succesful for a very long time now.

We sometimes forget that the Philadelphia-native started his carrier as a rapper in the late 80's with D.J. Jazzy Jeff. But instead about singing about drugs and thugs, "the Fresh Prince" produced songs about 'Getting Jiggy Wit It' and how sometimes 'Parents Just Don't Understand.' At the time, he was little more than a teenager.

From there, Smith transitioned to acting with the aforementioned television sitcom. When the show came to an end in 1996 after 146 episodes, Smith continued acting in films. Since his early appearances in action and comedy driven movies like Independence Day and Men in Black, Smith was able to move into more serious roles that proved that he was a talented actor.

From his portrayal of boxer Mohamed Ali in Ali in 2001, to his performance as Chris Gardner in another real-life inspired film The Pursuit of Happiness. In fact, both roles each earned Smith a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor.

While the American public has become so accustomed to the short-comings of celebrities, Smith has remained above such seeming obligations. Although he was divorced once, he has remained married to his current wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, for 12 years. The couple has a pair of children, the oldest of which starred with his father in The Pursuit of Happiness.

Now at the age of 40, Smith has already established a firm and respected carrier in a number of fields. He has not only a range of talent, but he has sustained a level of success for a prolonged period of time. This is not unprecedented, but it is always refreshing to see another celebrity unwilling to sacrifice their integrity and good sense.

Although he received the nickname early on, Will Smith has retained his 'freshness' after all these years.