Will Smith Describes How He Got The Role In ‘Fresh Prince’ After Auditioning At A Party When He Was Dead Broke

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Before he got his career-defining gig in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and three decade before Newsweek dubbed him “the most powerful actor in Hollywood,” Will Smith was a 19-year-old kid with a fire debut album. He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper with DJ Jazzy Jeff had gone triple platinum, won a Grammy, and made them both an Uncle Phil-sized load of cash.

What Smith did with that cash was invest in high yield stocks and contribute to his 401K buy motorcycles and cars and shut down the Gucci store in Atlanta. So basically what any teenage kid would do.

When Smith’s sophomore album flopped, or as he describes it a “tragedy.” By that time, Smith’s reckless spending had caught up with him.

“I had spent all my money, and I didn’t forget, but I didn’t pay the IRS,” Will says in a new video [embedded below]. “In my mind, I wasn’t trying to avoid paying taxes. I was just like, ‘Ah damn, they need their money.’ Being famous and broke is a shitty combination.”

The IRS eventually assessed a $2.8 million tax debt against Smith, took many of his possessions, and garnished his income, nearly bankrupting him in 1990.

Smith was broke and lost before his girlfriend convinced him to go to the Arsenio Hall Show where he met Quincy Jones, the producer of Michael Jackson’s Thriller who would go on to be the executive producer of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. At the post-show party at Jones’ house, the entertainment legend pressure Will into auditioning in front of famous party guests using a failed pilot script. Smith resisted at first but was sold when Q said “You could take 10 minutes right now and change your life forever.”

After the impromptu audition, the party guests clapped and cheered for Smith, who had won them over with his charisma. These rest is history.

Moral of the story, in Will’s mind: “Always say ‘yes’ and listen to your girlfriend.”

Smith’s recollection of his rise is way more entertaining than my written words. Check it out below:

Matt Keohan Avatar
Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.