Jada Pinkett-Smith
- Born: 18 Sep, 1971
A pint-sized, versatile and energetic performer who smoothly segued from light character comedy in TV sitcoms to meaty and diverse roles in films, Pinkett has resisted being stereotyped into the usual roles allotted for African-American actresses by finding the reality and dignity in her characters. After doing some work in regional theater, the Baltimore-native furthered her professional show business career by becoming a protégé of filmmaker-actor Keenan Ivory Wayans who helped her acquire an agent. Several TV guest spots and a role in a busted pilot followed before Pinkett landed a regular role in the fifth season cast of the hit sitcom spin-off "A Different World" (NBC, 1991-93). As Lena James, Pinkett effectively embodied a street-smart young college student ha...
FAMILY & COMPANIONS
- grandmother Marion Banfield: maternal; died c. 1985 when Pinkett was 14
- father Robsol Pinkett: divorced from Pinkett's mother after a few months of marriage; runs a construction company
- mother Adrienne Banfield: born in 1953; became pregnant with Pinkett while in high school; divorced; married twice more, to lawyer Walter Brown c. 1980 and Paul Jones on July 19, 1997 Pinkett's father after a few months; head nurse at an inner-city Baltimore clinic
- son Jaden Christopher Syre Smith: born on July 8, 1998 in Los Angeles
- daughter Willow Camille Reign Smith: born on October 31, 2000 in Los Angeles
- husband Will Smith: together from 1995; married on December 31, 1997 in Baltimore, Maryland
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