Name
J.W. Smith
Known For
Acting
Birthday
(56 years old)
Place of Birth
Biography
J.W. Smith is a producer and actor with more than 40 years of entertainment experience in motion pictures and television. J.W. grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began his acting career at The Karamu House Community Theater. In the early 1970s, J.W. moved to New York City where he became a student in Uta Hagen's acting class at HB Studio and at The Henry Street Playhouse. During his stint in New York City, J.W. met and became close friends with Morgan Freeman and Bill Duke. More than four decades later, J.W. remains close friends with both Morgan and Bill, often collaborating on scripts and potential projects.
J.W. spent several successful years performing on Broadway and Off Broadway in plays including, "We Interrupt This Program," Public Theater's production of "On the Goddam Lock-in," and "So Nice, They Named It Twice." In addition to acting, J.W. produced shows in and around New York City for the Amas Repertory Theater Company.
In the early 1980s, J.W. moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career in film and television where he immediately landed his first job in television on "Palmerstown, U.S.A." He was selected to be a part of Paramount Pictures Associate Producers Training Program, working on several ground-breaking series for television including, "The Best of The West," "Taxi," and "Cheers." J.W. has also appeared in numerous television shows including, "L.A. Law," "Cagney and Lacey," "Reno 911," "The X-Files," and "Hill Street Blues."
Showing his range and depth of talent, J.W. has appeared in many popular feature films including, "Red Heat" (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger), "Johnny Handsome" (starring Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin, and Morgan Freeman), "Undisputed" (starring Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames), "Beetlejuice" (starring Michael Keaton), "Hoodlum" (starring Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth, and directed by Bill Duke), "The Warriors" (cult classic directed by Walter Hill), to name a few.
J.W. is President of 3000 Realms Entertainment, a production company he co-founded with friend and business partner, Bryan Behuniak. J.W.'s project in development with 3000 Realms Entertainment is "Dead Wrong," executive produced by Morgan Freeman, with producers Bryan Behuniak, James Dyer, and writer Matt Benjamin.
Known For
7.054
When Ashtray moves to South Central L.A. to live with his father (who appears to be the sa...
7.68
Prominent gang leader Cyrus calls a meeting of New York's gangs to set aside their turf wa...
6.518
Monroe Hutchens is the heavyweight champion of Sweetwater, a maximum security prison. He w...
7.335
A wanna-be blues guitar virtuoso seeks a long-lost song by legendary musician, Robert John...
6.4
A career criminal who has been deformed since birth is given a new face by a kindly doctor...
4.686
Arms dealers from several companies vie to sell the most expensive and highest tech weapon...
- 1983 Deal of the Century as Will
- 2002 Undisputed as Mess Guard
- 1983 Imps* as Receiver
- 1990 False Identity as Willi
- 1997 Hoodlum as Calvin
- 1979 The Warriors as Turnbull A.C.
- 2000 Spanish Judges as Red
- 1989 Johnny Handsome as Larry
- 1984 Attack on Fear as Synanon Man
- 1986 Crossroads as Man at Auto Wrecking Yard
- 1998 Driven as Angry Man
- 2017 Created Equal as Apartment Manager
- 1992 Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight as Sporty Black
- 1989 K-9 as Pimp
- 1988 Red Heat as Salim
- 1987 Outrageous Fortune as Dealer #1
- 1989 L.A. Takedown as Witness Talking to Hanna
- 1986 Let's Get Harry as Mercenary
- 1996 Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood as Detective Cliche
- 1985 Girls Just Want to Have Fun as Police Officer
- 1992 Martin ( 1 episode ) as Sheriff
- 1993 The X-Files ( 1 episode ) as Steve
- 2004 Listen Up! ( 1 episode ) as Construction Worker #2
- 1989 Tales from the Crypt ( 1 episode ) as Ledbetter (segment "The Man Who Was Death")
- 1989 Quantum Leap ( 1 episode ) as Eddie Davies
- 1985 The Atlanta Child Murders ( 2 episodes ) as Nathaniel Carter
- 1984 Airwolf ( 1 episode ) as Roach
- 1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child ( 1 episode ) as Doorman / Factory Worker (voice)
- 1979 Knots Landing ( 1 episode ) as Cabbie
- 1979 Knots Landing ( 1 episode ) as Partner
- 1994 Touched by an Angel ( 1 episode ) as Stuart
- 1982 The New Odd Couple ( 1 episode ) as Eddy
- 1981 Falcon Crest ( 1 episode ) as Front Desk Security Guard Pat Stevens
- 1994 Sister, Sister ( 1 episode ) as Walt
- 1994 Sister, Sister ( 1 episode ) as Man With Bandaged Head
- 2003 Reno 911! ( 1 episode ) as Prefect of Wanganui
- 1989 Family Matters ( 1 episode ) as Jake
