Over the years, Will Smith has graced the screen with countless unforgettable and iconic performances. However, many would argue that his portrayal of Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness stands out as one of his best. In the 2006 film, Smith depicted Gardner’s journey from homelessness to success as a finance entrepreneur and motivational speaker alongside his young son, played by Jaden Smith. Recently, Smith paid tribute to Gardner as the inspirational figure marked his 70th birthday.

Smith shared a sweet message expressing how Chris Gardner continues to inspire him in life.

Will Smith celebrating the man behind The Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith took to Instagram, sharing a photo of the real Chris Gardner standing with his son. In his caption, Smith praised Gardner’s relentless pursuit of greatness that inspired everyone to pursue “happyness“. Signing off with a heartfelt “Love U Chris,” the post highlighted the long-term friendship between Smith and Gardner. Their bond has spanned more than 15 years since The Pursuit of Happyness premiered.

Smith’s stellar portrayal of Gardner even earned him his second Oscar nomination. Over the past few years, the actor has taken on the roles of other real-life figures as well. In King Richard, he depicted the father of iconic tennis stars Serena and Venu0s Williams. This made him secure his first Academy Award in the Best Actor category. However, just before receiving the award, he was caught up in one of the ugliest Oscar controversies in history that had a huge impact on Smith’s career.

Smith, however, has come up with a back-up plan of returning to his musical roots to revive his career.

Will Smith could be making a comeback to his rap career

Talks about Will Smith reviving his musical career have been around ever since he announced his podcast. Smith’s podcast, Class of ’88, was all about discussing the music of the bygone era and hit fans with a dose of nostalgia. However, the rumors escalated to a new level when one of Smith’s biggest supporters, Joyner Lucas, shared a video of them rapping together, hinting at a potential collaboration.

Months after the video surfaced on the web, Smith shared another tidbit of having something exciting in store for his fans. He teased this while sharing a group picture with music artists like Tainy, Lex Borrero, NEON16, and his son, Jaden Smith. After delivering acclaimed movies like The Pursuit of Happyness, all hints now point to Smith’s efforts to get back on track through music, after being excluded from his Hollywood circles.

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