Most Famous Smiths in the World

The surname Smith shows up everywhere, but a handful of Smiths have reached a level of global visibility that cuts across borders and genres. From chart-topping singers and award-winning actors to influential filmmakers and media personalities, these are the names most people recognize instantly, along with the key roles, records, and milestones that made them famous.

Below you’ll find a friendly tour through standout careers that span film, television, music, and more. Each entry highlights concrete achievements—hit projects, major awards, landmark performances, recognizable shows, and creative contributions—so you can see exactly why each Smith became a household name.

Will Smith

Will Smith built a rare dual career in music and screen. He first broke out with DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, earning multiple Grammy Awards, and then headlined the TV comedy ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’. On the big screen he anchored global blockbusters including ‘Independence Day’, ‘Men in Black’, ‘Bad Boys’, and ‘Aladdin’, and he received Academy Award nominations for portraying Muhammad Ali in ‘Ali’ and Chris Gardner in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’.

In 2022 he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ‘King Richard’. His filmography also includes ‘I Am Legend’, ‘Hitch’, ‘Enemy of the State’, and ‘Suicide Squad’, and he has produced numerous features and series through Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook, expanding his impact behind the camera.

Sam Smith

Sam Smith is a singer and songwriter known for a powerful tenor voice and a string of international hits from the debut album In the Lonely Hour, including “Stay With Me.” They have earned multiple Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, and their collaborations span pop, dance, and R&B, with high-profile features on tracks by Disclosure, Calvin Harris, and more.

Smith also performed the James Bond theme ‘Writing’s on the Wall’ for ‘Spectre’, which won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Subsequent albums produced additional global singles and arena tours, and Smith publicly adopted they/them pronouns in 2019, becoming a prominent figure for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream pop.

Maggie Smith

Dame Maggie Smith is one of Britain’s most decorated actors, with extensive credits in film, television, and theatre. She earned two Academy Awards for performances in ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ and ‘California Suite’, and she brought Professor Minerva McGonagall to life across the ‘Harry Potter’ film series. On television, she portrayed the Dowager Countess of Grantham in ‘Downton Abbey’.

Her stage career includes major roles with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and honors include a damehood (DBE). Smith has also received multiple BAFTAs, Emmys, and a Tony, reflecting a body of work that spans decades and mediums with consistent critical and popular success.

Matt Smith

Matt Smith achieved international fame as the Eleventh Doctor on ‘Doctor Who’, becoming the youngest actor to take on the role at the time. He later portrayed Prince Philip in ‘The Crown’, a performance that brought a Primetime Emmy nomination, and he joined the ‘House of the Dragon’ ensemble as Daemon Targaryen.

His film credits include roles in ‘Last Night in Soho’ and other features across genres, while his theatre work ranges from classic revivals to contemporary plays. Smith’s screen career moves fluidly between prestige television and large-scale franchises, securing a broad global audience.

Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith is a filmmaker whose debut ‘Clerks’ became a landmark of 1990s American independent cinema. He followed it with interconnected comedies set in the View Askewniverse—’Mallrats’, ‘Chasing Amy’, ‘Dogma’, and ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’—often appearing on screen as Silent Bob alongside Jason Mewes.

Beyond directing, Smith built a prolific career in podcasting and live shows through SModcast and a network of talk-driven programs. He has also written comics for major publishers and directed episodes of television series, while returning periodically to features such as ‘Red State’, ‘Tusk’, and ‘Clerks III’.

Patti Smith

Patti Smith is a singer, poet, and author whose 1975 album Horses is widely cited as foundational to punk’s emergence in New York. She co-wrote the Top 10 hit “Because the Night” with Bruce Springsteen’s original composition, and sustained a touring and recording career that bridged rock, spoken word, and literature.

Her memoir Just Kids won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, documenting her early years and creative partnership with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Smith remains a fixture at festivals, museums, and cultural institutions, performing and presenting work that links music, poetry, and visual art.

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith, often called the “Empress of the Blues,” was among the most popular recording artists of the 1920s and early 1930s. Her recordings for Columbia Records—such as “Downhearted Blues”—sold in large numbers and helped define the classic female blues style that influenced jazz and popular singing for generations.

She toured extensively on the vaudeville circuit with large ensembles and stage productions, bringing blues to audiences nationwide. Her catalog became a touchstone for later singers and musicians, and mid-century reissues introduced her work to new listeners, ensuring continued historical and cultural recognition.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith’s screen career spans action, drama, and comedy, with notable roles in ‘Set It Off’, ‘The Nutty Professor’, and the ‘Matrix’ films, where she portrays Niobe. She has also led and produced television projects, including the talk show ‘Red Table Talk’, which became a high-profile forum for interviews and personal conversations.

Beyond acting and hosting, she has produced films and series and co-founded a rock/metal band that toured internationally. Her publishing work includes the memoir Worthy, and she has been involved in philanthropic initiatives focused on youth, the arts, and community development.

Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith appeared on screen alongside his father in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ and later headlined ‘The Karate Kid’. He also starred in the science-fiction feature ‘After Earth’, building an early résumé that paired acting with music releases and fashion projects.

As a recording artist, he released the albums SYRE and ERYS, collaborated with peers across hip-hop and alternative scenes, and launched tours in North America and abroad. He co-founded JUST Water, an eco-focused bottled-water company, and has supported several clean-water and sustainability efforts.

Willow Smith

Willow Smith scored a breakthrough in music with the platinum single “Whip My Hair,” followed by albums and collaborations that expanded from pop and R&B into rock and alternative. She earned additional mainstream attention through the band project The Anxiety, which reached major streaming and radio audiences.

On screen, she appeared in projects such as ‘Kit Kittredge: An American Girl’ and voiced Baby Gloria in ‘Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa’. She also co-hosted ‘Red Table Talk’, contributing interviews and discussions that drew large online viewership and awards recognition for digital programming.

Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith is a leading sports media personality known for hosting ‘First Take’ on ESPN, where he conducts interviews, debates current topics, and anchors breaking-news reactions. He has also hosted radio programs and podcasts, expanding his reach across audio and digital platforms.

His television work has included NBA studio coverage and special reports, and he has authored books that detail his career and perspective on sports and broadcasting. Smith frequently appears as a guest on late-night and news programs, extending his profile beyond sports-only audiences.

Jaclyn Smith

Jaclyn Smith became world-famous as one of the original stars of ‘Charlie’s Angels’, appearing throughout the show’s run and taking part in later reunions and specials. She went on to lead and appear in a wide variety of television movies and miniseries, including biographical roles and contemporary dramas.

Smith also built a longstanding business career in fashion and home goods, launching branded lines that sold in major retailers and on television shopping platforms. Her philanthropic activity includes support for cancer research and women’s health, often tied to product collaborations and public campaigns.

Share your picks for the most famous Smiths—and the roles, songs, or shows you think define them—in the comments!