JS
J.W. Smith
Actor
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.
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.
Filmography
| 2017 | Created Equal · as Apartment Manager |
| 2012 | Little Red Wagon · as Mr. Tuchman |
| 2010 | Main Street · as Bill |
| 2004 | Listen Up (TV Series) · as Construction Worker #2 |
| 2003 | Reno 911! (TV Series) · as Prefect Of Wanganui |
| 2002 | Undisputed · as Mess Guard |
| 2000 | Spanish Judges · as Red |
| 1998 | Why Do Fools Fall in Love · as Postman |
| 1997 | House of Frankenstein (TV Series) · as Vincent |
| 1997 | Hoodlum · as Calvin |
| 1996 | Driven · as Angry Man |
| 1996 | Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood · as Detective Cliche |
| 1995 | Indictment: The McMartin Trial · as Male Inmate |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Series) · as Doorman / Factory Worker (voice) |
| 1995 | The Wayans Bros. (TV Series) · as Sheldon |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Stuart |
| 1994 | Sister, Sister (TV Series) · as Man With Bandaged Head |
| 1993 | The Sinbad Show (TV Series) · as Chuck |
| 1993 | The X-Files (TV Series) · as Steve |
| 1992 | Martin (TV Series) |
| 1992 | Deep Cover · as Video Dealer |
| 1991 | Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight · as Sporty Black |
| 1991 | Reasonable Doubts (TV Series) · as Peanuts |
| 1991 | Roc (TV Series) · as Jack Knife |
| 1990 | False Identity · as Willi |
| 1990 | Downtown · as Sgt. Walter Hodo |
| 1989 | Johnny Handsome · as Larry |
| 1989 | Family Matters (TV Series) · as Jake |
| 1989 | Life Goes On (TV Series) · as Larry Sheffo |
| 1989 | L.A. Takedown · as Witness Talking To Hanna |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt (TV Series) · as Ledbetter (segment "the Man Who Was Death") |
| 1989 | K-9 · as Pimp |
| 1989 | Quantum Leap (TV Series) · as Eddie Davies |
| 1989 | Heartland (TV Series) · as Cab Driver |
| 1989 | Father Dowling Mysteries (TV Series) · as Slick |
| 1988 | Red Heat · as Salim |
| 1987 | Max Headroom (TV Series) · as Rik |
| 1987 | Outrageous Fortune · as Dealer #1 |
| 1986 | Let's Get Harry · as Mercenary |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Walt Buckner |
| 1986 | Crossroads · as Man At Auto Wrecking Yard |
| 1986 | The Children of Times Square · as Cast |
| 1986 | The Hogan Family (TV Series) · as Referee |
| 1985 | Girls Just Want to Have Fun · as Police Officer |
| 1985 | The Atlanta Child Murders (TV Series) · as Nathaniel Carter |
| 1984 | Maximum Security (TV Series) · as Prison Guard |
| 1984 | Airwolf (TV Series) · as Roach |
| 1983 | D.C. Cab · as Black Kidnapper |
| 1983 | Imps* · as Receiver |
| 1983 | Deal of the Century · as Will |
| 1982 | The New Odd Couple (TV Series) · as Eddy |
| 1981 | Cagney & Lacey (TV Series) · as Bus Mechanic |
| 1981 | Falcon Crest (TV Series) · as Front Desk Security Guard Pat Stevens |
| 1981 | Hill Street Blues (TV Series) · as Citizen |
| 1979 | Knots Landing (TV Series) · as Cabbie |
| 1979 | The Warriors · as Turnbull A.c. |