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J.W. Smith

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.


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Movie/TV Credits:
26
First Appeared:
In the movie The Warriors 1979-02-01
Latest Project:
Movie Created Equal 2017-04-29
Known For
Poster of Created Equal
Poster of Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Poster of False Identity
Poster of Attack on Fear
Filmography
Movie Created Equal Apartment Manager 2017-04-29
Series Listen Up! Construction Worker #2 2004-09-20
Movie Undisputed Mess Guard 2002-07-17
Movie Spanish Judges Red 2000-10-16
Movie Driven Angry Man 1998-04-23
Movie Hoodlum Calvin 1997-08-27
Series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Doorman / Factory Worker (voice) 1995-03-12
Series The X-Files Steve 1993-09-10
Movie Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight Sporty Black 1992-01-05
Series Martin Unknown 1992-08-27
Movie False Identity Willi 1990-06-08
Movie K-9 Pimp 1989-04-28
Series Quantum Leap Eddie Davies 1989-03-26
Movie L.A. Takedown Witness Talking to Hanna 1989-08-27
Series Tales from the Crypt Ledbetter 1989-06-10
Movie Johnny Handsome Larry 1989-09-12
Movie Red Heat Salim 1988-06-17
Movie Outrageous Fortune Dealer #1 1987-01-30
Movie Crossroads 1986-03-14
Movie Let's Get Harry Mercenary 1986-10-31
Series The Atlanta Child Murders Nathaniel Carter 1985-02-10
Series Airwolf Roach 1984-01-22
Movie Attack on Fear Synanon Man 1984-10-10
Movie Deal of the Century Will 1983-11-04
Movie Imps* Receiver 1983-12-12
Movie The Warriors Turnbull A.C. 1979-02-01