Posts Tagged ‘Will Smith’

Stevie Wonder, who certainly needs no introduction, will be honored by The Library of Congress with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Winners are recognized for their lifetime achievement, while transcending musical styles which promote expression and cultural understanding.

The 58-year-old Wonder, a self-taught prodigy, appeared on American Bandstand at age 12, and music hasn’t been the same since.

His songs include, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” (which has been sung by every B-rated torch singer this side of the Mississippi…just an observation), “My Cherie Amour,” “Superstition,” “Living for the City,” and far too many to mention.

He’s collaborated with some of the world’s most renowned artists, like Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Bob Marley, to name just a few; and his music’s been used by Will Smith, Coolio, Warren G, 50 Cent, and others.

The 58-year-old Wonder will receive the Gershwin Award on February 23, 2009.

The Office star Rainn Wilson leaves his cubicle to play a has-been rocker in the aptly titled The Rocker opening Wednesday. It’s too soon to see how the movie career of Wilson, best known for dorky Dwight will fare, but in the meantime let’s take a look back at the best TV to movie crossovers.

George Clooney The Emmy-nominated ER doc hung up his scrubs for a successful movie career that spans box-office commercial fare (the Ocean’s Eleven franchise) to the critically acclaimed (winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Syriana). He’s also established himself as a bona fide writer and director with Good Night, and Good Luck.

Tom Hanks Before going on to win two Best Actor Oscars, he starred as a cross dresser in the 80s sitcom Bosom Buddies. Since then he’s starred in dozens of classic films like Forrest Gump and Saving Private Ryan, as well as writing, directing and producing.

Johnny Depp Now known for his chameleon-like ability to immerse himself into eccentric characters like Captain Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd and Willy Wonka, Depp got his start playing a baby-faced undercover cop in 21 Jump Street. 

Leonardo DiCaprio Before he sailed on the Titanic, DiCaprio played a scrawny teen in Growing Pains. Now he’s grown up and starring in critically acclaimed films like The Departed and Blood Diamond while scoring three Oscar noms.  

Will Smith The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star now rules Fourth of July weekends in explosive movies like Independence Day, Men in Black and Hancock. He doesn’t just fight aliens though; he also was Oscar nominated for The Pursuit of Happyness and Ali.

Denzel Washington The St. Elsewhere star is another sexy TV doc who rocketed to the A-List with a number of classic films like Malcolm X and Training Day, for which he won an Oscar.

Jennifer Aniston The Friends star has starred in numerous films such as Office Space, The Good Girl, Derailed and The Break-Up; yet, she’s still best known as Rachel. But several upcoming films like Marley and Me may make us forget about that New York waitress with cute hair.

Steve Carell He’s just as good at getting laughs in films like The 40-Year Old Virgin, Little Miss Sunshine and Get Smart as he does in The Office, but he also kept it real with low key film Dan in Real Life.  

Bruce Willis With classic films like the Die Hard franchise and The Sixth Sense, one almost forgets he won a Golden Globe for his TV show, Moonlighting.

Helen Hunt The Mad About You star went on to win an Oscar for As Good As It Gets and to star in Twister, but then she disappeared until this year’s underwhelming Then She Found Me, in which she starred, directed and co-wrote.

Here’s five things you probably don’t know but should:

1. “I’m not gonna write you a love song caused you asked me to.” – But she did. The context of the hit single, “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles was that her label (Epic) actually asked her to write a “marketable love song” for her album.

2. Congratulations, it’s twins! – Actors James Franco (Pineapple Express) and Hayden Christensen (Jumper) share the same birthday, that of April 19th. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’ve noticed that they also share the same nose, mouth, and eyes…(whoa, that’s a lot of gorgeous).

3. All in the Family – Actor Nicholas Cage is the nephew of great Hollywood Producer Francis Ford Coppola (Lost in Translation), and he is also cousins with “Office” actor Jason Schwartzman.

4. More Birthday Madness – Get ready for this – Will Smith, Heather Locklear, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Michael Douglas were all born on September 25.

5. “Gossip Girl” co-stars Blake Lively and Penn Badgley have known each other since they were ages 11 and 12.