J.W. Smith

JW Smith is a producer and actor with more than 40 years of entertainment experience in motion pictures and television JW grew up in Cleveland Ohio where he began his acting career at The Karamu House Community Theater In the early 1970s JW moved to New York City where he became a student in Uta Hagens acting class at HB Studio and at The Henry Street Playhouse During his stint in New York City JW met and became close friends with Morgan Freeman and Bill Duke More than four decades later JW remains close friends with both Morgan and Bill often collaborating on scripts and potential projects JW spent several successful years performing on Broadway and Off Broadway in plays including We Interrupt This Program Public Theaters production of On the Goddam Lockin and So Nice They Named It Twice In addition to acting JW produced shows in and around New York City for the Amas Repertory Theater Company In the early 1980s JW moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career in film and television where he immediately landed his first job in television on Palmerstown USA He was selected to be a part of Paramount Pictures Associate Producers Training Program working on several groundbreaking series for television including The Best of The West Taxi and Cheers JW has also appeared in numerous television shows including LA Law Cagney and Lacey Reno 911 The XFiles and Hill Street Blues Showing his range and depth of talent JW 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 JW is President of 3000 Realms Entertainment a production company he cofounded with friend and business partner Bryan Behuniak JWs 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