Will Smith desired Eddie Murphy’s level of fame in order to arouse in others the same emotions that he felt when he first saw ‘Star Wars’.

There are several examples in Hollywood history of stars taking on challenging roles and portraying characters that are very different from themselves. Among these famous examples is Will Smith, who stunned everyone by assuming the role of a gay con man in the critically panned 1993 comedy-drama film Six Degrees of Separation. Even though this $15 million film was a commercial failure, Smith showed his range as an actor by taking on such a sensitive role, which was a brave move.

Actually, the Oscar-winning actor grew up admiring the charismatic Eddie Murphy as a groundbreaking performer who rose to prominence in Hollywood and a comic genius. The latter’s seamless transition between dramatic and comedic roles was something Smith aspired to follow.

So even in his early career, Smith wanted to emulate his idol’s success, even if it meant taking on unconventional roles that went against social norms. In other words, the actor wanted to become as prominent as Murphy so that he could inspire others with the same feelings he had when he first saw Star Wars.

Will Smith in Six Degrees of Separation

The Real Reason Will Smith Played a Gay Con Artist in Six Degrees of Separation

With his successful role in the popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith, 55, had already established himself as a well-known figure on television. But he could not resist the allure of showcasing his versatility by accepting difficult and unusual film roles.

With Six Degrees of Separation, Smith had the chance to step outside of his comic comfort zone and tackle characters who were deeper and more nuanced. That being the case, why did he take such a chance? He grew up watching Star Wars while greatly idolizing the achievements and allure of Eddie Murphy. In short, his goal was to evoke the same emotions in others that he had when he first saw Star Wars.

Most blatantly, Smith’s memoir, Will, offered a thorough account of his purposeful quest to become one of the most famous movie stars. He wrote (via GQ):

“I wanted to do what Eddie Murphy was doing. I wanted to make people feel how I felt the first time I saw Star Wars. I wanted to be Eddie Murphy in Star Wars.” 

Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor

And so, the quest started with one of his first roles in Fred Schepisi’s Six Degrees of Separation, released in 1993. Inspired by David Hampton’s true story, the movie was a risky endeavor for the rapper-turned-actor. Smith portrayed a young gay con artist (Paul) who deceives several affluent New Yorkers in the $15 million box office disaster film.

Will Smith Disregarded One Important Aspect Of The Film

Despite going above and beyond for the role, Will Smith drew the line in one of the important scenes. Paul is a gay character, so kissing co-star Anthony Michael Hall was part of the Six Degrees of Separation script. However, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air declined to perform that kiss during the sequence. Instead, the scene was trimmed around that point to appease Smith. He informed Entertainment Weekly in 1993.

“It was very immature on my part. I was thinking, ‘How are my friends in Philly going to think about this?’ I wasn’t emotionally stable enough to artistically commit to that aspect of the film. … This was a valuable lesson for me. Either you do it, or you don’t.”

Will Smith in Six Degrees of Separation

The same-titled play by John Guare, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1990, served as the inspiration for Fred Schepisi’s 1993 comedy-drama film, Six Degrees of Separation. 

The next movie starring Smith is an untitled fourth Bad Boys movie, helmed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. It is the fourth entry in the Bad Boys franchise and the follow-up to Bad Boys for Life (2020). The upcoming film is expected to be released on June 14, 2024.

Watch Six Degrees of Separation on FuboTV.