Kevin Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Smith
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Smith at the 2022 WonderCon
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| Born |
Kevin Patrick Smith
August 2, 1970 Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Style |
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| Spouse(s) |
Jennifer Schwalbach
(m. 1999) |
| Children | Harley Quinn Smith |
| Awards | Inkpot Award (2018) |
Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. He became famous for his low-budget comedy film Clerks (1994). He wrote, directed, co-produced, and acted in it. In Clerks, he played the character Silent Bob, part of the duo Jay and Silent Bob.
These characters also appeared in many of Smith's later films. These include Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001). Other films with them are Clerks II (2006), Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019), and Clerks III (2022). Most of these movies are set in his home state of New Jersey.
These films are not strict sequels but share characters and stories. This shared world is called the "View Askewniverse". It's named after Smith's production company, View Askew Productions. He started this company with Scott Mosier.
From 2011 to 2018, Smith mostly made horror films. These include Red State (2011) and the comedy horror movies Tusk (2014) and Yoga Hosers (2016). He also directed films he didn't write, like the action comedy Cop Out (2010). He also directed episodes for various TV shows, and created Masters of the Universe: Revelation in 2021.
Smith owns Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash in Red Bank, New Jersey. This comic book store was the setting for the TV show Comic Book Men (2012–2018). He also hosted the film review TV show Spoilers. As a podcaster, Smith co-hosts several shows. These are part of his SModcast Podcast Network, like SModcast and Fatman Beyond. He is also known for long, funny Q&A sessions with fans. These are often filmed for DVD release, starting with An Evening with Kevin Smith.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Kevin Patrick Smith was born on August 2, 1970. His birthplace was Red Bank, New Jersey. His mother, Grace, was a homemaker. His father, Donald, was a postal worker. Kevin has an older sister, Virginia, and an older brother, Donald Jr. He grew up in Highlands in a Catholic family.
Smith's father disliked his job. This made a big impact on Kevin. He promised himself he would never work at something he didn't enjoy.
Smith went to Henry Hudson Regional High School. He was a B and C student. He videotaped basketball games and made Saturday Night Live-style sketch comedy. He used humor to connect with friends. After high school, Smith went to The New School in New York City but didn't finish. He met Jason Mewes while working at a youth center. They became friends because they both loved comic books.
Becoming a Filmmaker
On his 21st birthday, Smith watched Slacker. This comedy film was made by Richard Linklater. Smith was impressed that Linklater filmed it in his hometown. This inspired Smith to become a filmmaker. He decided to set his own movies where he lived. He studied films by independent directors like Linklater and Spike Lee.
Smith attended Vancouver Film School for four months. There, he met Scott Mosier and Dave Klein. Smith left school early to save money for his first film. He felt he had learned enough to start.
Smith moved back to New Jersey. He got his old job back at a convenience store. He decided to set his first film, Clerks, at this store. He used a "day-in-the-life" style, similar to Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing.
Smith used over a dozen credit cards to get money. He also sold his valuable comic book collection. This helped him raise $27,575 to make Clerks. He saved money by casting his friends in most of the roles.
Filmmaking Career
Early Success with Clerks
Clerks was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 1994. It won the Filmmaker's Trophy. After the screening, Miramax executive Harvey Weinstein bought the film. In May 1994, it went to the Cannes International Film Festival. There, it won two awards.
The film was released in October 1994. It played in 50 cities but never on more than 50 screens at once. Despite this limited release, it was a big success. It earned $3.1 million and was praised by critics. Clerks had a huge impact on independent filmmaking.
Expanding the View Askewniverse
Smith's second film was Mallrats. It starred Jason Lee. This movie didn't do as well as Clerks. It got bad reviews and earned only $2.2 million. However, Mallrats became more popular when it was released on home video.
In 1997, Smith released Chasing Amy. Many people called it his best film. It starred Jason Lee, Joey Lauren Adams, and Ben Affleck. The film cost $250,000 to make. It earned $12 million at the box office. It also won two Independent Spirit Awards.
Smith's fourth film was Dogma (1999). It had a famous cast, including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Chris Rock. The film caused some debate because it was a religious comedy. It was shown at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. The $10 million film earned $30 million.
Next, Smith focused on Jay and Silent Bob. These characters had been in his earlier films. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back featured many familiar actors. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon even played themselves. The $20 million film earned $30 million.
New Directions and Challenges
Jersey Girl was Smith's first film outside the View Askewniverse. It starred Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. The film got negative reviews and didn't do well at the box office.
In 2006, Smith made Clerks II. He brought back the characters Dante and Randal from his first film. The movie received good reviews and won two awards. It also got an eight-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. The $5 million film earned $25 million.
In 2009, Smith directed Cop Out. This was the first film he directed but didn't write. It was released in 2010 and got poor reviews. After this, Smith decided to go back to making independent films.
In 2010, Smith started Red State. This was an independent horror film. It was inspired by a real church. The film starred Michael Parks and John Goodman. Smith decided to distribute the film himself. He wanted to show that marketing a film doesn't have to cost a lot. Red State earned over $1 million but received mixed reviews.
Smith later said he would continue making films. But he would only make movies that were truly his own ideas.
Recent Films
In 2013, Smith directed Tusk. This horror film was inspired by a strange online ad. It was released in 2014 and got mixed reviews.
Before Tusk was released, Smith wrote a spin-off film. It was called Yoga Hosers. His daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, and Lily-Rose Depp starred in it. They played characters from Tusk. The film was released in 2016.
Smith also wrote a script for a film called Moose Jaws. He described it as "Jaws with a moose." This film is planned to be part of his True North trilogy.
In 2016, Smith directed a segment for the horror film Holidays. His segment was called Halloween.
In 2017, Smith began filming KillRoy Was Here. This horror film is based on the famous "Kilroy was here" graffiti. Smith co-wrote the script, which was a first for him.
Later in 2017, Smith decided to make a sequel to Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. It was called Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. The film was shot in 2019. Smith also announced a tour to go with the film.
On October 1, 2019, Smith announced Clerks III. Jeff Anderson agreed to return as Randal. The film was released on September 13, 2022.
In 2024, Smith released The 4:30 Movie. It focuses on teenagers in the 1980s. They spend a day "theatre-hopping" in New Jersey.
Working with Harvey Weinstein
Most of Smith's films until 2008 were funded by Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob. They worked through companies like Miramax and The Weinstein Company. Smith's relationship with Harvey Weinstein changed in 2008.
Smith later decided to stop working with Weinstein. He learned about serious issues involving Weinstein. Smith promised to donate all his future earnings from Weinstein-produced films. These donations would go to Women in Film. This group helps women in the film industry. Smith later decided to donate $2,000 a month instead. This was because the earnings from older films were lower than expected.
Frequent Collaborators
Kevin Smith often works with the same actors. Jason Mewes has been in nine of his films. His wife, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, has been in eight. Ben Affleck has appeared in seven of his movies.
Other Creative Work
Writing Comics and Books
Kevin Smith has written for Arena magazine. In 2005, he released his first book, Silent Bob Speaks. It was a collection of essays about pop culture and his life. His second book, My Boring-... Life, was a collection of blog posts. It reached No. 32 on The New York Times Best Sellers List.
Smith is a big comic book fan. He wrote comics about his View Askew characters. These include Jay and Silent Bob and Clerks comics. In 1999, Smith won a Harvey Award for Best New Talent in comic books.
He also wrote for major comic book companies. He wrote for Daredevil at Marvel Comics. He also wrote for Green Arrow at DC Comics. He later wrote Batman: Cacophony and The Widening Gyre.
In 2011, Smith's comic The Bionic Man debuted. It was based on a script he wrote that was not used for a movie. In 2014, he co-wrote Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet.
In 2022, Smith announced a new publishing line called Secret Stash Press. The first books include Maskerade and Quick Stops.
Television Projects
In 2000, Smith and Scott Mosier created an animated TV show. It was based on Clerks. Only two episodes of Clerks: The Animated Series aired on ABC.
Smith also directed commercials for MTV and Nike. He directed the pilot for The CW show Reaper. He said he wanted to direct something he didn't write.
Smith produced and appeared in the AMC reality TV series Comic Book Men. The show was set in his comic book store. It ran for seven seasons, from 2012 to 2018.
Smith has directed episodes for several TV shows. These include The Flash, Supergirl, and The Goldbergs.
In 2019, Smith was set to co-write an animated web series. It was based on Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck for Hulu. However, the series was later canceled.
In 2022, Smith guest-starred as himself on the Nickelodeon sitcom Warped!.
Online Presence
Smith has a website called The View Askewniverse. He also has an online blog, "My Boring-... Life."
In 2007, Smith and Scott Mosier started SModcast. This is a regular comedy podcast. SModcast grew into a network of podcasts. It also has an internet radio station and a TV channel.
In 2012, Smith launched his Hulu weekly series Spoilers. It's a show where he and others review new films.
Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash
Smith owns and runs Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash. It's a comic book store in Red Bank. The store sells merchandise related to his films and comics. He bought the original store in 1997 with money from Clerks. The store moved to a new location later.
The New Jersey store is managed by Smith's friend, Walt Flanagan. Walt often appears in Smith's films. Smith also had a store in Los Angeles, but it closed in 2009. The Red Bank store is now his only one.
Personal Life and Health
After his early films became successful, Smith moved to Los Angeles. He missed his hometown of Red Bank, New Jersey.
Smith is married to Jennifer Schwalbach Smith. He met her when she interviewed him for USA Today. They got married on April 25, 1999. Their daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, was born on June 26, 1999. She was named after the character Harley Quinn from Batman: The Animated Series. The family lives in the Hollywood Hills.
Smith was raised Catholic. His film Dogma was inspired by his thoughts on faith. He has said he believes in people.
Smith is a big fan of hockey. He supports the New Jersey Devils and the Edmonton Oilers.
Health Journey
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Smith has changed his diet and weight many times. He lost weight after meeting his wife. During the making of Clerks II in 2005, he lost 50 pounds. In 2014, he changed his diet again and lost more weight.
On February 25, 2018, Smith had a serious heart attack. This happened after a comedy show. He had emergency surgery and recovered. After this, his doctor told him to lose more weight. He became a vegan and joined Weight Watchers. He also became a spokesperson for the brand.
Giving Back
Smith co-founded "The Wayne Foundation." This charity supports women who have been exploited. In 2019, he donated some of his old jerseys to be auctioned for the charity.
In 2018, Vancouver Film School announced three "Kevin Smith Scholarships." These scholarships cover full tuition for students. Smith personally chose the students who received them.
Filmography
Smith has directed sixteen feature films since 1994. He wrote the screenplays for all but one of them, Cop Out (2010).
He has also created and produced TV series. These include Clerks: The Animated Series (2000–2001) and Comic Book Men (2012–2018). Since 2016, he has often directed episodes for many TV shows.
Smith has had many small acting roles in films and TV. He often plays himself or makes a brief appearance.
Awards and Recognition
In 2019, Clerks was chosen by the Library of Congress. It was added to the United States National Film Registry. This means it is considered "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Images for kids
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Smith speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con
See also
- Kevin Smith's unrealized projects
- Smodcastle Cinemas (Smith-owned movie theater in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey)
