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 |
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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, and acted in the movie as the character Silent Bob.
Silent Bob is part of the duo Jay and Silent Bob, who appear in many of Smith's films. These movies, including Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), and Dogma (1999), are mostly set in his home state of New Jersey. The films share characters and stories, creating a connected world known as the "View Askewniverse". This name comes from his production company, View Askew Productions.
Smith has also directed other movies like the comedy-drama Jersey Girl (2004) and the horror film Red State (2011). He has directed episodes for TV shows like The Flash and Supergirl. He also owns a comic book store called Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, which was the setting for the reality TV show Comic Book Men.
Contents
Early Life
Kevin Patrick Smith was born on August 2, 1970, in Red Bank, New Jersey. His mother, Grace, was a homemaker, and his father, Donald, was a postal worker. He has an older sister, Virginia, and an older brother, Donald Jr. He grew up in the nearby town of Highlands.
Smith's father disliked his job, which made a big impression on Kevin. Smith promised himself he would only work at something he enjoyed. In high school, he filmed basketball games and made comedy sketches. After high school, he met Jason Mewes, and they became good friends because they both loved comic books.
Career as a Filmmaker
Getting Started
On his 21st birthday, Smith saw the movie Slacker. He was inspired that the director, Richard Linklater, made the film in his own hometown. This made Smith want to become a filmmaker and set his movies where he lived.
Smith attended Vancouver Film School for four months. He met his future partners Scott Mosier and Dave Klein there. However, Smith left early to save money for his first film.
The Clerks Breakthrough
Smith returned to New Jersey and worked at a convenience store. He decided to set his first film, Clerks, in that store. To raise the $27,575 needed for the movie, he used many credit cards and sold his comic book collection. He cast his friends in most of the roles to save money.
Clerks was shown at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival, where it won an award. The film company Miramax bought the movie and released it. It was a big success, earning over $3 million. The movie originally received a strict rating for its language, but the rating was successfully appealed and changed to an R rating.
The View Askewniverse
Smith's second film, Mallrats (1995), was not as successful in theaters but became popular on home video. His next film, Chasing Amy (1997), was a big success. It cost only $250,000 to make and earned $12 million. It won two Independent Spirit Awards.
His fourth film, Dogma (1999), had a cast of famous actors, including Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The movie was a religious-themed comedy that caused some controversy but was a financial success.
Next, Smith made Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001). This movie focused on the two characters who had appeared in his previous films. It featured many actors from his other movies and was a box office hit.
Exploring New Genres
Smith's first film outside the View Askewniverse was Jersey Girl (2004). It starred Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. In 2006, he returned to his famous characters with Clerks II. The movie received good reviews and won an award at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
In 2008, he directed Zack and Miri Make a ..., starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. Smith then directed Cop Out (2010), starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. It was the first film he directed that he did not also write.
After Cop Out, Smith returned to independent filmmaking. He made the horror film Red State (2011), which was inspired by the Westboro Baptist Church. He distributed the film himself instead of using a major studio. He also directed the horror-comedy Tusk (2014), which was inspired by an unusual online ad.
Recent Films
Smith continued to make unique films. He directed Yoga Hosers (2016), which starred his daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, and Lily-Rose Depp. He also wrote and directed a segment for the horror movie Holidays (2016).
In 2019, he released Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, a sequel to Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. He followed this with Clerks III in 2022. In 2024, Smith released The 4:30 Movie, about a group of teenagers in the 1980s.
Other Work
Writing Comics
Smith is a huge comic book fan and has written many comics. He started by writing stories about his own characters, like Jay and Silent Bob. He later wrote for major companies like Marvel Comics and DC Comics.
For Marvel, he wrote a popular story for Daredevil. For DC, he wrote for Green Arrow, bringing the character Oliver Queen back from the dead. He also wrote several Batman comic series, including Batman: Cacophony and Batman: The Widening Gyre.
Television and Acting
Smith has worked a lot in television. He created the short-lived Clerks: The Animated Series in 2000. He also produced and starred in the reality show Comic Book Men (2012–2018), set in his comic book store.
As an actor, he is best known for playing Silent Bob. He has also appeared in other movies and TV shows. He had a role in Live Free or Die Hard and made cameo appearances in Scream 3 and the TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation. He has also directed episodes of shows like The Flash, Supergirl, and The Goldbergs.
Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash
Smith owns a comic book store in Red Bank, New Jersey, called Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash. The store sells merchandise related to his films and comics. He bought the original store in 1997. The store is now at its third location on Broad Street in Red Bank. It is managed by his longtime friend Walt Flanagan.
Personal Life
Smith is married to Jennifer Schwalbach Smith. They met when she interviewed him for USA Today. They married on April 25, 1999. Their daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, was born in 1999. She was named after the Batman character. The family lives in the Hollywood Hills.
Smith is a big fan of ice hockey and supports the New Jersey Devils and the Edmonton Oilers.
Health
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On February 25, 2018, Smith had a serious heart attack after a comedy show. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery and recovered. After the heart attack, his doctor told him to lose 50 pounds. He adopted a vegan diet and lost a significant amount of weight.
Filmography
Smith has directed sixteen feature films since 1994. He wrote the screenplay for all of them except Cop Out (2010). He has also created and produced several TV shows and directed episodes for many others.
Recognition
In 2019, Clerks was chosen by the Library of Congress to be preserved in the United States National Film Registry. This honor is for films that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
See also
In Spanish: Kevin Smith para niños
- Kevin Smith's unrealized projects
- Smodcastle Cinemas (Smith-owned movie theater in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey)
