Colman Domingo has opened up about his high school experience with Will Smith, offering an intriguing insight into their early lives in Philadelphia. The actor, best known for his role in ‘Euphoria,’ reminisced about his time at Overbrook High School, where both he and Smith were students, albeit a year apart.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Colman-Domingo-Will-Smith-110326-a6848f7d3f574fd2ba5fbe47ade8981f.jpg)
In a recent episode of the podcast ‘Friends Keep Secrets,’ hosted by Benny Blanco, Lil Dicky, and Kristin Batalucco, Domingo described his roots, stating, “West Philly, born and raised.” He recalled sharing gym and science classes with Smith during their school days, but their paths diverged significantly outside the classroom walls.
Domingo, now 56, characterised Smith as the epitome of popularity in their school, noting, “He was the most popular kid in high school.” Smith, now aged 58, gained fame as a local rapper with DJ Jazzy Jeff and began his journey in the entertainment industry well before completing his studies. In contrast, Domingo described his younger self as decidedly less cool. “We were never friends,” he said. “He was the cool kid and I was the nerd.”
The ‘Disclosure Day’ star elaborated on Smith’s meteoric rise to fame, explaining how the young actor was often surrounded by peers who were drawn to his talent. Domingo revealed, “He really was the most popular kid. All the cool kids went to see them.” Reflecting back on his own adolescence, Domingo admitted, “I didn’t go, I wasn’t a cool kid.”
Interestingly, the last time Domingo encountered Smith was unexpected and occurred long after both had achieved success in their respective careers. Describing the moment, Domingo recounted, “I was working at El Torito restaurant in Philadelphia as a waiter.” At that time, Smith had already established himself as a major figure in both music and film.
During their brief reunion, Smith struggled to recognise Domingo at first until a memory sparked his recollection. The encounter culminated in a friendly hug, but Domingo noted that since that day, their paths had not crossed again in the entertainment world. “The weirdest thing is throughout our careers now, I’ve never run into him,” he said.
Domingo expressed optimism about the possibility of reconnecting with Smith in the future. He said, “I’m sure we’ll see each other at some point,” adding that there would be “warmth and a shared history from Philadelphia” during their next meeting.
As both stars continue to carve out their successful paths, Smith has several projects in the pipeline, including the action thriller ‘Supermax.’ In contrast, Domingo is set to appear in ‘An Innocent Girl,’ ‘The Comebacker,’ and his upcoming Netflix comedy series ‘The Four Seasons.’
Their contrasting journeys from the same high school illustrate the diverse paths individuals take, and Domingo’s nostalgic recounting serves as a reminder of the shared local ties that still connect them, despite their vastly different experiences in the limelight.
About the Author
