Kevin Smith

Filmmakers

Kevin Patrick Smith (August 2, 1970) is an American filmmaker, actor, comedian, public speaker, comic book writer, author, and podcaster. He came to prominence with the low-budget comedy film Clerks (1994), with Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Jason Mewes, and Lisa Spoonauer; which he wrote, directed, co-produced, co-edited, and acted in as the character Silent Bob of stoner duo Jay (played by best friend Mewes) and Silent Bob.

Jay and Silent Bob also appeared in Smith’s later films Mallrats (1995), with Jason Lee, Jeremy London, Shannen Doherty, Claire Forlani, Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Michael Rooker; Chasing Amy (1997), with Affleck, Adams, Lee, and Dwight Ewell; Dogma (1999), with Affleck, Matt Damon, George Carlin, Linda Fiorentino, Janeane Garofalo, Chris Rock, Lee, Salma Hayek, Bud Cort, Alan Rickman, and Alanis Morissette; Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), with Shannon Elizabeth, Eliza Dushku, Ali Larter, Jennifer Schwalbach (Smith’s wife), Will Farrell, plus cameos, including actors reprising their roles his previous films. Clerks II (2006), with O’Halloran, Anderson, Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, and Schwalbach; and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2001), with Harley Quinn Smith (his daughter), Aparna Brielle, Treshelle Edmond, Alice Wen, plus cameos from O’Halloran, Lee, Justin Long, Elizabeth, Dawson, Val Kilmer, Melissa Benoist, Craig Robinson, Tommy Chong, Chris Hemsworth Damon, and Affleck. These films are set primarily in his home state of New Jersey. While not strictly sequential, the films have crossover plot elements, character references, and a shared canon known as the “View Askewniverse”, named after Smith’s production company View Askew Productions, which he co-founded with Scott Mosier.

Films outside the View Askewniverse include Jersey Girl (2004), with Affleck, Liv Tyler, George Carlin, Stephen Root, Mike Starr, Raquel Castro, Jason Biggs, and Jennifer Lopez; and Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), with Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Mewes, Traci Lords, Anderson, Katie Morgan, and Ricky Mabe. Smith has also made horror films, including Red State (2011), with Michael Angarano, Kerry Bishé, Nicholas Braun, Kyle Gallner, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, Michael Parks, Kevin Pollak, and Root; and the horror comedies Tusk (2014), with Parks, Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, and Genesis Rodriguez; and Yoga Hosers (2016), with Lily-Rose Depp, Harley Quinn Smith, Vanessa Paradis, Austin Butler, Tyler Posey, and Johnny Depp; the latter two in a planned series of three such films set in Canada dubbed the True North trilogy. He has also served as a director-for-hire for material he did not write, including the buddy cop action comedy Cop Out (2010), with Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Adam Brody, Pollak, Guillermo Diaz, Seann William Scott; and various television series episodes.

Smith owns Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, a comic book store in Red Bank, New Jersey, that is the subject of the reality television show Comic Book Men (2012–2018). He also hosts the movie-review TV show Spoilers. As a podcaster, Smith co-hosts several shows on his SModcast Podcast Network, including SModcast, Fatman Beyond, and the live show Hollywood Babble-On. He is known for participating in long, humorous Q&A sessions that are often filmed for DVD release, beginning with An Evening with Kevin Smith.

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(*seen originally in theaters)

(**seen rereleased in theaters)