This is a wholesome tale of two West Philly legends sharing a history, emphasizing warmth and a shared hometown bond despite their different social circles.
The real gossip? Colman admits he was 'the nerd' trying not to get beat up while Will was the 'most popular kid.' They were never friends, and Colman skipped the iconic Wynne Ballroom shows to do homework.
1. Colman and Will shared gym and science classes, though Smith was a year ahead. 2. Their last in-person interaction was when Colman, working as a waiter at El Torito in Philadelphia, served Smith a table after he had become a huge star.
It’s rare to find a Hollywood A-lister who admits they were the uncool one in the room, but Colman’s honesty about dodging Will Smith’s rap shows for the sake of grades is the ultimate nerd flex.
Grab your popcorn, because the tea is piping hot and it comes straight from the West Philly archives. Colman Domingo, the acclaimed actor who recently dazzled at the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 17, 2026, has finally confirmed what some might have guessed: he and Will Smith went to high school together. But don’t expect a story of instant camaraderie or secret hangouts.
Speaking on Benny Blanco, Lil Dicky, and Kristin Batalucco’s 'Friends Keep Secrets' YouTube show, Domingo dropped the bombshell that while they shared the same halls, they existed in entirely different universes. "I went to high school with Will," Domingo said, referencing the iconic 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' theme song. "He was in the class before me, we had gym class and science class together." That’s it.
That’s the extent of their academic overlap. There was no shared lunch table, no passing notes in the back of the room. Just two kids from the same zip code, moving in opposite directions socially.
The drama here isn’t in a feud, but in the stark social hierarchy that defined their teenage years. Domingo didn’t mince words about his status compared to the future Oscar winner. "We were never friends," he admitted bluntly.
"He was the cool kid and I was like 'The Nerd.' I was trying not to get beat up the whole time." Meanwhile, Smith was already carving out his reputation as a local legend. Domingo recalled that Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff were already performing at The Wynne Ballroom, a venue that was apparently the epicenter of cool in Philadelphia at the time. "All the cool kids went," Domingo said.
But guess who didn’t? You guessed it. The nerd.
"I didn’t go because I wasn’t a cool kid. I heard about it, but I was too busy doing schoolwork." While Will was building his brand, Colman was building his GPA. It’s a classic tale of two paths diverging in a wood, except one path led to global superstardom and the other led to... well, also global superstardom, just via a different route.
What’s even more amusing is the sheer distance between their careers despite this shared origin story. Domingo revealed that they haven’t actually crossed paths in Hollywood since those high school days. "The weird thing is throughout our careers now, I’ve never run into him," he noted.
The last time they saw each other face-to-face was a surreal moment at an El Torito restaurant in Philadelphia. By this time, Smith had already moved to L.A., become a massive star, and returned to Philly with a large entourage. "I was working at El Torito restaurant in Philadelphia as a waiter," Domingo recounted.
"This is after he became very successful... he had a big table with a bunch of friends and stuff like that." As Domingo took the order, Smith eventually recognized him. The result? A hug.
"And that was it," Domingo said. No long catch-up session, no industry networking, just a brief moment of recognition between a waiter and a celebrity. So, where does this leave us?
With a fascinating look at how different social circles can lead to the same peak, yet remain parallel lines. Domingo seems at peace with it, noting that if they do meet again, "there’ll be warmth and a shared history from Philadelphia." But for now, the mystery remains: why haven’t these two West Philly legends connected in Los Angeles? Is it a scheduling conflict, or just the vastness of Hollywood?
One thing is certain: Colman Domingo’s admission that he skipped out on watching a young Will Smith perform because he had homework is the kind of grounded, relatable honesty that makes him such a compelling figure in the industry. He didn’t chase the cool; he chased the grades. And look who’s laughing now. Well, both of them, presumably, just from different tables.
