Colman Domingo has revealed that he attended high school in Philadelphia with Will Smith, describing the future superstar as "the cool kid" while he was "the nerd." The 56-year-old Euphoria and Sing Sing actor shared the memory on Tuesday's episode of the video podcast Friends Keep Secrets, hosted by Benny Blanco, Lil Dicky, and Kristin Batalucco.
The pair attended Overbrook High School, with Smith, now 56, a year ahead. "We had gym class and science class together," Domingo said.
He recalled that Smith was already popular at school and was performing locally with DJ Jazzy Jeff. "All the cool kids went to see them," he said.
Domingo did not go along to the shows, explaining that he "wasn't a cool kid." The two were not friends, but their paths crossed again years later. Domingo said he was working as a waiter at El Torito in Philadelphia when Smith, by then hugely successful in music and acting, came in.
Smith did not recognize him at first, but once his memory was jogged, the pair hugged. Domingo said he has not bumped into Smith during their careers and hopes they will meet again, given their shared Philadelphia roots.
On the work front, Domingo's projects include An Innocent Girl, The Comebacker, and the Netflix comedy series The Four Seasons. Smith is set to appear in the action thriller Supermax, which is currently in pre-production.
Both actors have achieved remarkable success in Hollywood after starting their journeys from modest backgrounds in Philadelphia. Fans have expressed excitement on social media regarding this surprising high school connection between the two acclaimed stars.
Industry experts believe that such nostalgic revelations highlight the unpredictable nature of fame and long-lasting industry friendships.