Kevin Smith

Kevin Patrick Smith is an American filmmaker, actor, and podcaster born on August 2, 1970. He first came to prominence with his low-budget comedy film Clerks (1994), which he wrote, directed, co-produced, co-edited, and acted in as the character Silent Bob. Alongside Jay, the character appeared in a series of New Jersey-set films that share plot elements, character references, and a unified canon known as the View Askewniverse, named after View Askew Productions, the company Smith co-founded with Scott Mosier.

Smith was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, to Grace and Donald E. Smith, and raised in Highlands alongside his two siblings, Virginia and Donald Jr. Watching his father struggle with his postal job inspired Smith to vow never to work at something he did not enjoy. During high school at Henry Hudson Regional, he produced sketch comedy and videotaped basketball games. He briefly attended The New School and later Vancouver Film School, leaving early to fund his first project. Around this period, he met Jason Mewes at a youth center.

Inspired by Richard Linklater's Slacker, Smith returned to New Jersey and worked at a convenience store, using it as the setting for Clerks. He funded the $27,575 film by maxing out credit cards and selling his comic book collection. Premiering at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival, Clerks won the Filmmaker's Trophy, secured distribution with Miramax, and won two prizes at the Cannes International Film Festival before grossing $3.1 million in a limited release.

Smith expanded his View Askewniverse with Mallrats (1995), followed by Chasing Amy (1997), which earned $12 million and won two Independent Spirit Awards. He then wrote and directed the religious comedy Dogma (1999) and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001). He returned to the franchise with Clerks II (2006), Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019), and Clerks III (2022).

Outside his central universe, Smith wrote and directed the comedy-drama Jersey Girl (2004), the sex comedy Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), the horror film Red State (2011), and the comedy horror Tusk (2014) along with its spin-off Yoga Hosers (2016). He also directed the 2010 buddy-cop film Cop Out, marking his first effort directing a script he did not write.

As a supporting actor, Smith played a rogue computer hacker in Live Free or Die Hard (2007) and made various cameos. For television, he created Clerks: The Animated Series and Masters of the Universe, and directed episodes of The Flash, Supergirl, and The Goldbergs. Additionally, Smith owns the comic book store Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, co-hosts multiple shows on the SModcast Podcast Network, and participates in filmed Q&A sessions.