Mr. Brian Smith AKA
Da Wildcat: LEARNING THROUGH LAUGHTER BY MS. DARLETTE M. WILLIS, ANDREW CARNEGIE ELEMENTARY & GARY COMER COLLEGE PREP
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a! Ha! LOL! It will make your jaws ache. It’s comedy at it’s finest. With style, wit and charisma that connects, Brian Smith, aka “Da Wildcat” is changing the comedy game with a vision for the future. One that involves learning through laughter. Smith knows the difference that laughter, learning and a creative role can have in a student’s life. Growing up in Harvey, Ill., he was surrounded by gang activity and saw many of his friends die from violence or go to jail. But the speech team at Thornton Township High School changed his life. “It gave me an outlet,” he says. “If the people around you change, you change.” The speech team helped him stay off the streets, stay out of trouble, and on the track toward progress. Today, he is an actor, writer and his most prized role -- parent. The father of three says, “Sometimes God will bring a life into your life to teach you how to appreciate life.” Early on in life, Smith would make others laugh by imitating his grandmother and people at church. In school, he became known as the class clown. Little did he know that he was learning the art of comedy, lessons that would prepare him for his comedic career. In 2015, Smith won Shaquille O’Neal’s Next All-Star Comedy Contest. He is also the five-time winner of “Showtime at the Apollo”. On the silver screen, he is featured in: Heaven on Seven, Not Another Zombie Movie and Call Center. But there’s more. The former BET “Comic View” performer/writer has a role in Ubisoft’s newest video game, “Watchdogs”. Despite filming
Comedian Brian Smith aka Da Wildcast hopes to use laughter as a means to reach and teach. commercials, one for Tostitos, another alongside Brian Urlacher, Smith admits that parenting is the most rewarding job of all. “As parents, we look at why we can’t do things, but our kids should be the reason why we do things.” He’s Da Wildcat to his fans, but simply dad to his kids. Smith is teaching them through laughter, with wisdom, and by example. “We have to tell our children to follow their dreams early. We also need to tell them that if you work for yourself, you’ll always have a job.” Despite other jobs he’s done on his way to success, Da Wildcat always found his way back to comedy. And we’re so glad he’s here. We’ll be watching, laughing, and applauding. Parent 2 Parent 7