Will Smith Will be a Pallbearer at Muhammad Ali Funeral
Will Smith Will be a Pallbearer at Muhammad Ali Funeral
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LOUSVILLE - Actor Will Smith will be a pallbearer at Muhammad Ali’s funeral in the boxing great’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, June 10.
According to ESPN, the 47 year old actor famously played the athlete in the 2001 biopic Ali, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for the role.
The two became close during filming, and Ali praised Smith’s portrayal.
“He is a perfect actor. I even thought he was me,” Ali told at the time of the movie’s release.
Smith trained for almost two years to play the part and learned how to fight, rehearsed Ali’s accent and tried to capture the boxer’s soul, ABC News reported. After Ali’s death on Friday, June 3, the Concussion actor paid tribute to his late friend on social media on Saturday, June 4.
“You shook up the World! My Mentor and My Friend. You changed my Life. Rest in Peace,” he captioned a collage of photos of the pair together.
The memorial service, which begins at 2 pm, is open to the public and will be live-streamed. Several world leaders and celebrities are planning to attend the funeral.
Former US President Bill Clinton, President of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan as well as comedian Bill Crystal were among those who recently announced it will participate in a public event when the world is mourning the departure of boxer and antiwar activist who attract global attention in the 1960s and 1970s .
The three time heavyweight world champion died at age 74 from septic shock on June 3. He spent his final moments surrounded by family in a Phoenix, Arizona, hospital. Prior to his passing, he was hospitalized for a respiratory issue.
According to ESPN, the 47 year old actor famously played the athlete in the 2001 biopic Ali, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for the role.
The two became close during filming, and Ali praised Smith’s portrayal.
“He is a perfect actor. I even thought he was me,” Ali told at the time of the movie’s release.
Smith trained for almost two years to play the part and learned how to fight, rehearsed Ali’s accent and tried to capture the boxer’s soul, ABC News reported. After Ali’s death on Friday, June 3, the Concussion actor paid tribute to his late friend on social media on Saturday, June 4.
“You shook up the World! My Mentor and My Friend. You changed my Life. Rest in Peace,” he captioned a collage of photos of the pair together.
The memorial service, which begins at 2 pm, is open to the public and will be live-streamed. Several world leaders and celebrities are planning to attend the funeral.
Former US President Bill Clinton, President of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan as well as comedian Bill Crystal were among those who recently announced it will participate in a public event when the world is mourning the departure of boxer and antiwar activist who attract global attention in the 1960s and 1970s .
The three time heavyweight world champion died at age 74 from septic shock on June 3. He spent his final moments surrounded by family in a Phoenix, Arizona, hospital. Prior to his passing, he was hospitalized for a respiratory issue.
(rnz)
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