Method Man

Method Man Headshot

Rapper • Record Producer • Songwriter • Actor

Birth Date: April 1, 1971

Age: 52 years old

Birth Place: Staten Island, New York City, New York

Clifford Smith - a.k.a. Method Man - attained lasting fame as a founding member of one of hip-hop's most celebrated acts and as a solo artist, prior to entering a prolific second career as a film and television actor. Exploding onto the N.Y. hip-hop scene in the early 1990s as part of the seminal rap group the Wu-Tang Clan, Smith went on to release both solo efforts and collaborate with other well-known artists, such as Mary J. Blige. As more music industry triumphs followed, the rapper also made early forays into the world of acting, appearing in projects like the Wayans Brothers' comedy "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood" (1996) and the hip-hop/crime thriller "Belly" (1998). The neophyte actor also earned high marks for his recurring roles on acclaimed TV dramas like "Oz" (HBO, 1997-2003) and "The Wire" (HBO, 2002-08), in addition to partnering up with fellow rapper Redman for such comedic offerings as "How High" (2001) and the short-lived sitcom "Method and Red" (Fox, 2004). As he moved into the next decade, Smith recorded with members of his old Wu-Tang crew on 2010's Wu-Massacre and appeared in the George Lucas-produced World War II adventure "Red Tails" (2012). While never forgetting his urban hip-hop roots as an artist, Smith increasingly courted mainstream respectability in the studios of Hollywood.

Born Clifford Smith in Staten Island, NY, on April 1, 1971, he spent much of his childhood shuttling between the homes of his separated parents in Hempstead, Long Island, and the Staten Island Park Hill Projects. His father imbued him with an interest in music and poetry, which eventually drew him into the hip-hop world. In late 1992, he and several Staten Island-based friends seeking to break into the music business formed the Wu-Tang Clan, releasing their now-classic debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993 to near-universal acclaim among rap fans and critics. As their name suggested, the group was very influenced by martial arts films from the 1970s; Smith's moniker was taken from a character in a 1979 film by China's Shaw Bros. Studios called "The Fearless Young Boxer."

Smith was among the most visible and prolific members of the nine-man group, thus becoming the first to release a solo album, Tical, in 1994. Another monster success, the album was soon followed by a string of singles featuring collaborations with R&B singer Mary J. Blige and fellow solo artist Redman, with whom Smith became associated with for much of his career. One of his singles with Blige, "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need," earned him a Grammy in 1995. Smith subsequently released two more solo albums - 1998's Tical 2000: Judgment Day, which went platinum, and 2004's Tical 0: The Prequel, which, after only reaching gold status, was the subject of much criticism from critics and Smith himself - and Blackout, a 1999 collaboration with Redman. He reunited with the Wu-Tang Clan for 1997's Wu-Tang Forever and 2000's The W, and contributed to countless singles and albums for artists ranging from The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, to Limp Bizkit, Ashanti, and Missy Elliott.

Smith's acting career had begun in 1996 in the Wayans Brothers' comedy "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood." He followed that auspicious debut with supporting roles in several films, including James Mangold's critically lauded "Cop Land" (1997), "One Eight Seven" (1997), and the hip-hop/crime thriller "Belly" (1998). He also crossed over to television on numerous occasions, including a handful of episodes of the HBO prison series "Oz" (1997-2003) on which he played the ambitious and deadly Carlton "Tug" Daniels, who attempts to overthrow the prison drug trade. His other television work included guest gigs on "Third Watch" (NBC, 1999-2005), the third go-round for "The Twilight Zone (UPN, 2002-03) and "The Wire" (HBO, 2002-08) as fearsome dealer Calvin "Cheese" Wagstaff. Perhaps his most incongruous television credit was as the rapping voice of the Head Pixie on the animated series "The Fairly Oddparents" (Nickelodeon, 2001).

Smith's most impressive turn was in the broad 2001 comedy "How High," in which he co-starred with off-screen buddy Redman as a slacker who developed an astronomically high IQ after ingesting experimental marijuana. The movie presented the pair as a sort of hip-hop Cheech and Chong team, an idea which had been set in motion by their joint album Blackout!, but unfortunately, their second effort together did not capitalize on their team potential. "Method and Red" (Fox, 2004) was envisioned by Smith as a cutting-edge comedy, but the end result was a tired, fish-out-of-water sitcom that disappointed all involved. The series was pulled after only nine episodes.

Smith continued to rack up credits as an actor in projects of various quality, ranging from an amusing cameo in "Garden State" (2004) to larger roles in the broad comedies "Soul Plane" (2004) and "My Baby's Daddy" (2004), as well as the horror film "Venom" (2005). Never straying far from his rap roots, Smith - as Method Man - released his fourth studio album, entitled 4:21: The Day After in 2006 to generally positive reviews and substantial sales. That same year, he picked up an irregularly recurring role as "Drops," a confrontational Las Vegas party-planner, on the long-running forensic crime-drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000-15).

Smith continued with forays into the world of feature films, landing supporting roles in the indie coming-of-age tale "The Wackness" (2008) - contributing a song to the soundtrack, as well - and the low-brow movie parody "Meet the Spartans" (2008). Back in the recording studio, he re-teamed with Redman for the long-awaited follow-up album Blackout! 2, which finally saw release in 2009 and met with largely favorable reviews. One year later, Smith released Wu-Massacre, a collaboration with Wu-Tang members Ghostface Killah and Raekwon. With an increased focus on his acting career, Smith took on a starring role as "The Mortician" (2011) in the indie-thriller about a withdrawn morgue worker who comes to the aid of a young boy after his mother is murdered. The following year he appeared alongside Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr. as "Sticks," a crewman with the famed Tuskegee Airmen in George Lucas' World War II aerial action-drama "Red Tails" (2012).

Credits

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards

Music Performer
Show
2023

Sherri

Guest
Talk
2022

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

Milestone Generations

Narrator
Show
2022

The Wire at 20

Host
Show
2022

On the Come UpStream

Actor
Supreme
Movie
2022
75%

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

HHRB Collabs: Then

Music Performer
Show
2021

Hip-Hop Halloween

Music Performer
Show
2021

This Is the Night

Actor
Louis
Movie
2021

Last Looks

Actor
Swag Doggg
Movie
2021

Established With Angela Yee

Guest
Show
2020

Power Book II: GhostStream

Actor
Davis Maclean
Series
2020

Teenage Bounty HuntersStream

Actor
Terrance Coin
Series
2020
94%

Concrete CowboyStream

Actor
Leroy
Movie
2020
80%

Celebrating Marvel's Stan Lee

Actor
Show
2019

Wu-Tang: An American SagaStream

Executive Producer
Series
2019

Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and MenStream

Actor
Docuseries
2019
100%

The New Negroes With Baron Vaughn and Open Mike Eagle

Guest Star
Show
2019

Martha & Snoop's Potluck Party Challenge

Guest
Show
2019

'94 Hip-Hop

Music Performer
Show
2019

Best of 1999

Music Performer
Show
2019

'90s Def Jam

Music Performer
Show
2019

Best of Ashanti

Music Performer
Show
2019

Star Picks

Music Performer
Show
2019

Method Man Hits

Music Performer
Show
2019

Greatest Rappers 2

Music Performer
Show
2019

The Blackout!

Music Performer
Show
2019

Vibe: Hip-Hop Classics

Music Performer
Show
2019

ShaftStream

Actor
Freddy P
Movie
2019
34%

Vampires vs. The Bronx

Actor
Movie
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

Couch Surfing

Guest
Show
2018

World of X Games: 2018 X Games Aspen

Music Performer
Show
2018

Summer Family

Music Performer
Show
2018

Teyana Taylor Feat. Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Method Man: Gonna Love Me (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2018

Teyana Taylor Feat. Raekwon; Ghostface Killah; Method Man: Gonna Love Me

Music Performer
Show
2018

PeppermintStream

Actor
Narcotics Detective Barker
Movie
2018
13%

Future World

Actor
Tattooed Face
Movie
2018

Taraji's White Hot Holidays

Guest
Show
2017

Robert Kirkman's Secret History of Comics

Guest
Show
2017

Drop the MicStream

Host
Reality
2017

Snoop Dogg Presents The Joker's WildStream

Guest Star
Game Show
2017

Wu-Tang Feat. Method Man: If Time Is Money (Fly Navigation) / Hood Go Bang

Music Performer
Show
2017

The DeuceStream

Guest Star
Rodney
Series
2017
93%

Carpool Karaoke: The SeriesStream

Self
Reality
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Rebel: Extras

Actor
Show
2017

RebelStream

Actor
Terrance "TJ" Jenkins
Series
2017
38%

The Breaks

Actor
Darryl Van Putten Sr.
Show
2017

Where's the Money

Actor
Trap
Movie
2017

Love Beats RhymesStream

Actor
Ref
Movie
2017
44%

Wu-Tang Clan: Bring Da Ruckus

Music Performer
Show
2016

Desus & MeroStream

Guest
Talk
2016

Method Man Feat. Raekwon and Inspectah Deck: Purple Tape

Music Performer
Show
2016

Black & Blue

Self
Show
2016

Keanu

Actor
Cheddar
Movie
2016

The Breaks

Actor
Darryl Van Patten Sr.
Movie
2016

Paterson

Actor
Method Man
Movie
2016

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Method Man Feat. Redman, Hanz On & Streetlife: Straight Gutta

Music Performer
Show
2015

Difficult PeopleStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
96%

The Breakfast Club

Guest
Show
2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Method Man Feat. Raekwon, Inspectah Deck: The Purple Tape

Music Performer
Show
2015

Method Man Feat. Hanz On and Streetlife: The Meth Lab

Music Performer
Show
2015

Erick Sermon Feat. Method Man & Redman: Clutch

Music Performer
Show
2015

Method Man: Straight Gutta

Music Performer
Show
2015

Method Man: The Meth Lab

Music Performer
Show
2015

Staten Island Summer

Actor
Konko
Movie
2015

Lucky Number

Actor
Tyson 'The Saint' St. James
Movie
2015

ScorpionStream

Guest Star
Series
2014
61%

Park Bench With Steve Buscemi

Guest
Show
2014

The Breakfast Club Power Hour

Guest
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

ChozenStream

Voice
Phantasm
Series
2014
29%

Seasons of Love

Actor
Big Rob
Movie
2014

The Cobbler

Actor
Leon Ludlow
Movie
2014

Miłosne pory roku

Actor
Movie
2014

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Drunk HistoryStream

Guest Star
Series
2013

A$AP Mob Feat. A$AP Nast, Method Man: Trillmatic

Music Performer
Show
2013

Raekwon Feat. Ghostface Killah, Method Man & Cappadonna: Ice Cream

Music Performer
Show
2013

Erick Sermon Feat. Snoop Dogg, Method Man: Let Me Explain

Music Performer
Show
2013

Wu-Tang Clan: Live at Montreux 2007

Actor
Show
2012

Impractical JokersStream

Self
Reality
2011

Wu Tang Clan: Live at Montreux

Self
Show
2011

Dish Nation

Guest
Talk
2011

The Sitter

Actor
Jacolby
Movie
2011

The Mortician

Actor
The Mortician
Movie
2011

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

Blue BloodsStream

Guest Star
Series
2010

The Good GuysStream

Guest Star
Series
2010

Method Man, Ghostface & Raekwon: Our Dreams

Music Performer
Show
2010

Sinners and Saints

Actor
Weddo
Movie
2010

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Young Boxer
Series
2009
93%

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Guest
Talk
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Music Performer
Talk
2009

Raekwon Feat. Method Man: The New Wu

Music Performer
Show
2009

Method Man & Redman Feat. Saukrates: A-Yo

Music Performer
Show
2009

Method Man & Redman Feat. Erick Sermon: Mrs. International

Music Performer
Show
2009

Method Man: Release Yo' Delf

Music Performer
Show
2009

EPMD Feat. Method Man, Redman, Lady Luck: Symphony 2000

Music Performer
Show
2009

LL Cool J Feat Redman, DMX, Method Man, Canibus & Master P: 4,3,2,1

Music Performer
Show
2008

Redman & Method Man: Y.O.U.

Music Performer
Show
2008

D'Angelo Feat. Method Man & Redman: Left & Right

Music Performer
Show
2008

Method Man Feat. D'Angelo: Break Ups 2 Make Ups

Music Performer
Show
2008

Method Man: Judgement Day

Music Performer
Show
2008

Meet the Spartans

Actor
Persian Emissary
Movie
2008

The WacknessStream

Actor
Percy
Movie
2008
71%

Burn NoticeStream

Guest Star
Eddie Valentine
Series
2007
88%

First Take

Guest
Talk
2007

Notorious B.I.G. Bigger Than Life

Actor
Movie
2007

Pick Up the Mic

Actor
Show
2006

Yo Momma

Guest
Show
2006

Redman & Method Man: Da Rockwilder

Music Performer
Show
2005

Ashanti Feat. Method Man: Still On It

Music Performer
Show
2005

Method Man Presents: The Strip Game

Actor
Movie
2005

Method Man Presents: The Strip Game

Director
Movie
2005

Method Man Presents: The Strip Game

Producer
Movie
2005

Venom

Actor
Deputy Turner
Movie
2005

Method & Red

Actor
Show
2004

Method & Red

Executive Producer
Show
2004

My Baby's Daddy

Actor
No Good
Movie
2004

Soul PlaneStream

Actor
Muggsy
Movie
2004
18%

Garden StateStream

Actor
Diego
Movie
2004
86%

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Host
Talk
2003

Mary J. Blige Feat. Method Man: Love at 1st Sight

Music Performer
Show
2003

The Twilight ZoneStream

Actor
Series
2002

The WireStream

Guest Star
Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff
Series
2002
94%

Last Call With Carson Daly

Music Performer
Talk
2002

One on OneStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

The Fairly OddParentsStream

Guest Voice
Rapping Head Pixie
Series
2001

How High

Actor
Silas P. Silas
Movie
2001

Boston Public

Guest Star
Series
2000

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Actor
Show
2000

Backstage

Self
Movie
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Dennis King
Series
1999
78%

Method Man Feat. Redman: Da Rockwilder

Music Performer
Show
1999

In Too DeepStream

Original Song
Movie
1999
39%

Belly

Actor
Shameek
Movie
1998

The Chris Rock ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1996

2Pac Feat. Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Redman & Method Man: Got My Mind Made Up

Music Performer
Show
1996

Method Man Feat. Redman: How High

Music Performer
Show
1995

Method Man Feat. Mary J. Blige: I'll Be There For You / You're All I Need to Get By

Music Performer
Show
1995

Method Man: Bring The Pain

Music Performer
Show
1994

Radio Patrol

Director
Movie
1937

News aboutMethod Man