Admin Hero1 Posted September 1, 2004 Admin Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 The family and friends of top entertainers and athletes often double as paid employees. Will Smith still cuts a check for Charlie "Mack" Alston, even though Alston hasn't worked for the I, Robot star in six months. "I just got tired of sitting in the trailer" while Smith was filming, "watching BET for 18 hours a day," says Alston, who is attempting to run his own community-outreach organization in Philadelphia. Alston, 38, a native of Southwest Philly, met Smith, an Overbrook High grad, while promoting concerts by the rapper and DJ "Jazzy" Jeff Townes in the 1980s. Alston moved to Hollywood as Smith's bodyguard in the early '90s, and lived with him until Smith married Jada Pinkett in 1997. "All Will's crew is from Philly," Mack notes, adding that Smith "doesn't have a lot of good friends in the business." Because the Oscar nominee doesn't carry a cell phone, "everybody who wanted to deal with Will Smith had to go through me," Mack says with pride. The 6-foot-7 "baby-sitter" served as a friend more than an employee: "You know how people on the payroll feed you [lies]? I didn't. I helped him with his insecurities." There are obvious perks to sharing the celebrity spotlight, even if it's only a flicker. Alston had to get extra pages put in his passport because he traveled so much with Smith. "I met Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, President Clinton. Everybody I wanted to meet, I met," says Alston, who pulls out photos of himself smiling with his heroes. "Will used to call me 'Charlie Gump.' " [url="http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/9548356.htm?1c"]http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/9548356.htm?1c[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevTastic Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Cool interview. You could always tell Charlie Mack was more of a friend to Will than an employee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilsJim89 Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Great news about hearing all Will's crew is from Philly... oh and i thought the geek would at least have a cellphone lolol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfuqua23 Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Good thing 2 hear. And Will alwayz showed love 2 his crew on or in his albums. Smart thing, have people U really know who R ur friends come up wit U Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpinJack AJ Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 I think part of FP's success and his remaining down 2 earth is becuz he has the Too Damn Hype posse helping him out on all affiars. :roll: I honestly think that waz one of his smartest moves in his career...keeping home and friends close by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildWildWillennium Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 I'm glad he still enjoys his job after all this time, that's always good 2 hear from anybody. :thumb: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Great interview. It's good to see that Will can still trust his old friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzy Julie Posted September 4, 2004 Report Share Posted September 4, 2004 lol he must have been his fellow peach thrower haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Prince Posted September 4, 2004 Report Share Posted September 4, 2004 Charlie Gump lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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