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Kevin Smith
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<p>Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. He came to prominence with the low-budget comedy <a href="/facts/Buddy_film/fJ8KCs8d">buddy film</a> <i><a href="/facts/Clerks_(film)/QM3aRf6e">Clerks</a></i> (1994), which he wrote, directed, co-produced, and acted in as the character Silent Bob of stoner duo <a href="/facts/Jay_and_Silent_Bob/QBUy6z8K">Jay and Silent Bob</a>. These characters also appeared in Smith's later films <i><a href="/facts/Mallrats/tcSf7KJ4">Mallrats</a></i> (1995), <i><a href="/facts/Chasing_Amy/hHxjS9N1">Chasing Amy</a></i> (1997), <i><a href="/facts/Dogma_(film)/PTfsIXzm">Dogma</a></i> (1999), <i><a href="/facts/Jay_and_Silent_Bob_Strike_Back/t91yPEV2">Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back</a></i> (2001), <i><a href="/facts/Clerks_II/9Cvlr5Hk">Clerks II</a></i> (2006), <i><a href="/facts/Jay_and_Silent_Bob_Reboot/w028eEPj">Jay and Silent Bob Reboot</a></i> (2019), and <i><a href="/facts/Clerks_III/QM3aRf6e">Clerks III</a></i> (2022) which are set primarily in his home state of <a href="/facts/New_Jersey/pI5k19S7">New Jersey</a>. While not strictly sequential, the films have crossover plot elements, character references, and a shared <a href="/facts/Canon_(fiction)/JfLzB5n9">canon</a> known as the "<a href="/facts/View_Askewniverse/LGwhS49S">View Askewniverse</a>", named after Smith's production company <a href="/facts/View_Askew_Productions/AXQSvTs0">View Askew Productions</a>, which he co-founded with <a href="/facts/Scott_Mosier/k1UdFLp2">Scott Mosier</a>. </p><p>Between 2011 and 2018, Smith mostly made horror films, including <i><a href="/facts/Red_State_(2011_film)/CvT4GpN0">Red State</a></i> (2011) and the comedy horror films <i><a href="/facts/Tusk_(2014_film)/JH1tcu7A">Tusk</a></i> (2014) and <i><a href="/facts/Yoga_Hosers/32y9M4UJ">Yoga Hosers</a></i> (2016). He has served as a director-for-hire for material he did not write, including the <a href="/facts/Buddy_cop/D4SKJU3M">buddy cop</a> action comedy <i><a href="/facts/Cop_Out_(2010_film)/aje35TPP">Cop Out</a></i> (2010) and various television series episodes, creating <i><a href="/facts/Masters_of_the_Universe:_Revelation/F9lUn7np">Masters of the Universe: Revelation</a></i> in 2021. </p><p>Smith owns <a href="/facts/Jay_and_Silent_Bob%27s_Secret_Stash/m1X240hM">Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash</a> in <a href="/facts/Red_Bank,_New_Jersey/9ADb8hqb">Red Bank, New Jersey</a>, a comic book store which became the setting for the <a href="/facts/Reality_television/B0RFLdsB">reality television</a> show <i><a href="/facts/Comic_Book_Men/7rwkyyKr">Comic Book Men</a></i> (2012–2018). He hosted the film review TV show <i><a href="/facts/Spoilers_(TV_series)/BkVSP1dx">Spoilers</a></i>. As a podcaster, Smith cohosts several shows on his <a href="/facts/SModcast_Podcast_Network/YD5bBjfp">SModcast Podcast Network</a>, including <i><a href="/facts/SModcast/pfnI0dF7">SModcast</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Fatman_on_Batman/Tt7kIgjq">Fatman Beyond</a></i>, and the live show <i><a href="/facts/Hollywood_Babble-On/yoqHJbbe">Hollywood Babble-On</a></i>. He is known for participating in long, humorous Q&A sessions that are often filmed for DVD release, beginning with <i><a href="/facts/An_Evening_with_Kevin_Smith/MadrCcPR">An Evening with Kevin Smith</a></i>. </p>