Kevin Smith's Real Name: Kevin Smith

Quick answer: The filmmaker works under his own name, Kevin Smith. The New Jersey Hall of Fame and Encyclopedia.com both give his birth date as August 2, 1970. An Encyclopedia.com entry from Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television gives his "full name" as Kevin Patrick Smith, but that longer form was not confirmed by a second source here.

Real name and early life

Encyclopedia.com reproduces two reference entries on Smith. The Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television entry says, "Full name, Kevin Patrick Smith; born August 2, 1970, in Red Bank, NJ," and names his parents as Donald, a postal worker, and Grace Smith. The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers entry gives the same date but lists Highlands, New Jersey, as his birthplace.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame, which inducted him in 2024, lists his birthdate as August 2, 1970, and his town affiliation as Highlands. It says his daughter was born "at the same Red Bank, NJ hospital where her Dad entered the world." A Library of Congress record also gives August 2, 1970, in Red Bank. Encyclopedia.com says he studied briefly at the New School for Social Research and attended the Vancouver Film School.

Career highlights

The Hall of Fame says he came to prominence with Clerks (1994), which he wrote, directed, produced, and acted in, and which won awards at the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance before being added to the National Film Registry in 2019. Encyclopedia.com says he had worked at delis including the Quick Stop in Leonardo, New Jersey.

The Hall of Fame lists follow-ups including Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Clerks II (2006), Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019), and Clerks III (2022), most set in the "View Askewniverse," named after his Red Bank production company, View Askew. It says he plays Silent Bob opposite Jason Mewes's Jay. Encyclopedia.com credits him with an Independent Spirit Award for the Chasing Amy screenplay.

The Hall of Fame also lists Jersey Girl, Red State, Tusk, and The 4:30 Movie (2024), filmed at a cinema in Atlantic Highlands that he co-owns. It says he executive produced Netflix's Masters of the Universe series, co-owned the comic shop featured in AMC's Comic Book Men, built the SModcast podcast network starting in 2007, and wrote comics including Daredevil: Guardian Devil for Marvel and Green Arrow: Quiver for DC.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Kevin Smith or Kevin Patrick Smith are looking for the same Clerks filmmaker. Silent Bob is his screen character. Sources list Red Bank or Highlands, New Jersey, as his birthplace, with a birth date of August 2, 1970.