From London Tube Driver to Will Smith's Double
Thursday, 2026/01/22231 words3 minutes1120 reads
Shad Ellis, a 47-year-old London Underground driver, has cultivated an extraordinary parallel career as Will Smith's lookalike and tribute artist for nearly three decades. His journey commenced in 1997 when commuters at Shadwell station discerned an uncanny resemblance between Ellis and the Hollywood icon adorning 'Men In Black' posters plastered across the tube network.
Propelled by a fortuitous encounter with a stranger who suggested monetizing his likeness, Ellis embarked on a unique professional trajectory. He has since become a sought-after presence at myriad events, from corporate galas to nuptial celebrations, channeling Will Smith's magnetic charisma. His repertoire encompasses performing Smith's chart-topping hits and featuring in global marketing campaigns, taking him to far-flung locales from Dubai to Singapore.
Ellis's career reached its zenith when he was enlisted as Smith's body double for 'Pole To Pole', a National Geographic series chronicling a 100-day journey across seven continents. This role afforded him unprecedented proximity to the star's world, working in tandem with production crews to optimize Smith's time on set.
The pinnacle of this experience manifested in a poignant tête-à-tête with Will Smith on a secluded beach in Papua New Guinea. Ellis seized this opportunity to articulate his profound gratitude to the actor for unwittingly catalyzing his unconventional career path. Despite his brushes with celebrity, Ellis maintains his position as a tube driver, deftly balancing his quotidian occupation with his alter ego's globe-trotting adventures.
