• Shad Ellis, a London Tube driver, has worked for three decades as a Will Smith lookalike and tribute artist.
  • He was hired as a body double on Will Smith’s National Geographic series Pole to Pole, traveling to Botswana, Norway and Papua New Guinea.
  • Ellis met Will Smith in person on a remote Papua New Guinea beach; the actor praised his work and welcomed him on set.
  • Despite international gigs, Ellis continues to drive the London Underground and picks jobs that respect Smith’s image.

H2: From east London to global sets

Shad Ellis first noticed the resemblance to Will Smith in 1997 when Men in Black posters at his Tube station drew comparisons from commuters. What began as friendly jokes grew into a career: at 18 he started taking photos of himself recreating magazine poses and contacted agencies. Within weeks he landed his first job — a magazine cover re-enacting Men in Black imagery — and steadily built a reputation as a tribute artist.

H3: Building a lookalike career

Ellis turned his likeness into paid work across clubs, corporate events, weddings and global marketing campaigns. He sings Will Smith hits at tribute shows and appears at private functions, describing his role simply: “I do anything that you want Will Smith to do that you couldn’t afford to get Will Smith to do.”

He is selective about bookings, turning down gigs that mock or exploit the actor. After the 2022 Oscars incident, offers surged but were declined because Ellis didn’t want to “cash in” on a difficult moment.

H2: Pole to Pole — stepping onto a real set

In 2022 Ellis was hired as a body double on Pole to Pole, the National Geographic series that followed Will Smith across seven continents. Production teams used Ellis to prepare shots, set lighting and occasionally for aerials where the actor’s face isn’t clearly visible. The role flew him to locations including Botswana, Norway and Papua New Guinea.

H3: A beach walk and a handshake

On the final day of filming in Papua New Guinea, Ellis finally had private time with Smith. The two walked along a remote beach, and Ellis used the moment to thank Smith for the unintended opportunities his likeness had created. Smith replied warmly, calling Ellis’s work “genius,” hugged him and joked about the reaction if the real actor ever appeared at one of Ellis’s tribute shows.

H2: Keeping his day job and boundaries

Despite the international exposure and friendships with members of Smith’s team, Ellis still drives a London Underground train. He says the work can be tedious on set but reminds himself it’s a unique experience compared with life underground.

Ellis remains mindful of boundaries, declining offers he feels would disrespect Smith or exploit their resemblance. He plans to continue performing while he still looks the part — and hopes to work with Smith again in the future.

H4: Why this matters

Ellis’s story highlights how celebrity likeness can create unexpected careers and international opportunities. It also shows a lookalike choosing dignity and respect over quick gains, and the rare moment when an ordinary commuter got to thank the celebrity who changed his life in person.

Image Referance: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8p5551r0po