Keyon Smith, the third of five siblings, was born to Gwendolyn Smith, a woman of African American heritage. Growing up in a lower-class neighborhood in North Philadelphia, Keyon was raised without knowing his biological father. Tragedy struck when his mother and grandmother passed away just six months apart due to cancer, leaving Keyon and his siblings to be raised by their aunt, Charlotte Foster.
Keyon attended the William Penn High School, located in the North Philly section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was surrounded by a close-knit community of family and friends.
After graduating from high school, Keyon pursued a career in acting, refining his craft by taking classes at the historic Freedom Theatre in North Philadelphia. He honed his skills in acting, scene study, character study, and improvisation, preparing himself for auditions.
Since 1998, Keyon has accumulated a diverse range of credits and uncredited roles in films and television shows. His notable credits include the CBS TV shows Hack and Cold Case, as well as movies such as Marley & Me, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, National Treasure, starring Nicholas Cage, Creed, The Next Three Days, Annapolis, starring Tyrese and James Franco, Shadow: Dead Riot, starring Tony Todd, and Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg. Additionally, he has appeared in several indie films, including Still Bittersweet, Sure Looks Good by R.A.G. Productions, Brighton Park by SDJ Productions, The City Is Mine, written and directed by Patrick Pierre, and numerous other projects.
