Will Smith named Top Money-Making Star

Published: Jan. 2, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Premiere of "Seven Pounds" held in Los Angeles

GROTON, Mass., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Will Smith has been voted the Top Money-Making Star of 2008 in Quigley Publishing Company's 77th annual poll, the company said.

Smith is the second African-American actor to secure the title. Sidney Poitier was the first to do so in 1968.

Smith, who starred in "Hancock" and "Seven Pounds" in 2008, placed second to Johnny Depp last year. This is Smith's eighth appearance in the Quigley Poll since 1997 when he came in fourth.

The Quigley Poll is an annual survey in which motion-picture theater owners and film buyers are asked to vote for the 10 stars they believe generated the most box-office revenue for their theaters during the year.

Coming in at No. 2 for 2008 is "Iron Man" star Robert Downey, Jr., followed by "The Dark Knight" actor Christian Bale at No. 3, "Eagle Eye" hero Shia LaBeouf at No. 4 and LaBeouf's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" co-star Harrison Ford at No. 5.

Rounding out the top tier are "Bedtime Stories" star Adam Sandler at No. 6, "Four Christmases" actress Reese Witherspoon at No. 7, "Burn After Reading" actor George Clooney at No. 8, "Wanted" heroine Angelina Jolie at No. 9 and "Quantum of Solace" secret agent Daniel Craig at No. 10.

"Rachel Getting Married" actress Anne Hathaway and "Bottle Shock" actor Chris Pine were named the poll's "Stars of Tomorrow."

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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