“Will” a memoir by actor Will Smith (post 1): As in multiple personality, childhood reputation as compulsive liar, and imaginary friend with own mind

“As a child, I would disappear into my imagination…I developed a reputation in the neighborhood as a compulsive liar. My friends felt like they could never trust what I said. This is a strange quirk about me and continues to this day…what the other kids didn’t understand was that I didn’t lie about my perceptions, my perceptions lied to me.

“A lot of kids go through the imaginary-friend phase — usually between four and six years old…The imaginary friend wants whatever the child wants, hates what the child hates…But Magicker was different…He was a full-blown person…Magicker had distinct preferences and opinions…Sometimes he would disagree with me…he’d make me go outside when I didn’t want to. He had strong ideas about certain types of food…Even as I’m sitting here recalling our relationship, I’m thinking, Damn it, Magicker, this is my imagination!

“And if my mother wasn’t making any headway with me, she’d talk to Magicker instead” (1, pp. 21-22).

Search “liar” and “imaginary” for relevant past posts.

1. Will Smith. Will a memoir by the actor, written with Mark Manson. New York, Penguin Press, 2021.