Les Zampino is an American martial artist and longtime Taekwondo instructor. He is also known as the father of television personality and entrepreneur Sheree Zampino, the former wife of actor Will Smith. Les has spent decades teaching martial arts and is associated with the Northeast Taekwondo Academy in New York.
He has kept much of his personal life private, but Sheree has shared photos and information about her father over the years. Les is reported to have reached the ninth-degree level in Taekwondo and has remained physically active into his later years.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Les Zampino |
| Also known as | Grandmaster Les Zampino |
| Birth year | Around 1947, based on reported birthday posts |
| Birthplace | Schenectady, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Descent | Italian |
| Profession | Martial artist, Taekwondo instructor |
| Taekwondo rank | Reportedly ninth degree |
| Academy | Northeast Taekwondo Academy |
| Children | Sheree, Richard, and Eugene/David |
| Famous daughter | Sheree Zampino |
| Grandson | Trey Smith |
| Known for | Taekwondo career and being Sheree Zampino’s father |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Les Zampino’s Age and Early Life
Les Zampino is from Schenectady, New York. His exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed.
There are conflicting reports about his age. Some online biographies claim he was born around 1930. However, Sheree reportedly celebrated her father being 74 in 2021 and shared another post for his 75th birthday in 2022. Those reports would place his birth around 1947.
Information about Les’s parents and siblings is not publicly available. He is reported to be of Italian descent.
Education
Some reports state that Les attended Mount Pleasant High School in New York. He is also reported to have continued his education after high school, but reliable details about his college, field of study, or degree are not available.
Much more information is available about his martial arts training than his formal education.
His Taekwondo Career
Martial arts have been a major part of Les Zampino’s professional life. He reportedly began training in Taekwondo in 1969.
Reports connect his training with several martial arts instructors, including Master Sang W. and Master Suk Joon Kim. He has also been linked professionally to Grandmaster H. U. Lee and the American Taekwondo Association, better known as the ATA.
Les eventually became a Taekwondo instructor himself. He has reportedly spent more than 45 years teaching the martial art.
His long career also included involvement with AAU Taekwondo. Reports state that he served on its executive committee for more than two decades.
Les Zampino’s Ninth-Degree Taekwondo Rank
Older profiles of Les describe him as an eighth-degree black belt. A later report states that he reached the ninth-degree level in 2019.
These claims do not necessarily conflict because the eighth-degree information may come from an earlier point in his career.
Les is therefore often called Grandmaster Les Zampino. His advanced rank and decades of teaching are major reasons he is known outside his connection to his famous daughter.
Northeast Taekwondo Academy
Les is closely associated with the Northeast Taekwondo Academy in New York. He reportedly established the academy after years of martial arts training and later served as its president.
The academy became an important part of his professional life. Reports indicate that he continued providing specialized Taekwondo training even as he grew older.
One source also says Les established a martial arts program on Broadway in 1977. However, details about this program are limited.
His Active Lifestyle
Les has remained active during his later years, something Sheree has highlighted publicly.
In 2021, Sheree shared a photograph of her father showing his physical condition at age 74. She expressed her appreciation for how well he had maintained his health and fitness.
His long involvement in Taekwondo appears to have remained an important part of his lifestyle as he aged.
Les Zampino’s Children
Les reportedly has three children: Sheree Zampino, Richard, and Eugene, with Eugene also reportedly known as David.
Less is publicly known about Richard and Eugene because they generally live private lives.
Sheree has mentioned Richard while discussing her blended family. She said her mother accepted and cared for Richard even though he was not her biological child.
Eugene has also appeared in some of Sheree’s family posts. One reported family gathering in Las Vegas in 2021 included Les and members of his extended family.
Who Is Sheree Zampino?
Sheree Zampino is Les’s best-known child. She is a television personality, entrepreneur, producer, and businesswoman.
She became widely known after marrying actor Will Smith in 1992. They welcomed their son, Trey Smith, on November 11, 1992. Their marriage later ended in divorce.
Sheree later became known independently through television. She appeared on the VH1 reality series Hollywood Exes and later joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a friend of the cast.
She has also been involved in fashion, beauty, and business projects.
Les Zampino and Sheree’s Mother
Information about Les’s relationship with Sheree’s mother is inconsistent.
Some reports identify Sheree’s mother as Pam or Pat Jackson and claim she married Les before they divorced. Another source states that Les and Sheree’s mother were never married.
Because reliable sources do not agree, their exact marital status should not be treated as confirmed.
What is more consistently reported is that Sheree’s parents separated while she was young and that she spent much of her childhood with her father. Sheree’s biological mother reportedly died in 2008.
His Relationship With Sheree
Les and Sheree appear to have maintained a close relationship throughout her adult life. She has posted photographs and tributes to him on social media, including birthday and Father’s Day messages.
In 2021, Sheree reportedly surprised her father while he was spending time with friends. A video of the reunion showed Les becoming emotional after realizing his daughter had unexpectedly arrived.
Sheree also celebrated Les’s 75th birthday with family in 2022. Her son Trey was among the family members pictured with him.
Les Zampino’s Grandson Trey Smith
Les is the maternal grandfather of Trey Smith, Sheree’s son with Will Smith.
Trey has appeared with his grandfather in family photographs. Through Trey, Les is also connected to the wider Smith blended family.
Trey has two younger paternal half-siblings, Jaden Smith and Willow Smith, from Will Smith’s marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith.
Wife and Relationship Status
Information about Les Zampino’s romantic life is limited.
One report said his Facebook relationship status showed that he was in a relationship. Another identified a woman named Kathleen as a possible partner based on photographs posted online.
However, there is not enough reliable public information to confirm the identity of his current partner or whether he has remarried.
Les Zampino’s Net Worth
Les Zampino’s net worth has not been reliably reported.
He has likely earned income through his long career as a martial arts instructor and his involvement with Northeast Taekwondo Academy. However, there is no reliable financial information available to calculate his personal wealth.
Online estimates based simply on average martial arts instructor salaries should not be treated as his actual net worth.
Social Media and Public Life
Les has reportedly maintained a Facebook presence, but he is not known as a major social media personality.
Much of the information available about his later life comes from Sheree’s social media posts. She has shared family celebrations, reunions, old photographs, and updates about her father.
Unlike his daughter, Les has mainly remained outside the entertainment industry.
Facts About Les Zampino
- Les Zampino is from Schenectady, New York.
- He is of Italian descent.
- He is the father of Sheree Zampino.
- He reportedly began Taekwondo training in 1969.
- He has spent more than 45 years teaching martial arts.
- He is associated with Northeast Taekwondo Academy.
- He reportedly served on the AAU Taekwondo Executive Committee for more than 20 years.
- He reportedly reached ninth-degree status in Taekwondo in 2019.
- He is also the father of sons Richard and Eugene/David.
- His grandson Trey Smith is the son of Sheree Zampino and Will Smith.
- Sheree has regularly shared photographs and tributes to her father.
- His exact birth date and personal net worth have not been publicly confirmed.
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