Clifford Smith, better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American hip hop recording artist, record producer and actor from Staten Island, New York City, New York. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. Method Man is perhaps best known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He is also one half of the hip hop duo Method Man & Redman. In 1996, he won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, for "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By", with American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. Method Man has appeared in the motion pictures Belly, How High, Garden State, and has had minor roles in The Wackness and Venom and Red Tails. On television, he and frequent collaborator, fellow East Coast rapper Redman, co-starred on the short-lived Fox sitcom Method & Red. Method Man has also had a recurring role on HBO's Oz, as Tug Daniels, and as Calvin "Cheese" Wagstaff on the HBO drama series The Wire. In 2007, the writers of About.com placed him on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time. In 2012, The Source placed him on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. 

March 2nd, 1971 in Hempstead (Age 53)