ABC/Ida Mae Astute(NEW YORK) — Actor Will Smith’s role in Collateral Beauty not only ended up winning acclaim for the actor, but also helped him cope with a very personal loss, that of his father, Willard Carroll Smith Sr., who died in November.

Smith stopped by Good Morning America to recognize three notable organizations that assist in the lives of children — Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens, National Dance Institute and GenerationOn — all part of his efforts to help young people find their “why,” which is similar to the theme in his new movie.

“It was a really beautiful aspect of the film,” he said. “One of the opening ideas is, what is your ‘why?’ Why do you get up every day? Why do you do what you do? [It’s] beautiful around the holidays. It’s a good time to get back to why you do what you do.”

He added, “For me, I found my ‘why’ is to improve lives.”

Smith’s character in Collateral Beauty, Howard, suffers a heartbreaking loss, leading him to write three letters venting to Love, Time and Death.

The film, which is being compared to cult classic It’s a Wonderful Life, has helped Smith cope with his father’s falling ill; he received the script at the time his father was given just weeks to live. He ended up surviving just a short while longer than doctors anticipated, the actor recently said on Ellen.

“What was beautiful to me was to have an opportunity — my father was sick during the time so I was able to share the preparation with my father,” Smith said. “[I]t was that beautiful blending of art and life at the same time. And so some of the experiences the character was having, I was having in my own life. I think the people will see and feel the openness that I was able to get and the honestly that I was able give to this character.”

Collateral Beauty, which also stars Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet, Edward Norton and Helen Mirren, hits theaters Friday.

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