Samuel L. Jackson

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SamuelJackson Last Updated: 9/9/25
Real Name: Samuel Leroy Jackson
Born: December 21, 1948
Height: 6' 2"

Grade: A-
Actor/Movie Star: 50%-50%
Prime Years: 1991, 1994-98, 2000, and 2008
Most Famous Film: Pulp Fiction (1994)
Most Infamous Film: Snakes on a Plane (2006)
Masterpiece: Pulp Fiction (1994)
Outstanding: Jungle Fever (1991), Jackie Brown (1997), and Lakeview Terrace (2008)
Honorable: The Great White Hype (1996), One Eight Seven (1997), The Negotiator (1998), and Shaft (2000)

Opinion: If there's a word that anybody completely owns, it's "motherfucker" for Samuel L. Jackson. He could run his own school and charge people for the art and science of saying it properly in hundreds of different situations. All kidding aside, he's a skilled actor with a bad-ass attitude. His authoritative voice is impressive as well.

For years, I knew who Samuel L. Jackson was, and he was often shallow in small roles, but when I saw Pulp Fiction for the first time in 1994, his performance as Jules Winnfield blew me away. It still does with some of the most quotable lines ever. That's when Samuel L. Jackson became an overnight superstar. I'll say his deepest role is Ordell Robbie of Jackie Brown while the most underrated is Gator of Jungle Fever. Not to miss is when he played a weird racist cop in Lakeview Terrace. Apart from Pulp Fiction, I'm huge fan of his character in the remake of Shaft.

Confirmed: Was born in Washington, D.C., as the only child of military parents. Mother was a clerk/typist for the U.S. Navy while father was a soldier in the U.S. Army with a stint during the Korean War, but they divorced by the time he was 1 year old. Afterwards, was left to live with his mother's working-class parents in the segregated world of Chattanooga, Tennessee, while she stayed put in Washington, D.C. Was nicknamed "Sam." Had been called "nigger" regularly by white people and was often reminded by his grandparents to know his place or be killed.

Loved listening to radio shows regularly and mimicked voices. Learned how to read books at a very young age, becoming a voracious reader in time, and liked to act out the stories. Was eventually recruited by his aunt to appear in school plays. Became a big fan of movies, watching them every Saturday, and then acted them out during the rest of the week. By 4th grade, developed a bad stutter which never went away throughout his adult life [his theory was saying "motherfucker" all the time helped him overcome it rather well]. The following year, his mother moved back in and became a major part of the household.

Worked hard academically and was a well-rounded student, even in high school. Attended church every Sunday at the order of his grandparents who were Methodists. Played the trumpet, flute, and French horn in the marching band and sports like swimming and track. Had thought of being a jazz musician but gave it up. In the meanwhile, developed internal anger because of living in a segregated society but rarely got into trouble while growing up.

Mother made the decision that he would attend Morehouse College, an all-male black college where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., graduated from, in Atlanta, Georgia, in the fall of 1966. While there, didn't hang out with students much, preferring the company of blacks living in the ghetto around the campus. Joined the cheerleading team, became a hippie, and started doing all kinds of drugs including heroin, having overdosed on it thrice. Found out about the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one night and was encouraged to fly down to Memphis, Tennessee, for free to help out to keep things peaceful during the sanitation workers' strike. Once back to Morehouse, was part of the volunteer service to to show people around when the coffin had made its way to Atlanta and be pulled by two mules on a farm wagon in a 3.5-mile procession that was observed by over 100,000 people on April 9, 1968.

Found his calling by taking on an offer to appear in a college play called The Threepenny Opera. Coincidentally, met LaTanya Richardson who would become his wife in 1980, and they remained together since then. Joined a group that protested the college to be remade with four specific demands that were black-focused such as a new black studies program, improved community relations, and more blacks on the board of trustees. In 1969, got involved in a standoff that lasted for 29 hours, chaining all doors in an administation building and holding the trustees as hostages including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s father. Everybody was released after agreeing to the demands and then repudiating them. As a result, was expelled from Morehouse.

Spent time in political activism, did volunteer work for SNCC, and got know to Stokely Carmichael and H. Rap Brown. At one point, was involved with radicals who were more focused on violence but was saved by his mother as she told him that he was under surveillance of the FBI and that he would be dead within a year if he continued what he was doing, so he gave up and moved to Los Angeles in 1970. Because of the draft to fight in the Vietnam War, decided to go back to Morehouse the following year after his mother threatened to sue the school (by now, most demands made during the hostage situation were actually implemented). Graduated with a bachelor's in drama in 1972 after deciding to do as many plays as he could, often while high and under the influence of alcohol.

Continued to act in plays for various theater companies in Atlanta for years with an occasional bit part in movies. Made his first on-screen appearance in Together for Days (aka Black Cream) that's currently impossible to find. Got turned down to appear in Roots because he wasn't deemed "African enough or an exotic Negro." Moved to New York City in 1976 and did odd jobs while performing in plays for black theater companies, usually alongside Laurence Fishburne, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and so on.

Despite appearing in a grand picture called Ragtime, his movie career completely stalled until 1987 when he was almost 40 years old. Meanwhile, worked as a stand-in for 2.5 years on The Cosby Show and became a cocaine addict and an alcoholic, both habits that he would kick in 1990, due to years of disappointments. Got his right foot caught on a subway in New York City on December 14, 1988, and it dragged him through the tunnel; called it a near-death experience, suffering an ACL tear and a host of other damaged parts in his right knee which took him 1.5 years to recover from [you could see him in several movies wearing a brace on his knee and walking with a cane].

Made a brief appearance in many films including a character in Sea of Love who's named "Black Guy." Then, transitioned to solid characters until Pulp Fiction [had to beat out Paul Calderon who had the role in the bag] completely changed the arc of his career at the expense of losing out on a role in Reservoir Dogs. Was rewarded with the first and only Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Afterwards, became leading man material, often in A-list pictures. Prior to that, appeared in Jungle Fever which mirrored his real-life drug addiction so well and was rightfully recognized, especially by the Cannes Film Festival, a significant accomplishment because it rarely gave out an award for Best Supporting Actor [he remains the last person to receive this honor]. Continued to act in plays between motion pictures. Made waves again by appearing in Jackie Brown that was written specifically for him.

Is a longtime smoker. Has an addictive personality. Rates Quentin Tarantino's ear for black dialogue 95% accurate and is the only one allowed to change a bit of it to achieve that final 5%. Considers himself a movie buff and has a huge film collection [prefers Asian cinema big time]. Is bald and wears wigs in movies. Hates the fact that people still confuse him with Laurence Fishburne.

A fan of watching sports, especially basketball, golf, and soccer, is addicted to playing golf. Received a special honorary Oscar in 2022 as "a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide." Had a falling out with Spike Lee during the early 90's because the director prefered to pay everybody at minimum wage; their relationship patched up a couple of decades later.

Rumors: None.