Samuel L. Jackson – biography, photos, facts, family, wife and kids, height and weight 2020

Samuel L. Jackson Biography

Samuel L. (Leroy) Jackson - an actor, theater artist, producer. He has become a superstar of Hollywood due to his long-standing cooperation with iconic Quentin Tarantino. He garnered the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for the role of Jules in the «Pulp Fiction». At the Cannes Film Festival, he won the Golden Palm, having performed brilliantly the role of Gator in the dramatic thriller movie of Spike Lee «Jungle Fever» and another role of Ordell in the movie «Jackie Brown» (directed by Quentin Tarantino) brought him a «Silver Bear» during the Berlin International Film Festival.

Childhood: Washington- Chattanooga

It was late 1948, when in one of the Washington family shortly before Christmas (on December 21), a boy was born, who was named Samuel Leroy Jackson. The life in a big city didn't do a lot of good for the young family - the father started drinking, and soon moved to Kansas City in search of work, where he consequently died as a result of alcohol abuse. Due to this, his wife Elizabeth and a little baby moved to Tennessee to stay closer to her relatives. There, in the industrial city of Chattanooga Samuel spent his early years.

It dealt him a severe blow, when his mother was put in a mental institution and the grandparents had to take care of the grandson. Being a bit shy because of a stuttering problem, the boy always spent his time studying and immersed himself in music. When applying for the school orchestra, he chose two instruments: a trumpet and a French horn. And from the third to the twelfth grade, he took an active part in all the performances of the musical collective.

Having graduated from the school with flying colors in all subjects, Samuel chose the profession of an architect and moved to Atlanta.

Youth: Atlanta - Los Angeles - Atlanta

He joined the Faculty of Architecture in the Morehouse College of Atlanta, where he studied until 1972.The first thing he did was making an appointment with a local speech therapist to get rid of stuttering. Then he made a transition to the Faculty of Drama of the same college and organized the Theatre Troupe with other mainly African-American students. After a few performances in the Amateur Theater other actors from different troupes started to join.

Samuel L. Jackson in his early life and nowadays

During his studies, Samuel took part in filming of a fast food commercial. He was eating the products of Krystal Hamburgers so persuasively that the commercial increased the sales, for what he was decently paid. Only then his relatives approved his career choice: as before his family was doubtful that, being an actor, would allow him to make a living.

Shortly after that, Jackson had to interrupt his studies, as he became an active participant of the protest marches after the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968, consequently, he was expelled from the college and convicted as the organizer of illegal activity towards the college administration. For two years, Samuel had to work in Los Angeles as a social worker, then reapplied to the Atlanta College, and in 1972 he became a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts and decided to move to New York, where he saw better career prospects for actors.

Adulthood: New York - Los Angeles

The life in a big city was not a bed of roses for him. For the first ten years, Jackson worked in the theater, made first attempts in the movies, however the movies «Together for days» (1972) and «Ragtime» (1981) were not successful as expected. He also participated in the TV shows, performed as Othello at the Shakespeare Festival. The most crucial for him turned out to be the performance in the play “The Soldier's Play”, where Jackson was introduced to the director Spike Lee, who made a big influence on actor`s future career.

But while advancing his career, Jackson had to win over his personal weaknesses - his addiction to cocaine and alcohol. As a result of his addition, he lost an incredible opportunity to play in the Broadway musicals, missed a chance to have a few interesting leading roles and nearly lost his wife and a daughter.

Samuel Jackson in the movie “Jungle Fever”

During this difficult period, the actor met Morgan Freeman, who later became his mentor. After a tough year in the rehab clinic, the actor eagerly took on the role of Gaiter offered by Spike in the movie «Jungle fever» (1991). Having experience the addiction himself, he overwhelmed the audience with his frank open-heartedness.

Samuel L. Jackson in the movie “Jurassic Park”

He was noticed by Steven Spielberg and invited to «Jurassic Park» (1993). Jackson in the role of the computer engineer named Ray, started to work on the film set with such eminent actors as: Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Laura Dern. Samuel revealed later in an interview, that taking part in the movie was a very serious cinematographic experience. He was rewarded for his patience and loyalty with the role of a gangster Jules in the movie “Pulp Fiction” (1994), which gained an extraordinary popularity among the viewers. It was a life-changing triumph, which made the actor acknowledged in the same light as the most eminent Hollywood stars.

Samuel L. Jackson with Bruce Willis in the blockbuster «Die Hard 3»

In 1997, Samuel played in the third installment of the action movie series «Die Hard» with Bruce Willis. In the same year, he joined up again with Tarantino and was awarded the «Silver Bear» at the Berlin Film Festival for his role in “Jackie Brown”

Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Tucker in «Jackie Brown»

In 2000, Jackson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Samuel started a new decade with the role of a Jedi Master Mace Windu in the epic “Star Wars” trilogy, which was subsequently filmed until 2008/2005. Samuel was interested in working on fantasy characters, so he signed a contract with Marvel, which brought him the role of Nick Fury. From now on, for the fans of movies about the «Avengers» and other Marvel superheroes, Jackson was associated with the head of the organization S.H.I.E.L.D.

Samuel L. Jackson in «Django»

For Quentin Tarantino, Samuel has become an irreplaceable hero in almost all his films. So, in 2012, the actor got a role in the movie of the famous director again - this time a role of the butler in the film «Django», which critics called one of the best roles of Jackson. The duo of Tarantino and Jackson could be seen again on the set of “The Hateful Eight» in 2015, where Samuel received one of the key roles.

Personal life of Samuel L. Jackson

Despite intensive working pace, Samuel Jackson has always put the family first and still loves his wife Latanya Richardson and daughter Zoe. He met Latanya in college, but they decided to get married later in 1980 and since then they are inseparable, despite the problems that arose in their family life because of the addiction. Daughter Zoe (1982) did not follow in her father`s footsteps and works as a producer of the sports channel.

Samuel Leroy Jackson now

In 2019 three movies were scheduled to be released with the participation of Samuel: «Captain Marvel», «Shaft» and «Glass». In the M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller «Glass» Samuel L. Jackson will play Elijah Price, a terrorist with multiple personality disorder. On the set, he will co-star with Bruce Willis, Anya Taylor-Joy, James McAvoy.

Samuel L. Jackson: Did I Say That?

Also, fans of the «Avengers» expect the release of the 4th installment taking place in the cinematic universe of Marvel after the incredible ending of the previous part. The premiere is also scheduled for 2019. Furthermore, Jackson will return in the role of Nick Fury in the sequel of «Spider-Man» with Tom Holland.

Samuel L. Jackson, biography, news, photos

Photo: Samuel L. Jackson