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. Net worth: $250 million.
Samuel L. Jackson
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. 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.
Samuel Jackson’s childhood
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 the 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
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) was 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 the actor`s future career.
Samuel L. Jackson and Spike Lee
But while advancing his career, Jackson had to win over his personal weaknesses - his addiction to cocaine and alcohol. As a result of his addiction, 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 experienced 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 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 L. Jackson in The Avengers
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 the 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.
Samuel L. Jackson and Quentin Tarantino
Personal life of Samuel L. Jackson
Despite the 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.
Samuel L. Jackson with his wife and daughter
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, the premieres of three films with the participation of Samuel took place: “Captain Marvel”, “Val” and “Glass”. In M. Knight Shyamalan’s thriller “Glass,” Samuel L. Jackson played Elijah Price, a terrorist with multiple personality disorders. On the set, he starred with Bruce Willis, Anya Taylor-Joy, by James McAvoy . Also in 2019, fans of The Avengers saw Samuel in 4 parts of The Avengers.
In 2020, Samuel L. Jackson continues to act in films. So, with his participation this year, two premieres are expected: "Spiral: From The Book of Saw" and "The Banker". In 2021, with the participation of Jackson, the second season of the American animated series "What If ...?" Will be released.
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