Samuel L. Jackson Biography

Samuel L. Jackson

actor
Born: 12/21/1948
Birthplace: Washington, D.C.

Film actor best known for his role as a Bible-thumping hit man in Pulp Fiction (1994). Although he had already appeared in other big hits such as Jurassic Park (1993) and Menace II Society (1993), Jackson was a rarely recognized supporting actor who was just waiting for a chance to prove he had leading man capabilities when he appeared in Pulp Fiction. His career began on the stage in New York City with the Negro Ensemble Company and the New York Shakespeare Festival. After being noticed by Spike Lee in a 1981 stage production of A Soldier's Story, he went through several years of addiction problems before cleaning himself up and appearing in Jungle Fever (1991). He earned a Best Supporting Actor award for this role at the Cannes Film Festival—a category that had never been recognized in the past.

• Together for Days, 1972
• Ragtime, 1981
• Magic Sticks, 1987
• Raw, 1987
• Coming to America, 1988
• School Daze, 1988
• Do the Right Thing, 1989
• Sea of Love, 1989
• Def by Temptation, 1990
• The Exorcist III, 1990
• Mo' Better Blues, 1990
• A Shock to the System, 1990
• The Return of Superfly, 1990
• GoodFellas, 1990
• Betsy's Wedding, 1990
• Strictly Business, 1991
• Jungle Fever, 1991
• Jumpin' at the Boneyard, 1991
• Johnny Suede, 1991
• White Sands, 1992
• Patriot Games, 1992
• Juice, 1992
• Fathers & Sons, 1992
• Loaded Weapon I, 1993
• Jurassic Park, 1993
• True Romance, 1993
• Menace II Society, 1993
• Amos & Andrew, 1993
• Fresh, 1994
• Pulp Fiction, 1994
• The New Age, 1994
• Hail Caesar, 1994
• Losing Isaiah, 1995
• Kiss of Death, 1995
• Die Hard with a Vengeance, 1995
• Fluke, 1995
• The Great White Hype, 1996
• Trees Lounge, 1996
• Search for One-Eye Jimmy, 1996
• A Time to Kill, 1996
• The Long Kiss Goodnight, 1996
• Hard Eight, 1997
• You're Still Not Fooling Anybody, 1997
• 187, 1997
• Eve's Bayou, 1997
• Jackie Brown, 1997
• Sphere, 1998
• Out of Sight, 1998
• The Negotiator, 1998
• The Red Violin, 1998
• Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace, 1999
• Deep Blue Sea, 1999
• Rules of Engagement, 2000
• Shaft, 2000
• Unbreakable, 2000
• The Caveman's Valentine, 2001
• Star Wars: Episode II—The Attack of the Clones, 2002
• XXX, 2002
• Kill Bill: Vol. 2, 2004
• Coach Carter, 2005
• Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith, 2005