Samuel L. Jackson

Early Life & Education

Samuel Leroy Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., and raised primarily by his grandmother in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he became active in the civil rights movement and initially studied marine biology before discovering his passion for acting.

Career

Rise & Breakthrough

He began in theater and early film roles, but his breakout came in the late 1980s working with Spike Lee on films like Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever. He achieved global fame portraying Jules Winnfield in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994).

Franchise Star & Versatility

• Played Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequels.
• Became Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, debuting in Iron Man (2008) and appearing in over a dozen MCU films and shows.
• Voiced characters in The Incredibles and video games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
• Appeared in diverse films: Jurassic Park, Django Unchained, Snakes on a Plane, The Kill Room, Damaged, and many more.

Producing & Voice Work

He has produced films and lent his voice to animation, audiobooks, and commercials (including a high-profile deal with Capital One).

Full Works

Films

• Do the Right Thing
• Pulp Fiction
• Jurassic Park
• Men in Black II
• Star Wars: Episodes I–III
• Snakes on a Plane
• MCU films (Iron Man, Avengers series)
• Django Unchained, The Kill Room, Damaged
• The Unholy Trinity, The Protégé, The Beast (upcoming)

Television & Voice Roles

• Several MCU series and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Voice roles in The Incredibles, Boondocks, video games

Stage & Audio

• Early work with Negro Ensemble Company
• Narration work, including The Bible Experience

Net Worth & Income

His estimated net worth is $250 million, fueled by:

• Film salaries: $10–20M per starring role; $4–6M for MCU cameos
• Endorsements: eight-figure annual Capital One deal, plus Apple, Adidas, Brioni
• Real estate: Beverly Hills mansion (bought for $8.35M, now ~$25M), Upper East Side condo
• Investments: stake in Dave’s Hot Chicken

Awards & Honors

• Academy Award nomination (Pulp Fiction)
• Guinness World Record as highest-grossing actor
• Honorary Oscar
• Recognized at MoMA Film Benefit for his filmmaking journey

Personal Life & Philanthropy

Married since 1980 to LaTanya Richardson Jackson, with daughter Zoe. He overcame personal challenges early in life and credits his wife’s support. Major philanthropic work includes a $5M donation to Spelman College and activism in civil rights, education, and ALZ research.

Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts

• Nearly expelled from college as a teenager—turned life around through acting
• Holds a Guinness record for box office revenue from his films
• Strong real estate acumen across bi-coastal properties
• Angel investor in Dave’s Hot Chicken and other ventures
• Shares career longevity with wife—both pledged to work as long as they’re able

Upcoming Projects

• The Beast (2025) – Action thriller, plays the U.S. President
• Vision Quest cameo rumoured
• Ongoing MCU & franchise appearances, plus new productions