Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel Leroy Jackson' (born December 21, 1948) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor.

Early life

Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. He grew up an only child, in the factory town of Chattanooga, Tennessee with his mother, Elizabeth Jackson (a factory worker and later a supply buyer for a mental institution), and his maternal grandparents and extended family. His father lived away from the family in Kansas City, Missouri and later died from alcoholism. Jackson went to a segregated school, and later attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Jackson was expelled from the college for two years, although he did receive a BA in "Drama" in 1972. He appeared in a few minor roles, including television work, and in 1976 moved to New York City, spending the next decade appearing in stage plays.

Career

Jackson began appearing in feature films in the late 1980s, including a brief but memorable appearance in the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy Coming to America, playing a shotgun-toting robber. His performance in Jungle Fever was so acclaimed that the 1991 Cannes Film Festival created a "Supporting Actor" award just for him. Along with that award, he has won many others including a Silver Berlin Bear, A BAFTA Film Award, and two Independent Spirit Awards.

Jackson is perhaps best known for his roles in the Quentin Tarantino movies Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, the Spike Lee movies Do The Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues and Jungle Fever and as Jedi Mace Windu in the prequel Star Wars Trilogy. He is usually cast in roles that involve a cool, controlled, "in-the-know" character. His roles almost always involve a memorable line delivery; Jackson's trademark voice inflection lend heavily to this attribute.

In 1995, Jackson received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as "Jules Winnfield" in Pulp Fiction.

in Star Wars
In 2005, Jackson publically turned down an offer to co-star in rapper 50 Cent's acting debut 1, citing that he did not want to lend credence to an unproven actor. Film critic Roger Ebert wrote of Jackson's decision:
"Like Bill Cosby, Jackson is arguing against the anti-intellectual message that success for young black males is better sought in the worlds of rap and sports than in the classroom" 2.

On January 30th, 2006, Jackson was honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. He is the 7th African American and 191st actor to be recognized in this manner.

Other work

, based on Jackson's appearance
Jackson gave his consent for Marvel Comics to design their "Ultimate" version of the character Nick Fury after his likeness.

Jackson has been parodied twice on Chappelle's Show. He was played by comedian Dave Chappelle in sketches involving Mace Windu and a fake commercial peddling "Samuel Jackson" beer (a parody of Samuel Adams). He has also been spoofed in the film, Team America: World Police, where he was portrayed as a villanous member of the Film Actors Guild, and was referenced on the animated television show, Family Guy, as one of the characters declared that "Samuel L. Jackson is in everything", pointing to Jackson's extensive filmography.

Jackson recently lent his voice to the character "Gin Rummy" in an episode of the animated series The Boondocks. He also voiced the main antagonist of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Officer Frank Tenpenny.

Private life

Jackson is married to actress Latanya Richardson, whom he met while attending Morehouse College; they have a daughter, Zoe.

Jackson, a vegetarian, is an avid basketball fan, and especially prefers the Harlem Globetrotters. He also enjoys playing golf, a game he has been reported to have become very proficient at.

Jackson also became an avid Liverpool F.C. fan after filming the movie Formula 51 in Liverpool, England.

Selected filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
| 2006 | 2004: A Light Knight's Odyssey | Fear | (voice only) |
| 2006 | Snakes on a Plane | Nelville Flynn |
| 2006 | Freedomland | Lorenzo Council |
| 2005 | The Man | Derrick Vann |
| 2005 | Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith | Mace Windu |
| 2005 | XXX: State of the Union | Agent Augustus Gibbons |
| 2005 | Coach Carter | Coach Ken Carter |
| 2004 | The Incredibles | Lucius Best/Frozone | (voice only) |
| 2004 | Twisted | John Mills |
| 2003 | No Good Deed | Jack Friar |
| 2003 | S.W.A.T. | Sgt. Dan 'Hondo' Harrelson |
| 2003 | Basic | West |
| 2002 | Formula 51 | Elmo McElroy |
| 2002 | xXx | Agent Augustus Gibbons |
| 2002 | Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones | Mace Windu |
| 2002 | Changing Lanes | Doyle Gipson |
| 2001 | The Caveman's Valentine | Romulus Ledbetter |
| 2000 | Unbreakable | Elijah Price |
| 2000 | Shaft | John Shaft |
| 2000 | Rules of Engagement | Col. Terry L. Childers |
| 1999 | Deep Blue Sea | Russell Franklin |
| 1999 | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace | Mace Windu |
| 1998 | The Red Violin | Charles Morritz (Montréal) |
| 1998 | The Negotiator | Lt. Danny Roman |
| 1998 | Sphere | Dr. Harry Adams |
| 1997 | Jackie Brown | Ordell Robbie |
| 1997 | Eve's Bayou | Louis Batiste |
| 1997 | One Eight Seven | Trevor Garfield |
| 1996 | The Long Kiss Goodnight | Mitch Henessey |
| 1996 | A Time to Kill | Carl Lee Hailey |
| 1996 | The Great White Hype | Rev. Fred Sultan |
| 1995 | Die Hard: With a Vengeance | Zeus Carver |
| 1995 | Kiss of Death | Calvin Hart |
| 1994 | Pulp Fiction | Jules Winnfield |
| 1994 | Fresh | Sam |
| 1993 | Jurassic Park | Ray Arnold |
| 1993 | Amos & Andrew | Andrew Sterling |
| 1993 | Loaded Weapon 1 | Sgt. Wes Luger |
| 1992 | Patriot Games | Lt. Cmdr. Robby Jackson |
| 1992 | Juice | Trip |
| 1990 | Def by Temptation | Minister Garth |
| 1988 | Coming to America | Hold-Up Man | minor role |
|

Movie deaths


The characters Jackson plays often end up dying. The following is a list and description of assorted films that his characters have died in. (Warning: Possible spoilers)
* Goodfellas, shot by Tommy DeVito.
* Jungle Fever, shot by his father, dies in his mother's arms.
* True Romance, shot at beginning of movie by cocaine dealer.
* Jurassic Park, killed by escaped Velociraptor.
* One Eight Seven, shoots himself during Russian Roulette.
* Eve's Bayou, shot by Lenny Mereaux.
* Jackie Brown, shot by police officer.
* Deep Blue Sea, eaten by mutant shark.
* Basic, alleged to be dead as told by three people's stories, alive at end of film.
* Kill Bill, Vol. 2, murdered by Deadly Viper Assassination Squad.
* Twisted, shot by subordinate police officer.
* Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (video game), dies by wounds from fire truck he crashes.
* Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, killed by Sith Lord (through electricity and long fall).

Interviews

*The Seattle Times (February 14, 2006)
*MovieWeb interview (September 8, 2005)
*MovieHole interview (September 8, 2005)
*PopEntertainment interview (2004)
*Guardian Unlimited interview & in-depth profile (December 1, 2003)
*Cinema Confidential interview (August, 2002)
*LucasFilm interview (July, 1999)

*Official site of Samuel L. Jackson
*Samuel L. Jackson Soundboard, (warning: explicit language)
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