Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson (born December 21, 1948) is an American actor and producer. One of the most widely recognized actors of his generation, the films in which he has appeared have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, making him the second highest-grossing actor of all time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave him an Academy Honorary Award in 2022 as "A cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide". Jackson started his career on stage making his professional theatre debut in Mother Courage and her Children in 1980 at The Public Theatre. From 1981 to 1983 he originated the role of Private Louis Henderson in A Soldier's Play Off-Broadway. He also originated the role of Boy Willie in August Wilson's The Piano Lesson in 1987 at the Yale Repertory Theatre. He returned to the play in the 2022 Broadway revival playing Doaker Charles. Jackson early film roles include Coming to America (1988), Goodfellas (1990), Patriot Games (1992), Juice (1992), True Romance (1993), and Jurassic Park (1993), Menace II Society (1993), and Fresh (1994). His collaborations with Spike Lee led to greater prominence with films such as School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), Mo' Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991), Oldboy (2013), and Chi-Raq (2015). Jackson's breakout role was in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994) which earned him a BAFTA Award win and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He further collaborated with Tarantino, acting in Jackie Brown (1997), Django Unchained (2012), and The Hateful Eight (2015). He's known for having appeared in a number of big-budget films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), A Time to Kill (1996), The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), The Negotiator (1997), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Unbreakable (2000), Shaft (2000) and its reboot (2019), XXX (2002), S.W.A.T. (2003), Coach Carter (2005), Snakes on a Plane (2006), Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), and Glass (2019). He also gained widespread recognition as the Jedi Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999–2005), later voicing the role in the animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) and the video game Lego Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2011). With his permission, his likeness was used for the Ultimate version of the Marvel Comics character Nick Fury; he subsequently played Fury in 11 Marvel Cinematic Universe films, beginning with a cameo appearance in Iron Man (2008), as well as guest-starring in the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He will reprise this role in the upcoming Disney+ series Secret Invasion, which is set to premiere on June 21, 2023. Jackson has provided his voice for several animated films, documentaries, television series, and video games, including Lucius Best / Frozone in the Pixar films The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018).
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · FireAid Benefit Concert as Self
- 2023 · Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Secret Invasion as Self - 'Nick Fury'
- 2021 · An Audience with Adele as Self
- 2021 · 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Self
- 2021 · Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Death to 2020 as Dash Bracket
- 2020 · #UNFIT: The Psychology of Donald Trump as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote as Self
- 2018 · Life Itself as Self
- 2018 · Quincy as Self
- 2016 · BET Presents Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration as Self
- 2016 · Cell as Thomas 'Tom' McCourt
- 2015 · Star Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel as Self
- 2015 · Chi-Raq as Dolmedes
- 2015 · Barely Lethal as Hardman
- 2015 · Big Game as US President William Alan Moore
- 2014 · Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee as Self
- 2014 · Kite as Lieutenant Karl Aker
- 2012 · Eddie Murphy: One Night Only as Self
- 2012 · The Avengers: A Visual Journey as Self
- 2012 · Zambezia as Tendai (voice)
- 2012 · The Samaritan as Foley
- 2012 · I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac as Self
- 2012 · Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen as (archive footage)
- 2012 · Meeting Evil as Richie
- 2011 · Arena as Logan
- 2011 · Prohibition as Reader (voice)
- 2011 · African Cats as Narrator (voice)
- 2011 · The Sunset Limited as Black
- 2011 · On the Shoulders of Giants as
- 2011 · Return to Jurassic Park as Self
- 2010 · Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey as Fear (voice)
- 2010 · With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story as Self
- 2009 · Mother and Child as Paul
- 2009 · Afro Samurai: Resurrection as Afro / Ninja-Ninja (voice)
- 2008 · The Spirit as Octopus
- 2008 · Soul Men as Louis Hinds
- 2008 · Lakeview Terrace as Abel Turner
- 2007 · Resurrecting the Champ as Champ
- 2006 · Black Snake Moan as Lazarus
- 2006 · Farce of the Penguins as Narrator (voice)
- 2006 · Freedomland as Lorenzo Council
- 2006 · The N Word as Self
- 2005 · My Date with Drew as Self (uncredited)
- 2005 · George Lucas: Creating an Empire as Presenter/Self
- 2004 · Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson as Jack Johnson (voice)
- 2004 · In My Country as Langston Whitfield
- 2004 · America Beyond the Color Line as Self
- 2003 · Basic as Drill Sgt. SFC Nathan West
- 2003 · Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives as
- 2002 · Changing Lanes as Doyle Gipson
- 2001 · The 51st State as Elmo McElroy
- 2001 · The Caveman's Valentine as Romulus
- 2000 · Rules of Engagement as Col. Terry L. Childers
- 1999 · Our Friend, Martin as Turner (voice)
- 1998 · The Red Violin as Charles Morritz (Montréal)
- 1998 · Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's as Self
- 1998 · Sphere as Dr. Harry Adams
- 1996 · Hard Eight as Jimmy
- 1996 · Trees Lounge as Wendell
- 1996 · The Great White Hype as Rev. Fred Sultan
- 1995 · Kiss of Death as Calvin Hart
- 1995 · Losing Isaiah as Kadar Lewis
- 1994 · The New Age as Dale Deveaux
- 1994 · Fresh as Sam
- 1994 · Hail Caesar as Mailman
- 1994 · Against the Wall as Jamaal
- 1994 · Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker as Richard Greener
- 1993 · Amos & Andrew as Andrew Sterling
- 1992 · Juice as Trip
- 1991 · Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace as Everett Hatcher
- 1991 · Strictly Business as Monroe
- 1991 · Johnny Suede as B-Bop
- 1990 · Mo' Better Blues as Madlock
- 1990 · Betsy's Wedding as Taxi Dispatcher (Mickey)
- 1990 · Common Ground as Rev. Bob McClair
- 1990 · A Shock to the System as Ulysses
- 1989 · Sea of Love as Black Guy
- 1988 · School Daze as Leeds
- 1987 · Eddie Murphy Raw as Eddie's Uncle
- 1980 · The Exterminator as Extra (uncredited)
- Future · American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special as Self
- 2025 · Afterburn as Valentine
- 2024 · The Piano Lesson: Legacy and a Vision as Self
- 2024 · The Unholy Trinity as St. Christopher
- 2022 · JANET JACKSON. as Self
- 2022 · The Fix as Narrator (voice)
- 2020 · Beyond the Spotlight as
- 2017 · Miracle on 42nd Street as self
- 2017 · John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- 2016 · Eating You Alive as Self
- 2014 · Reasonable Doubt as Clinton Davis
- 2014 · Face of Unity as Self
- 2013 · Quentin Tarantino: 20 Years of Filmmaking as Self
- 2010 · Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story as Elmo McElroy (archive footage)
- 2009 · The Face is Familiar as Himself
- 2008 · Gospel Hill as Paul Malcolm
- 2008 · Critic as Self
- 2006 · Home of the Brave as William Marsh
- 2006 · 50 Films to See Before You Die as Self
- 2006 · Tarantino's Mind as Jules Winnfield / Rufus (archive footage)
- 2005 · Coach Carter The Man Behind the Movie as Self
- 2005 · The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World as Self
- 2005 · Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson as
- 2004 · Hollywood Legenden as Self
- 2002 · Jackie Brown: How It Went Down as Self
- 2002 · BaadAsssss Cinema as Self
- 2002 · No Good Deed as Jack Friar
- 2002 · The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies as Self - Narrator
- 2001 · R2-D2: Beneath the Dome as Self
- 1999 · From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic as Narrator / Host
- 1999 · Forever Hollywood as Self
- 1995 · A Night to Die For as Self - Host
- 1992 · White Sands as Greg Meeker
- 1992 · Fathers & Sons as Marshall
- 1991 · Jumpin' at the Boneyard as Mr. Simpson
- 1990 · Def by Temptation as Minister Garth
- 1989 · Making 'Do the Right Thing' as Self
- 1989 · Dead Man Out as Calvin Fredricks
- 1987 · Uncle Tom's Cabin as George
- Future · Last Meals as Walter
- Future · Pulp Fiction: The Facts as Self (archive footage)
- 2025 · Pulp Fiction: The Making Of as Self (archive footage)
- 2024 · The Piano Lesson as Doaker Charles
- 2024 · Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist as Frank Moten
- 2024 · The Garfield Movie as Vic (voice)
- 2024 · Damaged as Dan Lawson
- 2024 · Argylle as Alfie
- 2023 · The Marvels as Nick Fury
- 2023 · The Kill Room as Gordon
- 2023 · Samuel L. Jackson: Did I Stutter? as self
- 2023 · Secret Invasion as Nick Fury
- 2023 · Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur as Nick Fury (voice)
- 2022 · Is That Black Enough for You?!? as Self
- 2022 · The Jennifer Hudson Show as
- 2022 · Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank as Jimbo (voice)
- 2022 · Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey as Ptolemy Grey
- 2021 · Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney+ Day Special as Nick Fury (archive footage)
- 2021 · The Protégé as Moody
- 2021 · What If...? as Nick Fury (voice)
- 2021 · What If...? as Sir Fury (voice)
- 2021 · Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard as Darius Kincaid
- 2021 · Spiral: From the Book of Saw as Marcus Banks
- 2021 · Amend: The Fight for America as Self
- 2021 · Marvel Studios Legends as Nick Fury (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2020 · Enslaved as Self
- 2020 · Staged as Sam
- 2020 · One World: Together at Home as Self
- 2020 · Some Good News as Voice Over
- 2020 · The Banker as Joe Morris
- 2020 · The Last Full Measure as Takoda
- 2019 · Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as Mace Windu (voice)
- 2019 · The Movies That Made Us as Self (archive footage)
- 2019 · QT8: The First Eight as Self (uncredited)
- 2019 · Tamron Hall as Self - Guest
- 2019 · Spider-Man: Far From Home as Nick Fury
- 2019 · Shaft as John Shaft
- 2019 · Avengers: Endgame as Nick Fury
- 2019 · Captain Marvel as Nick Fury
- 2019 · Glass as Elijah Price / Mr. Glass
- 2018 · Incredibles 2 as Lucius Best / Frozone (voice)
- 2018 · Avengers: Infinity War as Nick Fury (uncredited)
- 2017 · Unicorn Store as The Salesman
- 2017 · The Hitman's Bodyguard as Darius Kincaid
- 2017 · Carpool Karaoke: The Series as Self
- 2017 · Creating a King: Summoning a God as Self
- 2017 · The Words That Built America as Self - Reader: Declaration of Independence
- 2017 · Kong: Skull Island as Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard
- 2017 · Smokey Robinson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song as Host
- 2017 · I Am Not Your Negro as Narrator (voice)
- 2017 · xXx: Return of Xander Cage as Agent Augustus Gibbons
- 2016 · Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children as Barron
- 2016 · The Legend of Tarzan as George Washington Williams
- 2015 · The Hateful Eight as Major Marquis Warren
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as
- 2015 · Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
- 2015 · Avengers: Age of Ultron as Nick Fury
- 2015 · Kingsman: The Secret Service as Richmond Valentine
- 2014 · Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- 2014 · Captain America: The Winter Soldier as Nick Fury
- 2014 · Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe as Self
- 2014 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- 2014 · RoboCop as Pat Novak
- 2013 · Oldboy as Chaney
- 2013 · Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Nick Fury
- 2013 · Everything Is Samuel L. Jackson's Fault as Self
- 2013 · Turbo as Whiplash (voice)
- 2013 · Circus Halligalli as
- 2012 · Django Unchained as Stephen
- 2012 · The Avengers as Nick Fury
- 2012 · Finding Your Roots as Self
- 2012 · Honest Trailers as Mace Windu (archive footage)
- 2012 · Honest Trailers as Nick Fury (archive footage)
- 2011 · Young Jeezy: A Hustlerz Ambition as Narrator
- 2011 · The Jonathan Ross Show as Self
- 2011 · Captain America: The First Avenger as Nick Fury
- 2011 · Dynamo: Magician Impossible as Self
- 2011 · Go the F**k to Sleep as Narrator (voice)
- 2011 · Thor as Nick Fury (uncredited)
- 2011 · Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair as Rufus
- 2010 · The Other Guys as P.K. Highsmith
- 2010 · Unthinkable as Henry Harold 'H' Humphries
- 2010 · Iron Man 2 as Nick Fury
- 2010 · In the Land of the Free... as Narrator
- 2010 · Heavy Rain as
- 2009 · Astro Boy as Zog (voice)
- 2009 · Inglourious Basterds as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- 2009 · Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- 2009 · Alan Carr: Chatty Man as Self
- 2009 · Uneven Fairways as Narrator
- 2008 · Star Wars: The Clone Wars as Mace Windu (voice) (archive sound)
- 2008 · Star Wars: The Clone Wars as Mace Windu (voice)
- 2008 · Iron Man as Nick Fury (uncredited)
- 2008 · The War as Narrator (voice)
- 2008 · Jumper as Roland
- 2007 · Cleaner as Tom Cutler
- 2007 · Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story as Narrator
- 2007 · 1408 as Gerald Olin
- 2007 · The Graham Norton Show as Self
- 2007 · Afro Samurai as Afro Samurai / Ninja Ninja (voice)
- 2006 · Mais Bastidores de Hollywood as Self
- 2006 · Snakes on a Plane as Neville Flynn
- 2006 · The Henry Rollins Show as
- 2006 · Honor Deferred as Narrator
- 2005 · Iconoclasts as Self
- 2005 · The Boondocks as
- 2005 · The Colbert Report as
- 2005 · The Man as Derrick Vann
- 2005 · Extras as Samuel L. Jackson
- 2005 · Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith as Mace Windu
- 2005 · xXx: State of the Union as Agent Augustus Gibbons
- 2005 · Mr. Incredible and Pals as Frozone (commentary voice)
- 2005 · Coach Carter as Ken Carter
- 2005 · The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as An Officer of the Law
- 2005 · The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
- 2004 · The Incredibles as Lucius Best / Frozone (voice)
- 2004 · John Travolta: The Inside Story as Self
- 2004 · Kill Bill: Vol. 2 as Rufus
- 2004 · Twisted as John Mills
- 2003 · The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- 2003 · S.W.A.T. as Sgt. Dan 'Hondo' Harrelson
- 2003 · Real Time with Bill Maher as Himself
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 2002 · xXx as Agent Augustus Gibbons
- 2002 · Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones as Mace Windu
- 2002 · Middle School Confessions as Host
- 2001 · The 100 Greatest Films as Self
- 2001 · The Proud Family as Joseph (voice)
- 2001 · Comic Books & Superheroes as Self
- 2000 · Unbreakable as Elijah Price
- 2000 · Shaft as John Shaft
- 2000 · Opening the Tombs of the Golden Mummies: Live as
- 2000 · Any Given Wednesday as Willie Nutter
- 2000 · Shaft: Still the Man as Self
- 1999 · The Early Show as Self
- 1999 · Deep Blue Sea as Russell Franklin
- 1999 · Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace as Mace Windu
- 1998 · TRL as
- 1998 · The Negotiator as Lt. Danny Roman
- 1998 · Out of Sight as Hejira Henry (uncredited)
- 1998 · AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies as Self
- 1998 · Parkinson as Self
- 1997 · Jackie Brown as Ordell Robbie
- 1997 · Eve's Bayou as Louis Batiste
- 1997 · The View as Self
- 1997 · The View as Self - Guest
- 1997 · One Eight Seven as Trevor Garfield
- 1997 · Leute heute as Self
- 1996 · The Long Kiss Goodnight as Mitch Henessey
- 1996 · A Time to Kill as Carl Lee Hailey
- 1996 · The Daily Show as Self
- 1996 · The Journey of the African-American Athlete as Narrator
- 1994 · The Search for One-eye Jimmy as Colonel Ron
- 1990 · Spike Lee & Company: Do It a Cappella as The Janitor
- 1987 · Magic Sticks as Bum
- 1978 · The Trial of the Moke as Johnson Whittaker
- 1972 · Together for Days as Stan
- Future · Acorns as
- Future · The Garfield Movie 2 as Vic (voice)
- Future · All Saints: The Video as Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Future · The Beast as
- Future · Head Games as
- Future · The Honest Liar as Nick DeFranco
- 1990 · The Return of Superfly as Nate Cabot
- Future · St. Vincent as
- Future · Untitled Hitman Thriller as Morris Stokes
- 1996 · Shaquille O'Neal: Larger than Life as Narrator (voice)
- 1995 · The Frank Skinner Show as Self
- 1995 · Fluke as Rumbo (voice)
- 1995 · Die Hard: With a Vengeance as Zeus Carver
- 1995 · Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as The Mayor (voice)
- 1994 · Pulp Fiction as Jules Winnfield
- 1994 · Inside the Actors Studio as Self
- 1993 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- 1993 · True Romance as Big Don
- 1993 · Jurassic Park as Arnold
- 1993 · Menace II Society as Tat Lawson
- 1993 · National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 as Wes Luger
- 1993 · Raw as
- 1992 · Ghostwriter as Reggie Jenkins
- 1992 · HBO First Look as
- 1992 · MTV Movie & TV Awards as Self - Presenter
- 1992 · Patriot Games as Lt. Cmdr. Robby Jackson
- 1992 · The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as
- 1991 · Jungle Fever as Gator Purify
- 1990 · Law & Order as Attorney Louis Taggert
- 1990 · GoodFellas as Stacks Edwards
- 1990 · The Exorcist III as Dream Blind Man
- 1989 · Do the Right Thing as Mister Señor Love Daddy
- 1988 · LIVE with Kelly and Mark as
- 1988 · Coming to America as Hold-Up Man
- 1987 · The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd as Brother Elvis
- 1985 · Spenser: For Hire as
- 1981 · Ragtime as Gang Member No. 2
- 1977 · The Displaced Person as Sulk
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- 1971 · Great Performances as Self
- 1956 · Tony Awards as Self - Presenter
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self - Presenter
- 1952 · Today as Self
- 1948 · BAMBI Awards as Self
- Future · Man of War as