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 · Afterburn as Valentine
- 2025 · The Unholy Trinity as St. Christopher
- 2025 · FireAid Benefit Concert as Self
- 2024 · The Piano Lesson as Doaker Charles
- 2024 · American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special as Self
- 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
- 2022 · JANET JACKSON. as Self
- 2021 · An Audience with Adele as Self
- 2021 · Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney+ Day Special as Nick Fury (archive footage)
- 2021 · Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Death to 2020 as Dash Bracket
- 2020 · Beyond the Spotlight as
- 2020 · #UNFIT: The Psychology of Donald Trump as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · One World: Together at Home as Self
- 2019 · QT8: The First Eight as Self (uncredited)
- 2018 · Quincy as Self
- 2017 · Unicorn Store as The Salesman
- 2017 · The Words That Built America as Self - Reader: Declaration of Independence
- 2017 · I Am Not Your Negro as Narrator (voice)
- 2016 · Eating You Alive as Self
- 2015 · Star Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel as Self
- 2015 · Chi-Raq as Dolmedes
- 2014 · Kite as Lieutenant Karl Aker
- 2014 · Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe as Self
- 2014 · Reasonable Doubt as Clinton Davis
- 2012 · The Avengers: A Visual Journey as Self
- 2012 · Zambezia as Tendai (voice)
- 2012 · The Samaritan as Foley
- 2012 · Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen as (archive footage)
- 2012 · Meeting Evil as Richie
- 2011 · Arena as Logan
- 2011 · African Cats as Narrator (voice)
- 2011 · The Sunset Limited as Black
- 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 · Home of the Brave as William Marsh
- 2006 · Farce of the Penguins as Narrator (voice)
- 2006 · Freedomland as Lorenzo Council
- 2004 · In My Country as Langston Whitfield
- 2004 · Twisted as John Mills
- 2003 · Working Shakespeare as
- 2002 · No Good Deed as Jack Friar
- 2002 · The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies as Self - Narrator
- 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)
- 1997 · Eve's Bayou as Louis Batiste
- 1997 · One Eight Seven as Trevor Garfield
- 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 · Against the Wall as Jamaal
- 1993 · Amos & Andrew as Andrew Sterling
- 1993 · National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 as Wes Luger
- 1992 · White Sands as Greg Meeker
- 1991 · Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace as Everett Hatcher
- 1991 · Strictly Business as Monroe
- 1991 · Johnny Suede as B-Bop
- 1991 · Jungle Fever as Gator Purify
- 1990 · The Return of Superfly as Nate Cabot
- 1990 · Mo' Better Blues as Madlock
- 1990 · Betsy's Wedding as Taxi Dispatcher (Mickey)
- 1990 · A Shock to the System as Ulysses
- 1990 · Def by Temptation as Minister Garth
- 1989 · Sea of Love as Black Guy
- 1988 · School Daze as Leeds
- 1987 · Eddie Murphy Raw as Eddie's Uncle
- 1981 · Ragtime as Gang Member No. 2
- 1980 · The Exterminator as Extra (uncredited)
- Future · Acorns as
- 2024 · The Piano Lesson: Legacy and a Vision as Self
- 2023 · Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Secret Invasion as Self - 'Nick Fury'
- 2022 · Is That Black Enough for You?!? as Self
- 2021 · 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Self
- 2020 · A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote as Self
- 2017 · Miracle on 42nd Street as self
- 2017 · John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- 2014 · Face of Unity as Self
- 2013 · Quentin Tarantino: 20 Years of Filmmaking as Self
- 2012 · Eddie Murphy: One Night Only as Self
- 2012 · I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac as Self
- 2010 · Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story as Elmo McElroy (archive footage)
- 2010 · Heavy Rain as
- 2009 · The Face is Familiar as Himself
- 2008 · Critic as Self
- 2006 · 50 Films to See Before You Die as Self
- 2006 · The N Word as Self
- 2006 · Tarantino's Mind as Jules Winnfield / Rufus (archive footage)
- 2005 · My Date with Drew as Self (uncredited)
- 2005 · George Lucas: Creating an Empire as Presenter/Self
- 2004 · John Travolta: The Inside Story as Self
- 2004 · Hollywood Legenden as Self
- 2001 · R2-D2: Beneath the Dome as Self
- 1999 · From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic as Narrator / Host
- Future · Pulp Fiction: The Facts as Self (archive footage)
- 2005 · Mr. Incredible and Pals as Frozone (commentary voice)
- 2004 · Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson as Jack Johnson (voice)
- 2002 · Jackie Brown: How It Went Down as Self
- 2002 · BaadAsssss Cinema as Self
- 1999 · Forever Hollywood as Self
- 1998 · Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's as Self
- 1995 · A Night to Die For as Self - Host
- 1994 · The Search for One-eye Jimmy as Colonel Ron
- 1994 · Hail Caesar as Mailman
- Future · Last Meals as Walter
- 1992 · Fathers & Sons as Marshall
- Future · The Garfield Movie 2 as Vic (voice)
- 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 · 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
- 2022 · The Fix as Narrator (voice)
- 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 · 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 · 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 · Life Itself as Self
- 2018 · Incredibles 2 as Lucius Best / Frozone (voice)
- 2018 · Avengers: Infinity War as Nick Fury (uncredited)
- 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 · Kong: Skull Island as Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard
- 2017 · Smokey Robinson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song as Host
- 2017 · xXx: Return of Xander Cage as Agent Augustus Gibbons
- 2016 · BET Presents Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration as Self
- 2016 · Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children as Barron
- 2016 · Cell as Thomas 'Tom' McCourt
- 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 · Barely Lethal as Hardman
- 2015 · Avengers: Age of Ultron as Nick Fury
- 2015 · Big Game as US President William Alan Moore
- 2015 · Kingsman: The Secret Service as Valentine
- 2014 · Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- 2014 · Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee as Self
- 2014 · Captain America: The Winter Soldier as Nick Fury
- 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 · Prohibition as Reader (voice)
- 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
- 2011 · On the Shoulders of Giants as
- 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
- 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
- 2008 · Gospel Hill as Paul Malcolm
- 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 · Coach Carter The Man Behind the Movie as Self
- 2005 · Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith as Mace Windu
- 2005 · xXx: State of the Union as Agent Augustus Gibbons
- 2005 · The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World as Self
- 2005 · Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson as
- 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 · Kill Bill: Vol. 2 as Rufus
- 2004 · America Beyond the Color Line as Self
- 2003 · The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- 2003 · S.W.A.T. as Sgt. Dan 'Hondo' Harrelson
- 2003 · Basic as Drill Sgt. SFC Nathan West
- 2003 · Real Time with Bill Maher as Himself
- 2003 · Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives as
- 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 · Shaft: Still the Man as Self
- 1996 · The Journey of the African-American Athlete as Narrator
- 1991 · Jumpin' at the Boneyard as Mr. Simpson
- 1990 · Spike Lee & Company: Do It a Cappella as The Janitor
- 1989 · Making 'Do the Right Thing' as Self
- 1987 · Uncle Tom's Cabin as George
- 1987 · Magic Sticks as Bum
- 1972 · Together for Days as Stan
- Future · The Beast as
- Future · St. Vincent as
- Future · All Saints: The Video as Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Future · The Honest Liar as Nick DeFranco
- 2000 · Opening the Tombs of the Golden Mummies: Live as
- 2000 · Any Given Wednesday as Willie Nutter
- 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 · Sphere as Dr. Harry Adams
- 1998 · Parkinson as Self
- 1997 · Jackie Brown as Ordell Robbie
- 1997 · The View as Self
- 1997 · The View as Self - Guest
- 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 · 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
- 1994 · Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker as Richard Greener
- 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 · 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
- 1992 · Juice as Trip
- 1990 · Law & Order as Attorney Louis Taggert
- 1990 · GoodFellas as Stacks Edwards
- 1990 · The Exorcist III as Dream Blind Man
- 1990 · Common Ground as Rev. Bob McClair
- 1989 · Do the Right Thing as Mister Señor Love Daddy
- 1989 · Dead Man Out as Calvin Fredricks
- 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
- 1978 · The Trial of the Moke as Johnson Whittaker
- 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
- Future · Untitled Hitman Thriller as Morris Stokes
- Future · Head Games as