10 Interesting Facts About Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most iconic actors to ever emerge in Hollywood. With unforgettable roles, commanding screen presence, and a voice that is so unmistakably one-of-a-kind, Jackson undoubtedly left his stamp on the big screen. From blockbusters to smaller, indie films, he has been able to have a decades-long career. Here are 10 interesting facts about this legendary actor you might not know.

1. He Is the Highest Grossing Actor of All Time

Samuel L. Jackson is the highest-grossing actor in film history. In over 150 film appearances, his movies have grossed well over 27 billion dollars worldwide. Of course, this includes his classic work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which he portrayed the iconic Nick Fury, to say nothing of the Star Wars prequels. In only one-seventh of the box office pull for a movie like Avengers: Endgame-the highest-grossing movie of all time- Jackson has never seen anyone close to his combined box office earnings.

2. He Has Been Married to LaTanya Richardson Since 1980

Jackson, in 1980, married actress/producer LaTanya Richardson, whom he met while attending Morehouse College. The couple’s enduring relationship has granted them a daughter, Zoe Jackson, born in 1982. LaTanya is known for her work on television and theater, and the two are often seen at various industry events.

3. His Favorite Football Team Is Liverpool

Jackson is a great fan of sports, especially soccer. He was a big follower of the Liverpool Football Club, which is one of England’s most successful football clubs. His affection for the team is pretty popular, and he has been frequently seen on various occasions wearing Liverpool jerseys and even speaking about the team in interviews.

4. His Breakout Role Was in Pulp Fiction as Jules Winnfield

Although Jackson had acted for years before Pulp Fiction in 1994, it was this film that made him a household name in which he played hitman Jules Winnfield. His performance won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor and brought him the Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film’s success cemented Jackson’s position as one of the highest-profile actors of his generation.

5. He Was Raised by His Mother and Grandparents After His Father’s Death

Jackson’s childhood was tough. His father, who was an alcoholic, died while Jackson was still young. He said he saw his father only twice in his life before he died. His mother brought him up. She first worked in factories and later on as a buyer of supplies for a mental institution. He was also brought up by his maternal grandparents, Edgar and Pearl Montgomery, as well as other extended family members.

6. He Was Once an Ex-Convict

In 1969, he made the headlines when he and his fellow students at Morehouse College took members of the college trustee board hostage, among them Martin Luther King Sr. Eventually, the college, after demanding reform in the school’s curriculum and governance, agreed to the demands.

However, Jackson was charged with unlawful confinement and convicted of a second-degree felony for which he got a two-year-long suspension; which delayed his academic and acting career considerably.

7. He Was an Usher at Martin Luther King Jr.’s Funeral

Samuel L. Jackson has a long history with the Civil Rights Movement. After Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, Jackson attended King’s funeral in Atlanta, where he ushered. After the funeral, Jackson went to Memphis, Tennessee, to participate in an equal rights protest march. The time of activism set in motion his worldview, he would later say.

8. He Was Once a Drug Addict

Early adult life was marred by addiction: first heroin, at one stage overdosing multiple times in succession; then cocaine. His family, wanting to save his life, dispatched him to a rehabilitation clinic in New York. Jackson took the chance to clean up and scored a role in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever (1991), playing a crack cocaine addict role imbued with personal experience.

9. His Ancestry Originates From Gabon

One of the astonishing facts is that Samuel L. Jackson traced his ancestry to Gabon through DNA, a country in West Africa. He is from the Benga tribe of Gabon. In 2019, Jackson became a citizen of Gabon, which dragged him closer to his ancestral homelands. It can only be fathomed as more and more facts come regarding the diverse life of this acting genius.

10. Cursing in Movies Cured His Stutter

The long and winding road to movie history began rather inauspiciously for the child Samuel L. Jackson, who developed a stutter that brought with it a load of problems in childhood. He eventually learned to overcome his speech defect by assuming character-acting exercises wherein he would pretend to be other people who didn’t stutter.

Curiously enough, Jackson has said the frequent strong language he uses particularly the actress-christened “magic word”-serves as a tool to help him handle his speech block. He has made the word “motherfucker” almost an icon in his career. He continued to stutter occasionally even after he had become successful.

Samuel L. Jackson’s life has been quite a journey: struggles, triumphs, undeniable talent. From the beginnings in this rather difficult family environment to becoming the highest-grossing actor of all time, his story is one of resilience and passion. With charisma and a commanding presence, he is still making his indelible mark on celluloid and in interviews.