SAMUEL L. JACKSON BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:
 
Samuel L. Jackson was born on December 21st, 1948 in Washington, District of Columbia with the birth name Samuel Leroy Jackson and over his career he became known by a number of nick names such as Mr. Cool and King of Cool.
 
He was raised as an only child in Chattanooga, Tennessee by his mother, Elizabeth Jackson who was a single mother.  His grandparents also played a role in raising him, while his father was not involved in his life and later passed away from alcoholism. 
 
After completing High School at riverside High, Jackson enrolled at Morehouse College and originally majored in biology.  He then switched majors to focus on architecture and during a public speaking class he decided he enjoyed being in front of an audience and therefore switched majors again, this time focusing on drama.
 
He began appearing in a number of school productions such as, "A Soldier's Play".  He then gained a couple years experience in Atlanta working on a couple television films and his film debut in, "Together for Days" (1972).  Jackson then felt he was ready to take the next step in his career and he relocated to New York City.
 
While in New York, he found more stage work appearing in such plays as, "The Piano Lesson" and "Two Trains Running".  Sadly, during this time of his life, he had to briefly put his career on hold to deal with his addiction to drugs and alcohol.
 
In 1981 he was cast in he play, "A Soldier's Play" and then he was introduced to director Spike Lee who took an interest in Jackson.  Soon, Jackson was being cast in small roles on such films as, "School Daze" (1988), "Do the Right Thing" (1989) and "Goodfellas" (1990).
 
Still, during this period of his life, he was unable to overcome his drug addiction and although he was still working in the industry, he was fighting an ongoing battle between cocaine and heroin addiction.  Finally, with the help of his family, he was admitted to a rehabilitation center and was able to fight back his addiction. 
 
It was when he was cast in the film, "Jungle Fever" (1991) that his career finally began to take off.  He made appearances in such films as, "Patriot Games" (1992), "Amos & Andrew" (1993), "True Romance" and "Jurassic Park" (both also 1993).    
 
Finally he was beginning to gain the attention from Hollywood that he rightly deserved.  He was then cast in the film, "Pulp Fiction" (1994) which he received a number of nominations for his performance.   Other successful film roles continued to come his direction such as, "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (1996), "Die Hard: With a Vengeance" (1995), "Jackie Brown" (1997), "Unbreakable" (2000), "Freedomland" (2006), "Inglourious Basterds" (2009) and "Iron Man II" (2010). 
 
Throughout his career, he has added over 100 films to his resume and continues even today to take on any new and challenging role that comes his direction.  He is the highest grossing actor at the box office with his movies having garnered a gross revenue of $7.4 billion to date according to Guinness World Records.
 
Along with a highly successful film career, Jackson has also made a number of television appearances and hosted a number of award shows such as, 'The MTV Movie Awards" (1998) and "the ESPY's (1999, 2001, 2002, and 2009).
 
Some of his newest work soon to be released are in such films as, "Jack" (2011), "Django Unchained" (2012), "The Avengers" (2012) and "Nick Fury", scheduled to release in 2014. 
 
Jackson has married only once to his current wife, Latanya Richardson in 1980 and they currently have one child.  He has received a number of honors throughout his career such as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the Motion Picture Industry.  He was also presented in 2005 with the Hawaii International Film Festival Achievement in Acting Award. 

October 2011 has Samuel L. Jackson portraying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a Broadway play titled "The Mountaintop" set in April 3, 1968, the night before he was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.

Along with his wife they are involved in a number of charitable causes such as starting their own organization to help support education.  He has also participated in fundraisers to help raise money for children in Africa.
 
Jackson and his wife currently reside in Los Angeles, California. 

Filmography

2011 Jack 
2014 Nick Fury 
2012 Django Unchained
2012 The Avengers
2012 The Samaritan 
2011 Zambezia 
2011 Meeting Evil 
2011 Arena 
2011 Captain America: The First Avenger 
2011 Thor 
2011 Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars 
2011 The Sunset Limited 
2005-2010 The Boondocks
2010 The Other Guys 
2010 Unthinkable
2010 Iron Man 2
2010 Iron Man 2 
2010 The RRF in New Recruit
2010 Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
2009 Astro Boy 
2009 Mother and Child 
2009 Inglourious Basterds 
2009 Afro Samurai 
2009 Afro Samurai: Resurrection 
2008 The Spirit
2008 Soul Men 
2008 Lakeview Terrace 
2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 
2008 Iron Man 
2008 Gospel Hill 
2008 Jumper 
2007 Cleaner 
2007 1408 
2007 Afro Samurai 
2007 Resurrecting the Champ 
2006 Home of the Brave
2006 Black Snake Moan
2006 Snakes on a Plane 
2006 Freedomland 
2006 Honor Deferred 
2006 Farce of the Penguins 
2005 The Man 
2005 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith 
2005 xXx: State of the Union 
2005 The Adventures of Mr. Incredible 
2005 Coach Carter 
2004 The Incredibles
2004 The Incredibles 
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 
2004 Kill Bill: Vol. 2 
2004 Twisted
2004 In My Country
2003 S.W.A.T.
2003 Basic
2003 Freedom: A History of Us
2002 xXx
2002 No Good Deed 
2002 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002 Changing Lanes 
2002 The Comeback
2001 Formula 51 
2001 The Proud Family
2001 The Caveman's Valentine
2000 Unbreakable
2000 Shaft
2000 WWE Smackdown!
2000 Rules of Engagement 
2000 Any Given Wednesday 
1999 Deep Blue Sea 
1999 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 
1999 Our Friend, Martin
1998 The Red Violin
1998 The Negotiator
1998 Out of Sight
1998 Sphere 
1997 Jackie Brown
1997 Eve's Bayou 
1997 One Eight Seven
1997 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child 
1996 The Long Kiss Goodnight 
1996 A Time to Kill 
1996 Trees Lounge
1996 The Great White Hype 
1996 Hard Eight 
1995 Fluke 
1995 Die Hard: With a Vengeance 
1995 Kiss of Death 
1995 Losing Isaiah 
1994 The Search for One-eye Jimmy 
1994 The New Age 
1994 Pulp Fiction 
1994 Hail Caesar 
1994 Against the Wall 
1994 Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker 
1994 Fresh 
1993 True Romance 
1993 Jurassic Park 
1993 Menace II Society 
1993 Amos & Andrew 
1993 Loaded Weapon 1 
1993 The American Experience 
1992 I'll Fly Away 
1992 Ghostwriter 
1992 Patriot Games 
1992 White Sands 
1992 Juice 
1992 Jumpin' at the Boneyard 
1992 Fathers & Sons 
1991 Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace 
1991 Strictly Business
1991 Roc 
1991 Johnny Suede
1991 Jungle Fever 
1991 Law & Order
1990 The Return of Superfly 
1990 Goodfellas 
1990 Mo' Better Blues 
1990 Betsy's Wedding 
1990 Def by Temptation 
1990 A Shock to the System 
1990 The Exorcist III 
1989 Sea of Love 
1989 The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd 
1989 Do the Right Thing 
1989 A Man Called Hawk
1989 Dead Man Out 
1988 Coming to America 
1988 School Daze 
1986-1987 Spenser: For Hire
1987 Magic Sticks
1987 Uncle Tom's Cabin 
1981 Ragtime
1980 The Exterminator 
1978 The Trial of the Moke
1977 The Displaced Person
1976 Movin' On 
1972 Together for Days