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).
Afterburn
Valentine
2025
The Unholy Trinity
St. Christopher
2025
The Garfield Movie
Vic (voice)
2024
Damaged
Dan Lawson
2024
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Secret Invasion
Self - 'Nick Fury'
2023
The Kill Room
Gordon
2023
Is That Black Enough for You?!?
Self
2022
Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home
Self (archive footage)
2022
An Audience with Adele
Self
2021
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
2021
Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney+ Day Special
Nick Fury (archive footage)
2021
#UNFIT: The Psychology of Donald Trump
Self (archive footage)
2020
Kong: Skull Island
Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard
2017
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
Agent Augustus Gibbons
2017
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Barron
2016
Cell
Thomas 'Tom' McCourt
2016
The Legend of Tarzan
George Washington Williams
2016
The Hateful Eight
Major Marquis Warren
2015
Chi-Raq
Dolmedes
2015
Barely Lethal
Hardman
2015
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Nick Fury
2015
Big Game
US President William Alan Moore
2015
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Valentine
2015
Kite
Lieutenant Karl Aker
2014
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Nick Fury
2014
Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe
Self
2014
RoboCop
Pat Novak
2014
Reasonable Doubt
Clinton Davis
2014
Oldboy
Chaney
2013
Turbo
Whiplash (voice)
2013
Django Unchained
Stephen
2012
Eddie Murphy: One Night Only
Self
2012
Zambezia
Tendai (voice)
2012
The Avengers
Nick Fury
2012
The Samaritan
Foley
2012
I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac
Self
2012
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(archive footage)
2012
Meeting Evil
Richie
2012
Young Jeezy: A Hustlerz Ambition
Narrator
2011
Arena
Logan
2011
Captain America: The First Avenger
Nick Fury
2011
Go the F**k to Sleep
Narrator (voice)
2011
Thor
Nick Fury (uncredited)
2011
African Cats
Narrator (voice)
2011
The Sunset Limited
Black
2011
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
Fear (voice)
2010
The Other Guys
P.K. Highsmith
2010
With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story
Self
2010
Unthinkable
Henry Harold 'H' Humphries
2010
Iron Man 2
Nick Fury
2010
In the Land of the Free...
Narrator
2010
Heavy Rain
Himself
2010
Mother and Child
Paul
2009
Afro Samurai: Resurrection
Afro / Ninja-Ninja (voice)
2009
Astro Boy
Zog (voice)
2009
Inglourious Basterds
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
2009
The Face is Familiar
Himself
2009
Uneven Fairways
Narrator
2009
The Spirit
Octopus
2008
Soul Men
Louis Hinds
2008
Lakeview Terrace
Abel Turner
2008
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Mace Windu (voice)
2008
Iron Man
Nick Fury (uncredited)
2008
Jumper
Roland
2008
Gospel Hill
Paul Malcolm
2008
Cleaner
Tom Cutler
2007
1408
Gerald Olin
2007
Resurrecting the Champ
Champ
2007
Black Snake Moan
Lazarus
2006
Home of the Brave
William Marsh
2006
Farce of the Penguins
Narrator (voice)
2006
Mais Bastidores de Hollywood
Self
2006
Snakes on a Plane
Neville Flynn
2006
50 Films to See Before You Die
Self
2006
Freedomland
Lorenzo Council
2006
Tarantino's Mind
Jules Winnfield / Rufus (archive footage)
2006
The Man
Derrick Vann
2005
My Date with Drew
Self (uncredited)
2005
Coach Carter The Man Behind the Movie
Self
2005
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Mace Windu
2005
xXx: State of the Union
Agent Augustus Gibbons
2005
Mr. Incredible and Pals
Frozone (commentary voice)
2005
The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World
Self
2005
Coach Carter
Ken Carter
2005
The Incredibles
Lucius Best / Frozone (voice)
2004
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (voice)
2004
In My Country
Langston Whitfield
2004
John Travolta: The Inside Story
Self
2004
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Rufus
2004
Twisted
John Mills
2004
Hollywood Legenden
Self
2004
S.W.A.T.
Sgt. Dan 'Hondo' Harrelson
2003
Basic
Drill Sgt. SFC Nathan West
2003
BaadAsssss Cinema
Self
2002
xXx
Agent Augustus Gibbons
2002
No Good Deed
Jack Friar
2002
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies
Self - Narrator
2002
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Mace Windu
2002
Changing Lanes
Doyle Gipson
2002
Middle School Confessions
Host
2002
The 51st State
Elmo McElroy
2001
The 100 Greatest Films
Self
2001
The Caveman's Valentine
Romulus
2001
Unbreakable
Elijah Price
2000
Shaft
John Shaft
2000
Rules of Engagement
Col. Terry L. Childers
2000
Any Given Wednesday
Willie Nutter
2000
Shaft: Still the Man
Self
2000
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic
Narrator / Host
1999
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Mace Windu
1999
Our Friend, Martin
Turner (voice)
1999
The Red Violin
Charles Morritz (Montréal)
1998
The Negotiator
Lt. Danny Roman
1998
Out of Sight
Hejira Henry (uncredited)
1998
Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's
Self
1998
Sphere
Dr. Harry Adams
1998
Jackie Brown
Ordell Robbie
1997
Eve's Bayou
Louis Batiste
1997
One Eight Seven
Trevor Garfield
1997
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Mitch Henessey
1996
A Time to Kill
Carl Lee Hailey
1996
Hard Eight
Jimmy
1996
Trees Lounge
Wendell
1996
The Great White Hype
Rev. Fred Sultan
1996
Fluke
Rumbo (voice)
1995
Die Hard: With a Vengeance
Zeus Carver
1995
A Night to Die For
Self - Host
1995
Kiss of Death
Calvin Hart
1995
Losing Isaiah
Kadar Lewis
1995
The Search for One-eye Jimmy
Colonel Ron
1994
The New Age
Dale Deveaux
1994
Pulp Fiction
Jules Winnfield
1994
Fresh
Sam
1994
Hail Caesar
Mailman
1994
Against the Wall
Jamaal
1994
Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker
Richard Greener
1994
True Romance
Big Don
1993
Menace II Society
Tat Lawson
1993
Amos & Andrew
Andrew Sterling
1993
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
Wes Luger
1993
Fathers & Sons
Marshall
1992
Patriot Games
Lt. Cmdr. Robby Jackson
1992
White Sands
Greg Meeker
1992
Juice
Trip
1992
Strictly Business
Monroe
1991
Jumpin' at the Boneyard
Mr. Simpson
1991
Jungle Fever
Gator Purify
1991
The Return of Superfly
Nate Cabot
1990
GoodFellas
Stacks Edwards
1990
The Exorcist III
Dream Blind Man
1990
Mo' Better Blues
Madlock
1990
Common Ground
Rev. Bob McClair
1990
Def by Temptation
Minister Garth
1990
A Shock to the System
Ulysses
1990
Sea of Love
Black Guy
1989
Do the Right Thing
Mister Señor Love Daddy
1989
Coming to America
Hold-Up Man
1988
School Daze
Leeds
1988
Eddie Murphy Raw
Eddie's Uncle
1987
Uncle Tom's Cabin
George
1987
Ragtime
Gang Member No. 2
1981
The Beast
FireAid Benefit Concert
Self
2025
The Piano Lesson: Legacy and a Vision
Self
2024
The Piano Lesson
Doaker Charles
2024
American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special
Self
2024
Argylle
Alfie
2024
The Marvels
Nick Fury
2023
Samuel L. Jackson: Did I Stutter?
self
2023
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Jimbo (voice)
2022
The Protégé
Moody
2021
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
Darius Kincaid
2021
Spiral: From the Book of Saw
Marcus Banks
2021
Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend
Self (archive footage)
2021
Death to 2020
Dash Bracket
2020
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote
Self
2020
One World: Together at Home
Self
2020
The Banker
Joe Morris
2020
The Last Full Measure
Takoda
2020
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Mace Windu (voice)
2019
QT8: The First Eight
Self (uncredited)
2019
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Nick Fury
2019
Shaft
John Shaft
2019
Avengers: Endgame
Nick Fury
2019
Captain Marvel
Nick Fury
2019
Glass
Elijah Price / Mr. Glass
2019
Life Itself
Self
2018
Quincy
Self
2018
Incredibles 2
Lucius Best / Frozone (voice)
2018
Avengers: Infinity War
Nick Fury (uncredited)
2018
Miracle on 42nd Street
self
2017
Unicorn Store
The Salesman
2017
The Hitman's Bodyguard
Darius Kincaid
2017
Creating a King: Summoning a God
Self
2017
The Words That Built America
Self - Reader: Declaration of Independence
2017
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2017
Smokey Robinson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Host
2017
I Am Not Your Negro
Narrator (voice)
2017
Eating You Alive
Self
2016
BET Presents Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration
Self
2016
Star Wars: Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel
Self
2015
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
Self
2014
Face of Unity
Self
2014
Everything Is Samuel L. Jackson's Fault
Self
2013
Quentin Tarantino: 20 Years of Filmmaking
Self
2013
The Avengers: A Visual Journey
Self
2012
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
Rufus
2011
On the Shoulders of Giants
2011
Return to Jurassic Park
Self
2011
Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story
Elmo McElroy (archive footage)
2010
Critic
Self
2008
Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story
Narrator
2007
Honor Deferred
Narrator
2006
The N Word
Self
2006
George Lucas: Creating an Empire
Presenter/Self
2005
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction
Tenpenny (voice)
2004
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
2003
Jackie Brown: How It Went Down
Self
2002
Pulp Fiction: The Facts
Self (archive footage)
2002
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome
Self
2001
Comic Books & Superheroes
Self
2001
Opening the Tombs of the Golden Mummies: Live
2000
Deep Blue Sea
Russell Franklin
1999
Forever Hollywood
Self
1999
Shaquille O'Neal: Larger than Life
Narrator (voice)
1996
The Journey of the African-American Athlete
Narrator
1996
Jurassic Park
Arnold
1993
Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace
Everett Hatcher
1991
Johnny Suede
B-Bop
1991
Betsy's Wedding
Taxi Dispatcher (Mickey)
1990
Spike Lee & Company: Do It a Cappella
The Janitor
1990
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
Self
1989
Dead Man Out
Calvin Fredricks
1989
Magic Sticks
Bum
1987
The Exterminator
Extra (uncredited)
1980
The Trial of the Moke
Johnson Whittaker
1978
The Honest Liar
Nick DeFranco
Acorns
Head Games
Untitled Hitman Thriller
Morris Stokes
St. Vincent
All Saints: The Video
Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
1998
Man of War
Just Play Dead
Jack Wolfe
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Frank Moten · (8 episodes)
2024
Secret Invasion
Nick Fury · (6 episodes)
2023
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
Nick Fury (voice) · (1 episode)
2023
The Jennifer Hudson Show
(1 episode)
2022
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
Ptolemy Grey · (6 episodes)
2022
JANET JACKSON.
Self · (3 episodes)
2022
The Fix
Narrator (voice) · (8 episodes)
2022
What If...?
Nick Fury (voice) · (6 episodes)
2021
What If...?
Sir Fury (voice) · (1 episode)
2021
Amend: The Fight for America
Self · (2 episodes)
2021
Marvel Studios Legends
Nick Fury (archive footage) (uncredited) · (10 episodes)
2021
Beyond the Spotlight
(1 episode)
2020
Enslaved
Self · (6 episodes)
2020
Staged
Sam · (1 episode)
2020
Some Good News
Voice Over · (1 episode)
2020
The Saga: Star Wars with Tommy Wiseau
Mace Windu
2019
The Movies That Made Us
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2019
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2019
Carpool Karaoke: The Series
Self · (1 episode)
2017
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (2 episodes)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
(1 episode)
2015
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (2 episodes)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (5 episodes)
2014
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Nick Fury · (2 episodes)
2013
Circus Halligalli
(1 episode)
2013
Finding Your Roots
Self · (1 episode)
2012
Honest Trailers
Mace Windu (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2012
Honest Trailers
Nick Fury (archive footage) · (4 episodes)
2012
Prohibition
Reader (voice) · (3 episodes)
2011
The Jonathan Ross Show
Self · (1 episode)
2011
Dynamo: Magician Impossible
Self · (1 episode)
2011
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (3 episodes)
2009
Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Self · (1 episode)
2009
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Mace Windu (voice) (archive sound) · (1 episode)
2008
The War
Narrator (voice) · (7 episodes)
2008
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (5 episodes)
2007
Afro Samurai
Afro Samurai / Ninja Ninja (voice) · (5 episodes)
2007
The Henry Rollins Show
(1 episode)
2006
Iconoclasts
Self · (1 episode)
2005
The Boondocks
(3 episodes)
2005
The Colbert Report
(1 episode)
2005
Extras
Samuel L. Jackson · (1 episode)
2005
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
(2 episodes)
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
An Officer of the Law · (1 episode)
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self · (2 episodes)
2005
America Beyond the Color Line
Self · (1 episode)
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (5 episodes)
2003
Working Shakespeare
(5 episodes)
2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
Himself · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (3 episodes)
2003
The Proud Family
Joseph (voice) · (1 episode)
2001
The Early Show
Self · (1 episode)
1999
TRL
(1 episode)
1998
Parkinson
Self · (1 episode)
1998
The View
Self · (7 episodes)
1997
The View
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
1997
Leute heute
Self · (1 episode)
1997
The Daily Show
Self · (8 episodes)
1996
The Frank Skinner Show
Self · (1 episode)
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
The Mayor (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
Inside the Actors Studio
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (4 episodes)
1993
Raw
(1 episode)
1993
Ghostwriter
Reggie Jenkins · (58 episodes)
1992
HBO First Look
(1 episode)
1992
MTV Movie & TV Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(4 episodes)
1992
Law & Order
Attorney Louis Taggert · (1 episode)
1990
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
(2 episodes)
1988
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Brother Elvis · (1 episode)
1987
Spenser: For Hire
(1 episode)
1985
The Displaced Person
Sulk
1977
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1975
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975
Together for Days
Stan
1972
Great Performances
Self · (1 episode)
1971
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1956
The Oscars
Self · (9 episodes)
1953
The Oscars
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1953
Today
Self · (1 episode)
1952
Bambi-Verleihung
Self · (1 episode)
1948