Respectfully labeled as one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, SAMUEL L. JACKSON is an undisputed star as demonstrated in the fact that his films have grossed the most money in box office sales than any other actor in the history of filmmaking.
Jackson made an indelible mark on American cinema with his portrayal of Jules, the philosophizing hit man, in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. In addition to unanimous critical acclaim for his performance, he received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations as Best Supporting Actor as well as a Best Supporting Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Currently, Jackson can be seen as Mace Windu in the final episode of the Star Wars trilogy, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. To no one’s surprise, the film made an overwhelming impact at the box office and broke numerous opening day records.
In early 2005, Jackson topped the opening weekend box office charts with the success of the Paramount Pictures film, Coach Carter. Jackson portrayed real-life high school basketball coach, Ken Carter, a dedicated role model and advocate for students succeeding in the classroom as well as on the basketball court. Coach Carter was screened as the opening night film of the prestigious Palm Springs Film Festival and at the Festival, Jackson received the Career Achievement Award for Acting at the closing night gala.
Jackson also recently starred in the independent film for Sony Classics, In My Country, based on the best-selling novel, Country of My Skull, by South African writer, Antije Krog. Jackson portrays an American reporter who must cope with the aftermath of apartheid as his newspaper assigns him to cover the Truth and Reconciliation Trials, established by Archbishop
Desmond Tutu, that expose the worst cases of torture, abuse and violence. In My Country was directed by John Boorman and produced by Bob Chartoff and Mike Medavoy. Juliette Binoche co-stars. Jackson also reprised his role as Agent Augustus Gibbons in XXX: State of the Union for Sony Pictures. The film was directed by Lee Tamahori.
Jackson recently completed production on the film, Freedomland, directed by Joe Roth for Revolution Studios and is set to open later this year. Julianne Moore plays a distraught, single mother whose son disappears and is believed to be dead. She blames an African- American man from the projects for the kidnapping, creating a racial controversy. Jackson is now in production on New Line’s Snakes on a Plane, directed by David R. Ellis and immediately upon completion of this film, Jackson begins production on Paramount Pictures Black Snake Moan where production will take place in Memphis. Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake round out the cast.
In 2004, Jackson “appeared” as the character Frozone in the Disney animated actionadventure film, The Incredibles, which was released to record box office results this past November. The film was directed and written by Brad Bird and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture as well as two Academy Award nominations.
In 2003, Jackson starred in S.W.A.T for Columbia TriStar. Directed by Clark Johnson, S.W.A.T. is about an arrested drug kingpin who is transported by a Los Angeles Police Department S.W.A.T. team and led out of the city and into Federal custody. Plans go awry when the kingpin offers $100 million to anyone who can free him. Colin Farrell and Michelle Rodriguez are also in the film.
In 2002, Jackson starred with Ben Affleck in the box office and critical success, Paramount’s Changing Lanes. Jackson delivered an intense yet sympathetic performance of a father who was down on his luck, but intent on getting even with the man that wronged him. Also in 2002, Jackson starred and executive produced the Sony/ Screen Gems film Formula 51, with Robert Carlyle; co-starred in the sci-fi thriller, XXX; and reprised his role as Mace Windu in the second installment of George Lucas’ Stars Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
In 2001, Jackson starred in Jersey Franchise/Universal’s Caveman’s Valentine. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, the film followed the story of a homeless man in New York City who discovered a murder. Jackson also served as an executive producer on the project, which was the most successful independent film of this year. This was Jackson’s second project with Kasi Lemmons with the first being the applauded, Eve’s Bayou, which he also produced.
Jackson also co-starred opposite Bruce Willis in writer/director M. Night Shyamalan’s suspense drama, Unbreakable for Disney. Jackson’s character, Elijah Price, a highly suspicious and wheelchair bound man with a far-fetched theory, holds the key to the film’s underlying question of, “Are You Unbreakable?”
Jackson starred in John Singleton’s Shaft in the title role opposite Christian Bale and Vanessa Williams. Jackson also starred in Paramount’s courtroom drama Rules of Engagement where he played Col. Terry Childers, a military officer on trial for ordering his soldiers to open fire on civilians. Directed by William Friedkin, the film co-starred Tommy Lee Jones. Both Shaft and Rules of Engagement were screened at the 2000 Deauville Film Festival, where Jackson was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jackson starred in Warner Bros. Deep Blue Sea for director Renny Harlin, and in Francois Girard’s The Red Violin. Jackson also made a cameo appearance in George Lucas’ highly successful and popular Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace.
Jackson also starred in The Negotiator and Jackie Brown, his second film with director Quentin Tarantino. For the latter he received a Golden Globe nomination and the Silver Bear Award for Best Actor in a Comedy at the Berlin Film Festival.
Jackson starred opposite Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey and Kevin Spacey in Joel Schumacher’s 1996 film of the John Grisham novel A Time to Kill. For his performance Jackson received a Golden Globe nomination and an NAACP Image Award. He also starred opposite Bruce Willis in Die Hard with a Vengeance, the top-grossing movie internationally in 1995.
Jackson made movie history with his portrayal of a crack addict in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever when he was awarded the first and only Best Supporting Performance Award ever given by the judges at the Cannes Film Festival. He also won the New York Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor for that performance.
His other film credits include Twisted, 187, Sphere, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Hard Eight, Kiss of Death, Losing Isaiah and Amos and Andrew. Additional film credits include: Ragtime, Sea of Love, Coming to America, Ray, Do the Right Thing, School Daze, Mo’ Better Blues, Goodfellas, Strictly Business, White Sands, Patriot Games, Jumpin’ at the Boneyard, Father and Sons, Juice, Fresh and True Romance.
On television, Jackson starred in John Frankenheimer’s Emmy Award-winning “Against the Wall” for HBO. His performance earned him a Cable Ace nomination as Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries, as well as a Golden Globe nomination.
Jackson’s career began upon his graduation from Morehouse College in Atlanta with a degree in dramatic arts. He went on to perform in numerous stage plays, including “Home,” “A Soldier’s Play,” “Sally/Prince” and “The District Line.” He also originated roles in two of August Wilson’s plays at Yale Repertory Theatre. For the New York Shakespeare Festival, Jackson appeared in “Mother Courage and Her Children,” “Spell #7,” and “The Mighty Gents.” While still a student at Morehouse, Jackson made his film debut in Together for Days.
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