Samuel Leroy Jackson was born on December 21, 1948, in Washington, D.C. He was raised by his mother, Elizabeth Harriett, and his grandparents in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

His father, Roy Henry Jackson, lived away from the family and later died of alcoholism. Samuel attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he became active in the black student movement and decided to pursue a career in acting.

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most widely recognized actors of his generation. He has appeared in over 150 films, making him the highest-grossing actor of all time. His early film roles included minor parts in movies like "Coming to America" and "Do the Right Thing."

His breakout role came in 1991 when he played the crack-addict Gator in Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever," for which he won a Special Jury Prize for Best Supporting Actor at the Cannes Film Festival. He gained further prominence with his role as Jules Winnfield in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" in 1994, earning him a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination.

Samuel has collaborated with director Quentin Tarantino on several films, including "Jackie Brown," "Kill Bill: Volume 2," "Django Unchained," and "The Hateful Eight."

He is also widely known for his role as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in films like "Iron Man," "The Avengers," and "Captain America." Additionally, he played the Jedi Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

In his personal life, Samuel L. Jackson married actress and producer LaTanya Richardson in 1980. The couple has one daughter, Zoe Jackson, who was born in 1982. Samuel has often spoken about the importance of being present in his daughter's life, especially since his own father was absent during his childhood.

Throughout his career, Samuel has received numerous awards and nominations. He won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Pulp Fiction" and the Silver Bear for Best Actor for "Jackie Brown" at the Berlin International Film Festival.

He has also received nominations for the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2022, he was honored with the Academy Honorary Award for his lifetime achievements in the film industry.

His filmography includes a wide range of genres, from action and drama to comedy and science fiction. Some of his notable films include "Die Hard with a Vengeance," "A Time to Kill," "Unbreakable," "Shaft," "Coach Carter," "Snakes on a Plane," "Kingsman: The Secret Service," "Kong: Skull Island," and "Glass."

He has also lent his voice to animated films like "The Incredibles" and its sequel, "Incredibles 2."