Samuel L. Jackson

Briefly suspended in 1969 from Morehouse College after taking hostage several members of the board of trustees, including the father of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, during a protest of the failure of the university to have black trustees or a black studies program.

Graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1972.

Daughter - Zoè Jackson (b. 1982).

Worked as a camera stand-in for Bill Cosby during the filming of "The Cosby Show" .

Worked as a camera stand-in for Bill Cosby during the filming of "The Cosby Show" (1984).

Auditioned for a role in Mississippi Burning (1988), but director Alan Parker told him he didn't sound Southern, even though he was raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Before super-stardom, he played a very minor role in Goodfellas , starring Robert De Niro. After super-stardom, he co-starred in Jackie Brown , this time with Robert De Niro playing a supporting role.

Before super-stardom, he played a very minor role in Goodfellas (1990), starring Robert De Niro. After super-stardom, he co-starred in Jackie Brown (1997), this time with Robert De Niro playing a supporting role.

Was an admitted drug user until he completed drug rehab two weeks before playing a drug addict in Jungle Fever .

The Jury of the Cannes Film Festival were so impressed with his performance as Gator in Jungle Fever (1991) that they decided to create the Award for Best Supporting Actor in that year, honoring him with the award. To date (2011) he's the only actor to receive such honor.

Was an admitted drug user until he completed drug rehab two weeks before playing a drug addict in Jungle Fever (1991).

In 2003, he spoke out against rappers turned actors, saying that as a classically trained thespian it was not his job to lend credibility to rappers by appearing in movies with them. But in reality, he has worked with more rappers than most actors in Hollywood, eleven times as of this writing: Juice (Tupac Shakur and Queen Latifah), Menace II Society (MC Eiht), One Eight Seven (Method Man), Deep Blue Sea (LL Cool J), Shaft (Busta Rhymes), S.W.A.T. (Eve and LL Cool J), xXx: State of the Union (Ice Cube and Xzibit), Black Snake Moan (David Banner) and Home of the Brave (50 Cent).

In 2003, he spoke out against rappers turned actors, saying that as a classically trained thespian it was not his job to lend credibility to rappers by appearing in movies with them. But in reality, he has worked with more rappers than most actors in Hollywood, eleven times as of this writing: Juice (1992) (Tupac Shakur and Queen Latifah), Menace II Society (1993) (MC Eiht), One Eight Seven (1997)(Method Man), Deep Blue Sea (1999) (LL Cool J), Shaft (2000) (Busta Rhymes), S.W.A.T. (2003) (Eve and LL Cool J), xXx: State of the Union (2005) (Ice Cube and Xzibit), Black Snake Moan (2006) (David Banner) and Home of the Brave (2006) (50 Cent).

Was the first choice for "Fallon" in Judgment Night .

One of Jackson's jobs as a struggling actor in New York was as a doorman at the popular Manhattan Plaza subsidized apts, home to hundreds of actors and artists, including Giancarlo Esposito, who co-starred with Jackson in Amos & Andrew .

Was the first choice for "Fallon" in Judgment Night (1993).

One of Jackson's jobs as a struggling actor in New York was as a doorman at the popular Manhattan Plaza subsidized apts, home to hundreds of actors and artists, including Giancarlo Esposito, who co-starred with Jackson in Amos & Andrew (1993).

One of the late bloomers of Hollywood, he was already 46 years old when Pulp Fiction premiered and has acted in an average of 3-4 films a year since.

His performance as "Jules Winnfield" in Pulp Fiction is ranked #41 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time .

His character from Pulp Fiction , Jules Winnfield, ranked second in the 'coolest movie characters of all time', in a poll by the UK's Empire Magazine (the winner was Tyler Durden of Fight Club ).

His Pulp Fiction (1994) diner scene with John Travolta, was re-enacted by Dark Horse Comics' mid-2000 issue of "Star Wars Tales". In it (with modifications), his Mace Windu character talks about the Jedi Academy and current Senate politics with Master Yoda, during a meal on Coruscant.

One of the late bloomers of Hollywood, he was already 46 years old when Pulp Fiction (1994) premiered and has acted in an average of 3-4 films a year since.

His performance as "Jules Winnfield" in Pulp Fiction (1994) is ranked #41 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

His character from Pulp Fiction (1994), Jules Winnfield, ranked second in the 'coolest movie characters of all time', in a poll by the UK's Empire Magazine (the winner was Tyler Durden of Fight Club (1999)).

Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1995.

His characters often feature the color purple: Mitch Hennessy wore a purple-violet gem ring in "The Long Kiss Goodnight" , Mr. Glass wore purple clothing in Unbreakable ; Jackson chose to have Doyle Gipson wear a purple hat in Changing Lanes ; Mace Windu, upon request by Jackson to George Lucas, wielded a purple light saber in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith ; and Lazarus, his character in Black Snake Moan , plays a purple Gibson guitar.

His characters often feature the color purple: Mitch Hennessy wore a purple-violet gem ring in "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (1996), Mr. Glass wore purple clothing in Unbreakable (2000); Jackson chose to have Doyle Gipson wear a purple hat in Changing Lanes (2002); Mace Windu, upon request by Jackson to George Lucas, wielded a purple light saber in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005); and Lazarus, his character in Black Snake Moan (2006), plays a purple Gibson guitar.

Ranked #44 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

Ranked #44 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Hosted the 1998 MTV Movie Awards (TV).

Hosted the 1998 MTV Movie Awards (1998) (TV).

Was offered his role in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace after mentioning in an interview on UK TV show "TFI Friday" that he'd really like to work with George Lucas.

Was offered his role in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) after mentioning in an interview on UK TV show "TFI Friday" (1996) that he'd really like to work with George Lucas.

His "Pulp Fiction" diner scene with Travolta, was re-enacted by Dark Horse Comics' mid 2000 issue of "Star Wars Tales". In it, (with modifications) his Mace Windu character talks about the Jedi Academy and current Senate politics with Master Yoda, during a meal on Coruscant.

Made Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2002 and 2003 with earnings of $34 million and $30 million respectively.

Daughter Zoe attends Vassar College.

Daughter Zoe attends Vassar College. [January 2002]

While visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2003, he stayed at the world-famous Copacabana Palace Hotel.

The success of The Incredibles enabled Jackson to surpass Harrison Ford as the actor whose movies have grossed the most money in the world - in excess of $3 billion. (January 2005).

The commencement speaker at his daughter's graduation from Vassar College (May 2004).

The commencement speaker at his daughter's graduation from Vassar College (May 2004).

The success of The Incredibles (2004) enabled Jackson to surpass Harrison Ford as the actor whose movies have grossed the most money in the world - in excess of $3 billion. (January 2005).

During filming of Black Snake Moan , grew close with co-star Christina Ricci. The two remain good friends to this day.

To date , his films have grossed more money at the box office than the work of any other actor in cinematic history.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006.

To date (2006), his films have grossed more money at the box office than the work of any other actor in cinematic history.

During filming of Black Snake Moan (2006), grew close with co-star Christina Ricci. The two remain good friends to this day.

In real life was once a NY highrise doorman, in "1408" was a NY highrise manager.

In real life, he was once a NY high-rise doorman, in 1408 (2007), he was a NY high-rise manager.

Gave his consent for Marvel Comics to design their "Ultimate" version of the character Nick Fury after his likeness. He later went on to play Nick Fury in Iron Man .

Gave his consent for Marvel Comics to design their "Ultimate" version of the character Nick Fury after his likeness. He later went on to play Nick Fury in Iron Man (2008).

Is a fan of the Atlanta Falcons football club. He appears in their "Rise Up" campaign (2010).

In a 2012 interview with 'Nuts' magazine, he cites 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' as a favorite film.