Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most widely recognized actors of his generation and one of the highest grossing actors of all time. In 2022, he received the Academy Honorary Award as "a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide."

Jackson made 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 Broadway in the 2022 revival of "The Piano Lesson" playing Doaker Charles, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

Jackson's breakout performance was as Jules Winnfield in Quentin Tarantino's crime drama Pulp Fiction, 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, Kill Bill: Volume 2, Django Unchained, and The Hateful Eight.

He also gained widespread recognition as the Jedi Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and Nick Fury in over 10 Marvel Cinematic Universe films, beginning with Iron Man in 2008, as well as guest-starring in the ABC series "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and starring in the miniseries "Secret Invasion." He has also acted in a number of big-budget films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance, Shaft and its 2019 reboot, XXX, Snakes on a Plane, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kong: Skull Island, and Glass.