Samuel L. Jackson was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement and was even an usher at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral in 1968.
He struggled with stuttering as a child, and he credits acting as a way to overcome this challenge, famously using the word 'motherf***er' as a coping mechanism.
Jackson graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he initially studied marine biology before switching to drama.
He made his film debut in 1972 with a small role in 'Together for Days,' but his breakout role came in 1991 with Spike Lee's 'Jungle Fever.'
Jackson is known for his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino, starring in iconic films like 'Pulp Fiction,' 'Jackie Brown,' and 'Django Unchained.'
He has appeared in over 150 films, making him one of the most prolific actors in Hollywood history.
Samuel L. Jackson is a huge fan of comic books and has voiced characters in several animated series and video games, including 'Afro Samurai' and 'The Incredibles.'
He was the inspiration for the Ultimate version of Nick Fury in Marvel Comics, a role he later portrayed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Samuel L. Jackson has been married to actress and producer LaTanya Richardson since 1980, and they have one daughter, Zoe Jackson.
He is an avid golfer and has been known to play rounds between filming, often participating in celebrity golf tournaments.
Jackson's iconic role as Jules Winnfield in 'Pulp Fiction' earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and solidified his status as a pop culture icon.
He has a clause in his film contracts that allows him to play golf twice a week, no matter what the production schedule is.
In 2011, he surpassed Frank Welker as the highest-grossing actor of all time, thanks to his roles in major franchises like 'Star Wars' and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Jackson's likeness was used for the character Mace Windu in the 'Star Wars' prequel trilogy, and he insisted that his character's lightsaber be purple to stand out.
He has been a vocal advocate for civil rights and social justice, using his platform to speak out on issues such as racism and police brutality.