Samuel L. Jackson stands as a towering figure in cinema history with a presence that defines every scene he enters. While millions recognize his iconic voice and intense gaze, this legendary actor possesses many unique habits and surprising professional rules. Indeed, you can find a history of specialized contract clauses and unexpected hobby expertise behind his famous film roles. Furthermore, his journey from a young activist to the highest-grossing actor of all time remains a truly incredible story.
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson is officially the highest-grossing actor of all time thanks to his many blockbuster film franchises. His movies have earned over 27 billion dollars globally, which places him ahead of every other star in Hollywood history.
He famously includes a special “golf clause” in every single film contract he signs for a new movie. This legal agreement allows him to leave the set twice a week to play golf at a local course nearby.
The actor struggled with a severe stutter during his childhood and used acting as a way to overcome it. Specifically, he discovered that using a certain famous curse word helped him find his rhythm and stop his speech blocks.
He personally requested a purple lightsaber for his role as Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. He wanted to be able to find himself easily during the massive battle scenes that featured many different Jedi characters.
George Lucas agreed to the unique color even though Jedi lightsabers usually only appeared in blue or green hues. Consequently, Jackson became the only character in the film universe to wield a weapon with that specific purple glow.
Samuel L. Jackson was a dedicated civil rights activist during his time as a student at Morehouse College. In 1969, he even participated in a protest that involved locking the school’s board of trustees inside a building.
He served as a pallbearer at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr. shortly after the leader’s tragic death. This experience deeply impacted his worldview and his commitment to social justice throughout his long and successful professional career.
Surprisingly, he did not find mainstream fame until he was forty-five years old with his role in Pulp Fiction. This proves that success can arrive later in life if a person remains dedicated to their craft and passion.
He is a massive fan of comic books and actually gave Marvel permission to use his likeness for Nick Fury. The comic writers redesigned the character to look exactly like him years before he ever played the role on screen.
The actor once worked as a security guard for the popular television musical variety show called Soul Train. He watched many legendary musical acts perform while he stood off-camera to ensure the safety of the famous guests.
Samuel L. Jackson has appeared in over 150 movies throughout his career, which is a staggering number for any actor. He often works on several projects at the same time and rarely takes a long break from the camera.
He possesses a black belt in the martial art of judo, which he earned during his younger years. This physical training helps him maintain his incredible stamina and perform his own stunts in various high-octane action movie scenes.
The actor is a vegan and credits his plant-based diet for helping him maintain his health and energy levels. He made the switch several years ago and often advocates for the benefits of a lifestyle without animal products.
He famously recorded an audiobook version of the humorous children’s book Go the F**k to Sleep. The recording became an instant viral hit because his signature intense delivery perfectly matched the frustration of a tired parent.
Finally, Samuel L. Jackson never watches his own movies once they are finished and released to the public. He prefers to move on to the next creative challenge rather than dwelling on his past performances on the screen.
Joaquin Phoenix remains an enigma in Hollywood, shielding his private life behind a wall of intense characters. He navigates the film industry on his own terms, often disappearing into roles that terrify other actors. Beyond the famous clown makeup, he champions animal rights with a passion that rivals his acting. His journey involves a childhood in a cult and tragic loss, yet he emerged as a voice for the voiceless. Explore the reality of this complex artist through these surprising insights.
Joaquin Phoenix
His parents raised him in a controversial religious cult called the Children of God. Fortunately, the family left the group and fled South America when he was very young. Consequently, he spent his early childhood traveling in a van.
He changed his name to Leaf because he wanted a nature name like his siblings. River and Rain had earthy names, so he felt left out. Eventually, he switched back to Joaquin at age fifteen.
Strictly, he has been a vegan since he was three years old. He saw a fisherman kill a fish violently against the side of a boat. Immediately, the entire family stopped eating meat that very day.
Ridley Scott slapped him on the set of Gladiator to make him angry. The director felt the actor was not looking intense enough for the scene. As a result, the shock helped him deliver a terrifying performance.
He lost over fifty pounds to play the Joker. He ate mostly lettuce and steamed vegetables to achieve the skeletal look. Thus, this extreme starvation made him feel mentally unstable during filming.
Legendary director Werner Herzog saved Joaquin Phoenix after a serious car crash. Joaquin tried to light a cigarette while gasoline leaked into the car cabin. Luckily, Herzog snatched the lighter away and calmed him down.
Environmentally, he wore the exact same tuxedo to every single award show in 2020. He wanted to reduce waste and promote sustainable fashion choices. Therefore, he ignored the Hollywood rule of wearing new outfits.
Johnny Cash personally approved him for the movie Walk the Line. The country singer was a fan of his performance in Gladiator. Sadly, Cash died before he could see the final finished film.
Joaquin Phoenix rescued a cow and her calf from a slaughterhouse. Just one day after winning his Oscar, he negotiated their release personally. Now, the animals live peacefully at a sanctuary in California.
Surprisingly, he thought his wife Rooney Mara despised him when they first met. She was actually just shy, but he interpreted her silence as dislike. Eventually, they connected over email and fell in love.
He staged a massive hoax where he pretended to become a rapper. For the film I’m Still Here, he acted bizarrely in public for months. Consequently, many people truly believed he had lost his mind.
Physically, the scar on his lip is a birthmark, not a surgical scar. He was born with the mark already present on his face. Doctors claim it is a mild form of a cleft lip.
Joaquin Phoenix gets intense anxiety before he starts every new movie role. The fear of failure makes him physically ill for weeks before shooting. However, he uses this nervous energy to fuel his acting.
Unusually, he demands that film sets use no leather products. Costume designers must create his shoes and belts from synthetic materials. This strict rule aligns with his lifelong dedication to animal rights.
Finally, he fainted while shooting a scene for Beau Is Afraid. The intensity of the performance caused him to collapse on the set. As a result, the director had to pause filming to help him recover.
Quentin Tarantino changed cinema with his sharp dialogue and nonlinear storytelling. While fans obsess over his bloody action scenes, his personal life contains just as many surprises as his scripts. For instance, he funded his debut movie by playing an Elvis impersonator on a famous TV show. Furthermore, he refuses to use a computer when he writes his screenplays. Prepare to visit the New Beverly Cinema.
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino worked as an Elvis impersonator on The Golden Girls. In 1988, he appeared in a single episode of the popular sitcom. He played one of many Elvis impersonators at a wedding. Consequently, the residual checks from this small role helped him fund the production of Reservoir Dogs.
He famously never went to film school. When people ask him about his education, he simply says, “I went to films.” He learned his craft while he worked as a clerk at Video Archives in Manhattan Beach. There, he watched thousands of movies and discussed them with customers all day long.
He plans to retire after his tenth film. Tarantino has repeatedly stated that he wants a perfect filmography. He believes directors lose their touch as they age. Therefore, he intends to drop the microphone after his next movie to preserve his legacy as an artist.
He writes all his scripts by hand. He refuses to use a computer or a typewriter during the creative process. Instead, he sits in his home with a red felt-tip pen and a yellow legal pad. He feels this ritual connects him more deeply to his characters.
A thief stole his car during the filming of Pulp Fiction. The cherry red 1964 Chevelle Malibu that John Travolta drives actually belonged to Tarantino. Someone stole it from the set in 1994. Remarkably, police recovered the vehicle in Oakland seventeen years later in 2013.
He owns the movie theater he visited as a child. In 2007, he bought the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles. He acts as the head programmer for the venue. Furthermore, he enforces a strict rule that the theater must project only 35mm film, never digital.
Adam Sandler almost played the Bear Jew. Tarantino wrote the role of Donny Donowitz in Inglourious Basterds specifically for the comedian. However, Sandler had already committed to film Funny People. Thus, the role went to horror director Eli Roth instead.
He invented a fake brand of cigarettes. Characters in his movies frequently smoke “Red Apple” cigarettes. He created this fictional brand to avoid product placement. Consequently, you can spot the yellow package in Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
He strangled an actress himself to get the shot right. In Inglourious Basterds, the character Bridget von Hammersmark dies by strangulation. Tarantino did not trust the actor to do it safely or realistically. Therefore, he stepped into the frame and applied the pressure to Diane Kruger’s neck himself.
His editor was his secret weapon. Sally Menke edited every single one of his films until she died in 2010. He often described her as his “only, truly, genuine co-writer.” She possessed the unique ability to tame his chaotic footage into a coherent story.
Jamie Foxx rode his own horse in Django Unchained. The actor brought his horse, Cheetah, to the set. He convinced the director to let him use the animal in the film. Thus, the horse you see on screen actually belongs to Foxx in real life.
A customer’s mistake inspired the title Reservoir Dogs. While he worked at the video store, a customer mispronounced the French film Au Revoir les Enfants. The customer called it “the reservoir movie.” Tarantino loved the sound of it and combined it with Straw Dogs to create the title.
The wallet in Pulp Fiction belonged to Quentin Tarantino . The famous wallet that says “Bad Mother Fucker” was not a prop. It actually belonged to Tarantino’s personal collection. He gave it to Samuel L. Jackson to use in the diner scene because the original prop looked too cheap.
Quentin Tarantino holds a specific record for the F-word. His films consistently rank high for profanity. Specifically, Pulp Fiction uses the word 265 times. However, Reservoir Dogs beats it with 269 uses. Finally, Django Unchained takes the crown with over 110 uses of a racial slur alone.
Finally, he directed a scene in Sin City for one dollar. His friend Robert Rodriguez scored Kill Bill: Vol. 2 for a single dollar. To return the favor, Tarantino guest-directed the car sequence in Sin City. He accepted the same symbolic payment for his work.
