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Samuel L. Jackson Biography

Birth Name:Samuel Leroy Jackson

Birth Place:Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 Dubai International Film Festival
Was awarded the 2008 American Cinamatheque Award
Was honored with a Hand and Foot Ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 2006
Is an avid supporter of the charitable organization One For The Boys, which spreads awareness for male cancers
Originally went to school to become a marine biologist before discovering acting and switching his major
Was a 1972 graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta
Was mentored early in his acting career by Morgan Freeman
During his early days as a struggling actor in New York, Jackson worked as a doorman at the Manhattan Plaza
Spent 3 years working on "The Cosby Show" as a camera stand-in for Bill Cosby
Quote: "I was a square for so long․ It totally amazes me that people think I'm cool․"
Quote: "[on choosing roles] "I enjoy movies for the audience aspect of it․ I am an audience member․ I like all kinds of movies and if the role is right in that kind of movie and the timing is right I'm going to do it․""
Quote: "[on winning awards] "I figured out early in the game that the best thing for me to do is just keep going to work․ I don't worry about picking a movie that says 'oh my god, this has Oscar potential' ․․․ I do movies I want to see myself․""
Quote: "I think everyone who says they don't like watching themselves in movies should stop lying․"
As a youth, he played French horn and trumpet in his school orchestra
Was an usher at Dr․ Martin Luther King Jr․'s funeral in Atlanta
Jackson pursued New Line Cinema execs when he learned about "Snakes on a Plane," and asked for a role because he thought it would be fun, but shocked execs thought it was a joke he wanted to do the film, until they verified it with his agent

Awards

1991Best Supporting Actor-: winner
1991KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1991NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1992CFCA Award-Most Promising Actor: nominated
1992CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1994ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
1994ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1994NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1994STFC Award-Best Actor: winner
1995Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1995BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1995CableACE-Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1995CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1995Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1995Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
1995Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: winner
1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1995MTV Movie Award-Best On-Screen Duo: nominated
1995NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1995NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1997Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Suspense: winner
1997Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1997Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1997Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
1997OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1997Special Award-: winner
1998Black Film Award-Best Actor: winner
1998Silver Berlin Bear-Best Actor: winner
1998Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: winner
1998Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1998Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1998MTV Movie Award-Best Male Performance: nominated
1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
1999Black Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
1999Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor - Action/Adventure: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2000Stinker Award-Worst On-Screen Hairstyle: nominated
2001BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2001Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Actor: nominated
2001Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor - Action: nominated
2001Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor - Suspense: nominated
2001Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2001MTV Movie Award-Best Dressed: nominated
2001Stinker Award-Worst On-Screen Hairstyle: nominated
2002Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Actor: nominated
2003Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2003Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Actor: nominated
2003Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2003Prism Award-Performance in a Theatrical Feature Film: nominated
2004BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2005Annie-Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
2005BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005BET Comedy Award-Best Performance in an Animated Theatrical Film: winner
2005Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2005Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Actor: Drama: nominated
2005Stinker Award-Less Than Dynamic Duo: winner
2006Bambi-Film - International: winner
2006Black Reel-Best Actor: nominated
2006Chainsaw Award-Dude You Don't Wanna Mess With (Best Hero): nominated
2006Chainsaw Award-Line That Killed (Best One-Liner): nominated
2006Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2007Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2007Fright Meter Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2007Prism Award-Performance in a Feature Film: nominated
2007Scream Award-Scream King: nominated
2008Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Villain: nominated
2009BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or More): nominated
2011Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2011Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
2011Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: nominated
2011Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2012Black Reel-Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Male: nominated
2012Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2012ICP Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
2012Prism Award-Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2012SDFCS Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
2013BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2013GAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2013Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2013IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): nominated
2013MTV Movie Award-Best WTF Moment: winner
2013MTV Movie Award-Best On-Screen Duo: nominated
2013NCFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: winner
2015Felix-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2015Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2015Capri Actor Award-: winner
2015Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
2016Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016All Def Movie Award-Best Bad Mu#&a Award: nominated
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
2016Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2016ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016MTV Movie Award-Best Villain: nominated
2016National Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2016Georges Award-Best Foreign Villain of the Year: nominated
2016Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Actor: nominated
2017CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: winner
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: nominated
2019Fright Meter Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2019Image Award-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film): winner
2019People's Choice Award-Favorite Drama Movie Star: nominated
2019People's Choice Award-Favorite Male Movie Star: nominated
2019Teen Choice Award-Choice Action Movie Actor: nominated
2019The BAM Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2021Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
2021Canadian Screen Award-Best History Documentary Program or Series: winner
2022EDA Special Mention Award-Most Egregious Age Difference Between the Leading Man and the Love Interest: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series: winner
2022HCA Award-Best Actor in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: nominated
2023Critics Choice Award-Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television: nominated
2023CCA Super Award-Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie: nominated
2023Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2024Tribute Award-Ensemble: winner
2024Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2024People's Choice Award-The Male TV Star of the Year: nominated
2025Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie): winner