Which film won Jackson the Best Supporting Actor award at Cannes in 1991?
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Jackson was so good in the Spike Lee joint that Cannes actually created the award just for him—the festival does not normally give out Best Supporting Actor awards.
After appearing in more than 30 films, which movie finally shot Jackson to international fame?
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The role of Jules Winnfield turned out to be the opportunity of a lifetime for Jackson, who finally made it big after nearly two decades working as an actor.
Which film earned Jackson a Golden Globe and an NAACP Image Award?
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The role, where Jackson played a father on trial for murdering two men who raped his daughter, was one of Jackson’s early powerhouse performances.
What disorder did Jackson struggle with as a young boy?
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It took years for Jackson to overcome his stutter, and he finally achieved it when he starting using his favorite word, “mother******,” as an affirmation word.
In which anime did Samuel Jackson voice the main character?
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Jackson also voiced Afro Samurai’s companion Ninja Ninja.
Which role did Jackson want to play in the Star Wars universe?
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Jackson has admitted that he just wanted to be a part of Star Wars—he didn’t care at all which role he landed. Though, to be fair, Mace Windu ended up being a pretty sweet gig.
Why was Mace Windu’s lightsaber purple?
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Windu was the only person with a purple blade, and he actually got it just because Jackson wanted one. George Lucas told him that lightsabers were traditionally red, blue, or green, to which Jackson said, “Yeah, but I want a purple one,” and he got his wish.
Which actor played Nick Fury before Jackson?
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Though few people remember it, the TV movie Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. was released by Fox in 1998 starring the Hoff himself.
Why was Jackson cast as Nick Fury?
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Though Nick Fury was initially white, when it came to designing the character for the new Marvel Ultimate universe, artist Mark Millar blatantly copied Jackson’s appearance. He later apologized for “completely exploiting” Jackson’s appearance, to which Jackson responded “No, man! Thanks for the nine-picture deal!”
What is the highest rated film of Jackson’s career, according to Rotten Tomatoes?
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Though it might not be the first thing people think of in regards to Jackson’s career, his turn as the hero Frozone was definitely a career highlight.
What is the lowest rated film of Jackson’s career, according to Rotten Tomatoes?
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Funnily enough, both Twisted and The Incredibles were actually released in the same year: 2004.
What convinced Jackson to star in Snakes on a Plane?
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Really, with a title like Snakes on a Plane, what else do you need to hear?
What is the one demand that Jackson makes in all of his contracts?
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Jackson is an avid golfer—allegedly, his handicap is 6.9.
What oddly nerdy hobby does Jackson have?
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But he doesn’t just collect any action figures—he collects his own characters! Between Mace Windu, Nick Fury, and Jules Winnfield, he’s probably got quite the collection.
Jackson’s movies have grossed more money than any other actor in history. Who held the top spot before Jackson?
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Han Solo was the man for many years, but adding Nick Fury to Mace Windu’s resume pushed him over the top.
How many times has Jackson been married?
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Jackson met Latanya Richardson in 1974. They wed in 1980 and have been together ever since.
What crime got Jackson arrested while he was in college?
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Fed up with his Morehouse’s governance, Jackson and several other student activists decided to take matters into their own hands. He was eventually charged with unlawful confinement, a second-degree felony. He avoided jail time, but he was suspended from the school for two years.
What diet did Jackson take up to try to “live forever”?
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Jackson says he lost 40 pounds after he became vegan in 2013, but he abandoned the diet in 2017.
Which political movement did Jackson become involved with while he was suspended from school?
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Jackson became so involved in the Black Power movement that the FBI visited his mother and warned her that he’d end up dead if he stayed on the same path. She ended up forcing him to move to Los Angeles out of fear for his safety.
Why did Jackson make sure to get good grades in school?
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The Vietnam War was at its height when Jackson turned 18, and his draft number was very low. He strongly felt that if he did poorly in school, he’d end up in the army and shipped off to war.
What does Jackson say was the main thing that held him back while he was a theater actor in New York in the 80s?
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Years later, Jackson would say that once he got clean, “the door blew wide open” and he finally started to see real success as an actor.
At whose funeral did Jackson act as an usher?
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Jackson was a devoted Civil Rights activist, and soon after the funeral, he flew to Memphis to join an equal rights protest march.
When was Samuel L. Jackson born?
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Though he seems ageless, Jackson has been around for a long time—in fact, segregation was still in effect when Jackson went to school.
What was the low point that convinced Jackson to finally get sober?
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His addiction took a toll on him for many years, but the day his daughter walked into the kitchen to find her father passed out and surrounded by drug paraphernalia was rock bottom—he went to rehab soon after.
Which other actor did a news anchor once mistake Samuel L. Jackson for?
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The brutal interview was filmed for KTLA, and Jackson was sure to put the befuddled anchor in his place.
Where did Jackson attend university?
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He would eventually graduate with a BA in Drama in 1972.
What did Jackson initially go to college for?
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*Insert Deep Blue Sea shark joke here*
What was Jackson’s first film role?
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It was a blaxploitation film about the effect an interracial relationship had on friends and family, and it would later be released under the much more salacious title Black Cream.
Which iconic actor mentored a young Samuel L. Jackson?
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Freeman took the time to help guide Jackson before he made it big—talk about luck!
Which actor did Jackson work as a stand-in for in the 1980s?
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Before he was a movie star, Jackson had to take many odd jobs, and one of them was on The Cosby Show, standing in for the now-disgraced comedian.

Your Results

Say “What” Again, I Dare You!"

Jackson has been in countless hit movies—have you even seen any of them?

“A shame he can't touch the Force. He might have made a fine Jedi.”

You know a decent amount about Samuel L. Jackson, but are you a Mace Windu superfan? Not quite yet.

“I’m here to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative”

Nick Fury himself would be proud! You’re truly a master of the force, you’re ready to lead S.H.I.E.L.D., you could take on any amount of snakes on any plane! Well, maybe not quite, but you sure know your Samuel L. Jackson!

Happy With Your Test Score? This video can help you do better on any quiz... even if you know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the topic.

Quiz

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most successful actors in film history. His movies have raked in billions, and he’s played such iconic characters as Mace Windu, Jules Winnfield, and Nick Fury. But it wasn’t all easy for this screen legend—it was a long and dark road for Jackson to reach stardom. There’s a lot more to Samuel L. Jackson than meets the eye. Let’s see how well you really know him.

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