Age: 77
male
Samuel Leroy Jackson (born December 21, 1948) is an American actor and producer. One of the most widely recognized actors of his generation, the films in which he has appeared have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, making him the second highest-grossing actor of all time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave him an Academy Honorary Award in 2022 as "A cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide". Jackson started his career on stage making 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 the play in the 2022 Broadway revival playing Doaker Charles. Jackson early film roles include Coming to America (1988), Goodfellas (1990), Patriot Games (1992), Juice (1992), True Romance (1993), and Jurassic Park (1993), Menace II Society (1993), and Fresh (1994). His collaborations with Spike Lee led to greater prominence with films such as School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), Mo' Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991), Oldboy (2013), and Chi-Raq (2015). Jackson's breakout role was in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994) 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 (1997), Django Unchained (2012), and The Hateful Eight (2015). He's known for having appeared in a number of big-budget films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), A Time to Kill (1996), The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), The Negotiator (1997), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Unbreakable (2000), Shaft (2000) and its reboot (2019), XXX (2002), S.W.A.T. (2003), Coach Carter (2005), Snakes on a Plane (2006), Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), and Glass (2019). He also gained widespread recognition as the Jedi Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999–2005), later voicing the role in the animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) and the video game Lego Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2011). With his permission, his likeness was used for the Ultimate version of the Marvel Comics character Nick Fury; he subsequently played Fury in 11 Marvel Cinematic Universe films, beginning with a cameo appearance in Iron Man (2008), as well as guest-starring in the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He will reprise this role in the upcoming Disney+ series Secret Invasion, which is set to premiere on June 21, 2023. Jackson has provided his voice for several animated films, documentaries, television series, and video games, including Lucius Best / Frozone in the Pixar films The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018).
Samuel L. Jackson
Mace Windu
for Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Suggested by stevenkelly
In this reimagined Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the Republic sends Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi to mediate a growing political crisis on Alderaan, where tensions between the Trade Federation, the Alderaanians, and the Gungans erupt into violence after a deadly bombing orchestrated from the shadows by Sheev Palpatine and his Sith apprentice, Darth Maul. Forced to rescue Queen Padmé Amidala and flee the occupied world, the heroes crash-land on Tatooine, where they encounter the gifted teenage slave Anakin Skywalker. Through a high-stakes podrace and a series of dangerous encounters, Qui-Gon becomes convinced that Anakin is destined for something greater, while Obi-Wan slowly develops a brotherly bond with the young pilot despite his reservations about training someone so old and emotionally attached. Back on Coruscant, the Jedi Council rejects Anakin and dismisses the return of the Sith, while Palpatine manipulates the Senate into a political crisis that elevates his own power. Refusing to stand aside, Qui-Gon leads a mission back to Alderaan, where Gungans and Alderaanians unite against the Trade Federation in a climactic four-front battle involving a space assault, a ground war, a palace siege, and an epic duel with Darth Maul. Qui-Gon sacrifices his life to save his companions, inspiring Obi-Wan to overcome his anger and defeat the Sith warrior. Although the heroes liberate Alderaan and forge a new alliance, Palpatine quietly emerges as the true victor by becoming Supreme Chancellor, while Obi-Wan honors his master's dying wish by taking Anakin as his apprentice—setting in motion the destiny that will shape the future of the galaxy.
