Samuel Leroy Jackson grew up as an only child in Tennessee, the son of an alcoholic father who lived away from the family. He was raised by his mother, a factory worker and supplies buyer for a mental institution. During childhood, he had a stuttering problem but eventually learned to “pretend to be other people who didn’t stutter.”
Jackson attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. After joining a local acting group, he switched his major from marine biology to acting. He came to prominence in the early 90s with Goodfellas, Jungle Fever, Patriot Games, and Jurassic Park. But, it was Pulp Fiction, Jackson’s 30th film, that brought him international recognition, praise from critics, a Best Supporting Actor nomination in the Academy Awards, and a Golden Globe nomination. He followed with Die Hard with a Vengeance, Shaft, Snakes on a Plane, the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and the popular Capital One cash-back credit card commercials.
It IS possible to find meaningful work, even later in life. It’s just a matter of how bad you want it, how much work you’re willing to put in, and how persistent you’re willing to be to reach your goal.
