WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.040 Welcome to The Deep Dive, the show where we take 00:00:02.040 --> 00:00:03.720 the source material you've shared with us, the 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.900 articles, the research, the notes, and we try 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:09.019 to transform it into a nuanced understanding 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:11.640 of a really complex topic. And our focus today 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:14.919 is, well, it's monumental, isn't it? We are attempting 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:17.780 to chart the career trajectory of an absolute 00:00:17.780 --> 00:00:20.960 cultural icon. I mean, a man whose name is practically 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:23.579 synonymous with modern cinema. Exactly. Samuel 00:00:23.579 --> 00:00:26.559 L. Jackson. Our mission here is to go far beyond 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:30.260 the instantly quotable dialogue and the iconic 00:00:30.260 --> 00:00:32.539 characters we all know and love. We want to understand 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:35.719 the actual architecture of his massive, enduring 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:37.859 success. And when you say success, we have to 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:40.189 start with the number. The staggering commercial 00:00:40.189 --> 00:00:42.649 dominance that basically necessitated this entire 00:00:42.649 --> 00:00:45.250 deep dive. We have to. Let's just unpack that 00:00:45.250 --> 00:00:47.630 colossal hook immediately. You shared with us 00:00:47.630 --> 00:00:49.409 that the films Samuel L. Jackson has appeared 00:00:49.409 --> 00:00:52.590 in have collectively grossed more than $27 billion 00:00:52.590 --> 00:00:56.229 worldwide. That figure, $27 billion, and that 00:00:56.229 --> 00:00:57.789 was calculated a couple of years ago, so it's 00:00:57.789 --> 00:01:00.750 likely higher now. It's a number so enormous 00:01:00.750 --> 00:01:02.609 you almost can't process it without context. 00:01:02.890 --> 00:01:05.250 It officially makes him the highest grossing 00:01:05.250 --> 00:01:08.060 actor of all time. And it's not just about, you 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:11.799 know, star power. It's a reflection of his prolificacy, 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:16.099 his sheer longevity, and his almost unparalleled 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:19.400 ability to sign on to these global mega franchises 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:22.260 that really define the modern box office. But 00:01:22.260 --> 00:01:24.959 I have to ask, does that figure, impressive as 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:28.019 it is, truly reflect his individual star power? 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:31.200 Or is it more of a product of the, you know, 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:33.420 the corporate machine he so expertly joined, 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:36.349 like Marvel and Star Wars? critical distinction 00:01:36.349 --> 00:01:38.510 we have to make. And, you know, your sources 00:01:38.510 --> 00:01:40.349 provide a fascinating little nugget to help us 00:01:40.349 --> 00:01:43.069 with that. OK. He is technically the second highest 00:01:43.069 --> 00:01:46.069 grossing person in film overall. The person who 00:01:46.069 --> 00:01:49.109 edges him out is Stan Lee. Oh, interesting. But 00:01:49.109 --> 00:01:52.209 Lee's gross is largely attributed to his cameos, 00:01:52.250 --> 00:01:54.370 right? Very brief appearances in films based 00:01:54.370 --> 00:01:56.230 on characters he created. So it's a different 00:01:56.230 --> 00:01:58.810 kind of metric. Completely different. Jackson's 00:01:58.810 --> 00:02:00.569 number, however, is derived from substantive 00:02:00.569 --> 00:02:03.170 leading and supporting roles that span five decades. 00:02:03.870 --> 00:02:06.090 So if we measure the power of an actor to drive 00:02:06.090 --> 00:02:08.210 and sustain commercial output, well, Jackson 00:02:08.210 --> 00:02:10.189 stands alone at the top. And this isn't just 00:02:10.189 --> 00:02:12.169 a volume business either, is it? It's a cultural 00:02:12.169 --> 00:02:15.889 legacy business. In 2022, the Academy recognized 00:02:15.889 --> 00:02:18.909 this by awarding him an honorary Oscar. They 00:02:18.909 --> 00:02:21.590 specifically called him a cultural icon whose 00:02:21.590 --> 00:02:24.629 dynamic work has resonated across genres and 00:02:24.629 --> 00:02:27.550 generations and audiences worldwide. Which is 00:02:27.550 --> 00:02:30.370 such a beautiful summation of a career that, 00:02:30.449 --> 00:02:34.039 and this is the key, took decades to really reach 00:02:34.039 --> 00:02:36.900 liftoff. Okay, so let's unpack this improbable 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:40.219 journey. Let's do it. We can begin with his formative 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:43.020 years and what the sources call his radical roots. 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:46.419 This part, I think, provides the context of the 00:02:46.419 --> 00:02:49.080 man before he became the star. It introduces 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:52.819 us to a childhood that was challenging, to say 00:02:52.819 --> 00:02:55.240 the least. And it culminates in this fierce political 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:57.539 commitment that nearly derailed his entire life. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:00.199 Exactly. Jackson was born in Washington, D .C. 00:03:00.219 --> 00:03:02.900 in 1948. But the crucial developmental years 00:03:02.900 --> 00:03:04.639 were spent growing up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 00:03:05.379 --> 00:03:07.879 And it was a household defined by, well, a strong 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:10.360 matriarchal presence and a pretty significant 00:03:10.360 --> 00:03:12.379 absence. What do you mean by that? Well, he was 00:03:12.379 --> 00:03:15.139 raised primarily by his mother, who worked tirelessly, 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:16.979 by the way, as a factory worker and a supplies 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:19.759 buyer for a psychiatric hospital, and his maternal 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:22.479 grandparents. And the absence. The absence was 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:25.080 his father. a man who later died of alcoholism. 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:27.860 Jackson only met him twice in his entire life. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:32.259 Twice. Yeah. And this fragmented family experience, 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:35.240 coupled with growing up in the segregated South, 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:38.620 it formed a foundation of resilience and I think 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:41.620 maybe a deep -seated desire to challenge authority. 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:44.580 Absolutely. You can see how that tension between 00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:47.340 the system and the individual was present from 00:03:47.340 --> 00:03:50.039 his earliest memories. But before that political 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:52.520 energy really manifested, he had this deeply 00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:55.620 personal struggle that kind of unexpectedly provided 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:58.000 the first foundation for his acting career. The 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.020 speech challenge is one of the most surprising 00:04:00.020 --> 00:04:02.300 facts about this man with this incredibly powerful 00:04:02.300 --> 00:04:05.860 vocal presence. Samuel L. Jackson developed a 00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:08.139 debilitating stutter during childhood. And we're 00:04:08.139 --> 00:04:09.860 not talking about a minor impediment. No, not 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:12.099 at all. It was severe enough. that he had to 00:04:12.099 --> 00:04:14.539 develop an adaptive strategy just to function 00:04:14.539 --> 00:04:17.779 socially and academically. And the strategy he 00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:19.920 adopted, the one that essentially defined his 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:23.100 life's path, was learning to pretend to be other 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:25.759 people who didn't stutter. Think about that. 00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:28.259 I mean, acting for him wasn't some artistic whim. 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:32.000 It was a necessary tool for communication, for 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:34.879 self -preservation. It was a way to build a persona 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:37.040 that could navigate the world successfully. And 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:39.199 what's really fascinating here is how that coping 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:42.920 mechanism evolved and just stayed with him. Even 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:45.300 in his adult life, he has days where the stutter 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:48.519 comes back. Right. And the sources confirm that 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:50.560 he credits the use of the word, and we have to 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:53.800 be delicate here, the word motherfucker as a 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:57.220 tool. a tool to successfully get through a speech 00:04:57.220 --> 00:04:59.480 block. That is incredible. I mean, that single 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:01.660 phrase, which has become this powerful linguistic 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:04.379 punctuation mark in his filmography. The signature 00:05:04.379 --> 00:05:06.860 of his cultural brand. Exactly. It originated 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:09.620 as a therapeutic tool. It's a verbal release, 00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:12.600 a powerful expletive that physically resets his 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:15.000 rhythm and allows him to bypass the impediment. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:18.540 It connects his identity, his art, and his most 00:05:18.540 --> 00:05:22.379 recognizable linguistic quirk to a profound personal 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:25.699 childhood vulnerability. It's the kind of detail 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:28.180 that turns a collection of facts into a real 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:32.000 human story. It really is. So how did this musically 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:34.339 inclined kid, because he was quite the talent, 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:37.779 right? He played the French horn, piccolo, trumpet, 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:40.399 and flute in the school orchestra. And was a 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:42.899 cheerleader. And a cheerleader. How did he end 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:44.720 up pivoting toward the arts as a profession? 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:47.160 Well, he initially enrolled at Morehouse College 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.100 in Atlanta, Georgia, with a very different trajectory 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:52.939 in mind. He intended to pursue marine biology. 00:05:53.100 --> 00:05:55.319 The narrative of the accidental genius strikes 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:57.879 again. It really does, but guided by, you know, 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:01.339 fate and a desire for some easy credit. He switched 00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:03.540 his major to drama after joining a local acting 00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:06.459 group simply to earn extra credit points in a 00:06:06.459 --> 00:06:08.579 class he was taking. And it just clicked. It 00:06:08.579 --> 00:06:10.639 clicked. He quickly realized this is where his 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:13.100 true passion lay, earning his Bachelor of Arts 00:06:13.100 --> 00:06:16.839 in Drama in 1972. But the late 1960s, I mean, 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:19.500 that was not a time for quiet academic pursuits, 00:06:19.500 --> 00:06:21.519 especially not in Atlanta, Jordan. Not at all. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:23.959 This is where his political commitment turns 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:26.879 truly radical, shaping the man he was before 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:29.860 Hollywood even registered his name. His involvement 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:33.199 was total. In 1968, following the assassination 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:35.740 of Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson was right 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:38.220 there, serving as an usher at King's funeral 00:06:38.220 --> 00:06:40.819 in Atlanta. So he wasn't just observing history. 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:43.949 He was participating in it. Right. He then traveled 00:06:43.949 --> 00:06:46.269 to Memphis, Tennessee to join an equal rights 00:06:46.269 --> 00:06:49.449 protest march. But the sources say he quickly 00:06:49.449 --> 00:06:52.029 moved beyond the traditional nonviolent resistance 00:06:52.029 --> 00:06:55.189 strategies of the civil rights movement. His 00:06:55.189 --> 00:06:57.310 observations of the world made him believe change 00:06:57.310 --> 00:07:00.269 required something different, not sit -ins, not 00:07:00.269 --> 00:07:02.800 peaceful coexistence. And that conviction led 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:05.300 directly to that highly confrontational action 00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:08.040 in 1969. And we need to be clear, this wasn't 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:10.240 just a student demonstration. No, this was an 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:13.319 armed standoff that had massive real -world legal 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:15.720 consequences. Can you just detail the gravity 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:17.800 of that hostage situation? Because this is a 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:19.800 crucial detail that often gets glossed over, 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:23.220 but it defines his early path. It was an extremely 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:26.779 serious escalation. Jackson and a group of students, 00:07:26.899 --> 00:07:29.439 they orchestrated a confrontation on the Morehouse 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.120 campus. They held members of the College Board 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:34.759 of Trustees hostage. And these weren't just anybody. 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:38.540 No, these were highly influential, powerful figures, 00:07:38.819 --> 00:07:41.699 including, incredibly, the revered civil rights 00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:45.120 leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Wow. They barricaded 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:47.379 them in the administration building for two days, 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:50.240 demanding fundamental reforms to the curriculum 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:53.120 and the college's governance. They particularly 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:55.519 wanted more black influence in the administration. 00:07:56.269 --> 00:07:59.610 That is an explosive, high stakes political move. 00:07:59.769 --> 00:08:02.089 It's so far removed from an actor's standard 00:08:02.089 --> 00:08:04.769 biography. What were the repercussions? Well, 00:08:04.790 --> 00:08:06.629 while the college eventually conceded to some 00:08:06.629 --> 00:08:09.189 of the student demands, Jackson faced severe 00:08:09.189 --> 00:08:11.810 legal consequences. He was convicted of unlawful 00:08:11.810 --> 00:08:13.550 confinement. Which is a second degree felony. 00:08:13.689 --> 00:08:16.209 A felony. He was immediately suspended from Morehouse 00:08:16.209 --> 00:08:18.689 for two years, and suddenly he has a felony criminal 00:08:18.689 --> 00:08:20.550 record before his professional life has even 00:08:20.550 --> 00:08:22.949 begun. During the suspension, he worked briefly 00:08:22.949 --> 00:08:25.680 as a social worker in Los Angeles. But the narrative 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:28.079 doesn't suggest that the experience chastened 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:30.519 him at all, though. When he returned to Atlanta, 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:33.659 the political fervor seems to have just intensified. 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:36.360 It doubled down. Yeah. He returned to Atlanta 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:39.320 and immediately sought out the most radical elements 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:42.299 of the Black Power movement. He met and connected 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:45.000 with significant national leaders like Stokely 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.740 Carmichael and H -Rap Brown. So he went deeper. 00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:51.190 Much deeper. He felt... completely empowered 00:08:51.190 --> 00:08:53.590 by this political involvement, especially as 00:08:53.590 --> 00:08:55.990 the group started buying guns, viewing this as 00:08:55.990 --> 00:08:58.570 necessary protection and preparation for a revolution. 00:08:58.850 --> 00:09:00.809 This is the moment the stakes transition from 00:09:00.809 --> 00:09:04.509 legal to life and death. Precisely. His mother, 00:09:04.610 --> 00:09:07.070 recognizing the severity of the danger he was 00:09:07.070 --> 00:09:09.730 in, was approached by the FBI. The FBI. Yes. 00:09:09.830 --> 00:09:12.129 They warned her explicitly that if Jackson stayed 00:09:12.129 --> 00:09:14.350 on this path, he would likely be dead within 00:09:14.350 --> 00:09:16.850 a year. Think about that. A government agency 00:09:16.850 --> 00:09:19.269 intervening to warn his family that he was on 00:09:19.269 --> 00:09:22.009 a terminal trajectory. That is a lifesaving intervention. 00:09:22.169 --> 00:09:25.500 A maternal act that forced a pivot. It was. She 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:27.559 immediately sent him back to Los Angeles, physically 00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:29.639 separating him from that radical environment. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:32.419 It was a moment that arguably saved his life 00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:34.919 and channeled that immense volatile energy away 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:37.159 from political revolution and back toward the 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:39.220 creative life he just discovered. And this detail 00:09:39.220 --> 00:09:41.500 just underscores the improbable nature of his 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:44.440 later success. A second degree felony conviction, 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:48.000 an FBI warning, the path of activism potentially 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:51.740 leading to decades in prison or worse. Right. 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:53.720 This is the man who would eventually become the 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:56.120 world's highest -grossing actor. He later denied 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:58.220 being a formal member of the Black Panther Party, 00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:01.379 but his proximity to and alignment with the movement's 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:04.700 radical goals are just undeniable. That early 00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:07.279 activism arguably cost him his freedom and nearly 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.720 his life, but it certainly channeled that intense 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:12.879 focus fully into the arts. So let's trace the 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:15.399 long, arduous path he took next. Okay, so we're 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:17.600 moving into the period from 1972 through 1998, 00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:20.259 the grind, addiction, and the breakout role. 00:10:20.730 --> 00:10:22.830 After returning to Morehouse and eventually graduating, 00:10:23.149 --> 00:10:26.909 Jackson moved to New York City in 1976. And for 00:10:26.909 --> 00:10:29.690 the next two decades, his life was dominated 00:10:29.690 --> 00:10:33.049 by the rigorous, unforgiving world of professional 00:10:33.049 --> 00:10:36.629 theater. This was his real education in acting, 00:10:36.789 --> 00:10:39.309 far from the bright lights of Hollywood. And 00:10:39.309 --> 00:10:41.710 he racked up some serious credentials during 00:10:41.710 --> 00:10:44.029 this theater decade, didn't he? He appeared in 00:10:44.029 --> 00:10:47.350 foundational stage plays like Home and Charles 00:10:47.350 --> 00:10:49.710 Fuller's A Soldier's Play. Which would later 00:10:49.710 --> 00:10:52.870 be adapted into the Oscar -nominated film A Soldier's 00:10:52.870 --> 00:10:56.049 Story. He was deeply embedded in the most prestigious 00:10:56.049 --> 00:10:58.629 African -American theater community in New York. 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:01.100 What's truly foundational, though, is his work 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:03.220 in the August Wilson canon. Oh, absolutely. He 00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:05.299 originated the role of Boy Willie in the very 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:07.620 first production of The Piano Lesson at the Yale 00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:10.870 Repertory Theater in 1987. These weren't minor 00:11:10.870 --> 00:11:13.590 roles. These were powerhouse, career -defining 00:11:13.590 --> 00:11:16.370 parts in landmark American productions. And this 00:11:16.370 --> 00:11:18.669 is where the bitter irony of his personal struggle 00:11:18.669 --> 00:11:21.269 really manifests, just as his career should have 00:11:21.269 --> 00:11:23.330 been transferring to the highest, most visible 00:11:23.330 --> 00:11:25.730 level on Broadway. Addiction blocked him completely. 00:11:25.929 --> 00:11:28.269 The sources are very clear on this. He developed 00:11:28.269 --> 00:11:30.549 crippling addictions to alcohol and cocaine, 00:11:30.889 --> 00:11:34.190 substances that completely compromised his reliability 00:11:34.190 --> 00:11:36.919 and, frankly, his talent. And these addictions 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:39.659 were so severe that he missed the highly anticipated 00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:43.759 career making Broadway transfers of both A Soldier's 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:46.419 Play and The Piano Lesson. Just think about that 00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:49.419 lost opportunity for a second. His contemporaries, 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:51.740 people like Charles S. Dutton and Anthony Chisholm, 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:54.259 they stepped into the roles that would have guaranteed 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:57.440 Jackson early mainstream stardom and financial 00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:01.019 security. And instead, he was just working to 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:04.740 survive. The contrast is so stark. While his 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:07.399 peers were garnering Tony nominations, Jackson 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:09.559 was struggling to make ends meet, working as 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:11.379 an overnight security guard at the Manhattan 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:14.179 Plaza apartment complex. Which ironically was 00:12:14.179 --> 00:12:16.879 known for housing actors and artists. Right. 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:19.159 He was literally watching over the dreams of 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:22.000 others while his own were in jeopardy. This low 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.720 point is so crucial for understanding the ferocity 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.240 of his later career push. So while the money 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:29.200 wasn't there, he was still building these crucial 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:31.919 connections that would pay off later on. Absolutely. 00:12:32.490 --> 00:12:36.710 He used this time to absorb and learn. He was 00:12:36.710 --> 00:12:38.590 mentored by the great Morgan Freeman throughout 00:12:38.590 --> 00:12:41.710 his early film work. And importantly, he worked 00:12:41.710 --> 00:12:44.009 for three years as a stand -in for Bill Cosby 00:12:44.009 --> 00:12:46.750 on The Cosby Show. Which is an intense masterclass 00:12:46.750 --> 00:12:49.529 in professionalism. For sure. Set hierarchy, 00:12:49.850 --> 00:12:52.669 blocking, technical camera work, all while remaining 00:12:52.669 --> 00:12:55.600 basically invisible. He was paying his dues in 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:58.159 silence, learning the mechanics of film and television 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.100 production from the inside out. And his move 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:02.360 into Spike Lee's orbit quickly became pivotal 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:04.899 for his on -screen visibility. Spike recognized 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:07.559 his talent early. After seeing Jackson and the 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:10.240 Soldiers play back in 81, he cast him in small 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:13.200 but increasingly prominent roles. School days, 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:16.059 do the right thing. Mo' Better Blues. And he 00:13:16.059 --> 00:13:18.100 also had that memorable role as the low -level 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:20.519 hood Stax Edwards in Scorsese's Goodfellas in 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:23.460 1990. Right. But the true turning point, the 00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:25.419 role that forced him and the industry to look 00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:28.500 at his raw, untapped power that arrived in 1991. 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.600 This is the moment where art provides a kind 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:33.980 of catharsis. It really is. Jackson had reached 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:37.639 a personal nadir involving multiple heroin overdoses 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:40.700 before he switched to cocaine. His family intervened. 00:13:40.889 --> 00:13:42.710 Sent him to a New York rehabilitation clinic. 00:13:42.850 --> 00:13:46.570 He leaves rehab. And literally one week later. 00:13:46.730 --> 00:13:49.730 One week. One week later, he's on set playing 00:13:49.730 --> 00:13:52.610 the crack addict Gator Purify in Spike Lee's 00:13:52.610 --> 00:13:54.690 Jungle Fever. It must have been an incredibly 00:13:54.690 --> 00:13:57.470 raw, almost terrifying performance to deliver. 00:13:57.710 --> 00:14:00.070 I mean, he was essentially performing the immediate 00:14:00.070 --> 00:14:02.009 person struggle he had just walked away from. 00:14:02.090 --> 00:14:04.830 He himself described it as cathartic. And the 00:14:04.830 --> 00:14:08.629 critical response was just. His performance was 00:14:08.629 --> 00:14:11.269 so impactful, so emotionally charged that the 00:14:11.269 --> 00:14:14.350 jury at the prestigious 1991 Cannes Film Festival 00:14:14.350 --> 00:14:16.929 felt compelled to create a special supporting 00:14:16.929 --> 00:14:19.529 actor award just for him. Just for him. Because 00:14:19.529 --> 00:14:22.110 his work, in their view, transcended the standard 00:14:22.110 --> 00:14:24.629 judging categories. That is a validation of decades 00:14:24.629 --> 00:14:27.570 of potential finally being realized. And that 00:14:27.570 --> 00:14:29.330 kind of critical recognition should have launched 00:14:29.330 --> 00:14:31.970 him immediately. But even after that honor, it 00:14:31.970 --> 00:14:34.690 took three more years for the true global rocket 00:14:34.690 --> 00:14:36.559 launch. The career break. breakthrough came in 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:40.460 1994 with Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. And 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:42.659 here is the staggering statistic that defines 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:46.200 his perseverance. Pulp Fiction was his 30th film. 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:48.980 30th. He'd been working relentlessly for over 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:52.200 two decades through theater, stand in work, addiction, 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:55.500 small film roles before finding the character 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:58.009 that would make him a global phenomenon. And 00:14:58.009 --> 00:15:00.009 the role Jules Winfield wasn't just a perfect 00:15:00.009 --> 00:15:03.110 fit. It was a testament to his talent. Tarantino 00:15:03.110 --> 00:15:05.230 specifically wrote the part for him after their 00:15:05.230 --> 00:15:08.490 collaboration on True Romance. Tarantino channeled 00:15:08.490 --> 00:15:11.490 Jackson's unique, magnetic and authoritative 00:15:11.490 --> 00:15:14.610 presence directly onto the page. The critical 00:15:14.610 --> 00:15:17.460 reception solidified his place instantly. He 00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:19.840 received his sole Academy Award nomination for 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:21.879 Best Supporting Actor, a Golden Globe nomination, 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:24.440 and he won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Role. 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:26.779 It was an overnight success that was 22 years 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:29.120 in the making. Exactly. And the immediate pressure 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.320 following that break must have been immense. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:34.259 He was instantly the most in -demand actor in 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:36.259 Hollywood. He must have felt that shift. Oh, 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:38.379 immediately. He noted that after Pulp Fiction, 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:41.200 every script sent to him was an attempt to recreate 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:43.899 that success. He said, everybody's always sending 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.600 me the script they think is the new Pulp Fiction. 00:15:46.409 --> 00:15:49.570 It just shows how instantly influential his portrayal 00:15:49.570 --> 00:15:52.190 of Jules Winfield was. It changed the cinematic 00:15:52.190 --> 00:15:55.009 landscape for the anti -hero, dialogue -heavy 00:15:55.009 --> 00:15:58.330 thriller. But he wisely avoided simply playing 00:15:58.330 --> 00:16:01.570 Jules 2 .0 repeatedly. Instead, he focused on 00:16:01.570 --> 00:16:04.330 consolidating his star power between 95 and 98, 00:16:04.669 --> 00:16:07.750 ensuring he became a versatile, undeniable box 00:16:07.750 --> 00:16:10.190 office force. That's right. He proved he could 00:16:10.190 --> 00:16:12.850 hang with established action giants, co -starring 00:16:12.850 --> 00:16:14.830 with Bruce Willis in the massive hit Die Hard 00:16:14.830 --> 00:16:18.899 with a vengeance in 1995. Then he delivered serious, 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:21.659 dramatic acting in A Time to Kill in 96. Which 00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:23.740 got him another Golden Globe nomination. For 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:26.419 his portrayal of an angry father on trial. He 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:29.240 was now bankable across every single genre. And 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:31.519 he continued that key collaboration with Tarantino 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:34.960 in 1997, starring as Ordell Robbie in Jackie 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:37.379 Brown. earning him the Silver Bear for Best Actor 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:39.759 at the Berlin Film Festival. This period just 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:43.000 demonstrated his incredible range, from serious 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:46.700 drama in 187 to genre thrillers like Sphere and 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:49.519 The Negotiator in 98, and ultimately to jumping 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:51.860 into high -concept action with Deep Blue Sea. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:54.759 He was deliberately and successfully positioning 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:57.320 himself to enter the era of the mega -franchise, 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:59.659 which would define his work in the 21st century. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:03.460 The stage is now set for, well... For the franchise 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:06.039 architect, this is the era where Jackson begins 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:08.759 to leverage that undeniable presence to anchor 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:10.980 two of the largest intellectual properties in 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:14.269 human history. Star Wars. And the Marvel Cinematic 00:17:14.269 --> 00:17:16.170 Universe. And this is where that $27 billion 00:17:16.170 --> 00:17:19.049 figure truly finds its explanation. Right. Because 00:17:19.049 --> 00:17:21.170 the transition from, you know, a film star to 00:17:21.170 --> 00:17:23.670 a franchise architect requires an entirely different 00:17:23.670 --> 00:17:26.430 skill set. It's the ability to be instantly memorable 00:17:26.430 --> 00:17:29.190 and authoritative, yet flexible enough to serve 00:17:29.190 --> 00:17:31.369 the narrative goals of a much larger multi -film 00:17:31.369 --> 00:17:34.009 story. And Jackson excelled at this. He did. 00:17:34.230 --> 00:17:36.589 Starting with his introduction to a galaxy far, 00:17:36.710 --> 00:17:40.140 far away. His role as Mace Windu in the Star 00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:42.380 Wars prequel trilogy, beginning with The Phantom 00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:45.839 Menace in 1999, is a perfect example of his star 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.299 power being integrated into a legacy system. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.980 And the anecdote about his willingness to just 00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:54.299 jump in is fantastic. It is. He admitted he was 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:57.019 so eager to be part of the saga that he accepted 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:59.400 the role before he even read the script, simply 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:01.259 wanting to be able to say he was in Star Wars. 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:04.900 That kind of enthusiasm is infectious and Clearly 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:07.160 commercially valuable. And his character grew 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:10.019 in importance through the prequel trilogy. But 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:12.500 he provided this unique piece of visual branding 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:15.019 to the lore that remains a fan favorite today. 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:17.279 The purple lightsaber. The purple lightsaber. 00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:20.440 Jackson himself suggested the purple color specifically 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:22.740 so that his character would stand out in a crowded 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:25.349 battle scene. He wasn't just taking the role. 00:18:25.529 --> 00:18:28.630 He was actively managing his own visibility within 00:18:28.630 --> 00:18:30.910 the most visually chaotic scenes of the trilogy. 00:18:31.150 --> 00:18:33.269 And it worked beautifully. He's instantly recognizable 00:18:33.269 --> 00:18:36.250 in every ensemble shot. And that role proved 00:18:36.250 --> 00:18:38.910 enduring, with archival footage from Revenge 00:18:38.910 --> 00:18:40.990 of the Sith later being integrated into the animated 00:18:40.990 --> 00:18:44.970 series Star Wars, The Clone Wars in 2020. But 00:18:44.970 --> 00:18:47.630 even this massive role was merely a prelude to 00:18:47.630 --> 00:18:50.940 his ultimate institutional dominance. the Marvel 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:53.319 Cinematic Universe. And the origin of his role 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:56.480 as Nick Fury is maybe the greatest piece of business 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.339 acumen in his entire career. And it was driven 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:01.680 entirely by his hobby. It's still unbelievable 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:03.960 that the character was designed after him without 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:07.019 his consent first. It's crazy. It's absolutely 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:09.920 correct. Around 2002, when Marvel Comics decided 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:12.400 to update their line for New Generation in the 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:15.000 Ultimate Universe, they redesigned the character 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:18.079 of Nick Fury using Jackson's exact physical likeness. 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:20.140 And Jackson, who is an active comic book reader 00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:23.119 saw this he saw it recognized his own image and 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:25.559 had his agents contact the publisher so he essentially 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:27.779 called them out for stealing his likeness not 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:31.339 aggressively yeah but assertively they made amends 00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:34.059 by promising to cast him in any future live action 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:36.660 adaptations of the character this promise wasn't 00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:39.039 just kept it became the connective tissue for 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.940 the most successful film franchise in history 00:19:41.309 --> 00:19:44.089 That initial debut cameo in the post -credits 00:19:44.089 --> 00:19:46.769 scene of Iron Man in 2008, I mean, that essentially 00:19:46.769 --> 00:19:49.150 launched the entire shared universe concept. 00:19:49.410 --> 00:19:51.789 It did, and it led to one -of -a -kind contract 00:19:51.789 --> 00:19:55.730 in Hollywood history. In 2009, he signed a massive 00:19:55.730 --> 00:19:58.650 nine -picture deal with Marvel Studios. This 00:19:58.650 --> 00:20:00.970 contract locked him in as the foundational figure, 00:20:01.150 --> 00:20:04.130 guaranteeing his presence and volume across multiple 00:20:04.130 --> 00:20:06.960 phases of the franchise. He became the steady 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:09.019 hand that shepherded the Avengers into existence. 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:11.460 And he has since been ubiquitous. He's appeared 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:15.259 in 11 MCU films, including Iron Man 2, Captain 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:18.160 America, The First Avenger, The Avengers, Winter 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:22.099 Soldier. Age of Ultron, Infinity War, Endgame, 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:24.119 Captain Marvel, the list goes on. And that doesn't 00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:26.380 even count as television work. Right. He's reprised 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:28.660 Nick Fury across all mediums in the Disney Plus 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:30.720 series, Secret Invasion, the animated series 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:33.039 What Is, and guest starring in Agents of S .H 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:39.339 .I .E .L .D. Yeah. He is literally... And here's 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:41.099 where we have to connect back to his early days. 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:43.799 It strikes you, doesn't it? Given the anti -establishment 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:45.819 nature of his youth, the felony conviction, the 00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:48.369 radical commitment, the FBI warning. That his 00:20:48.369 --> 00:20:50.650 most enduring and lucrative character is Nick 00:20:50.650 --> 00:20:53.950 Fury, the ultimate corporate military man commanding 00:20:53.950 --> 00:20:56.990 the massive institutional power of SAJELD. It 00:20:56.990 --> 00:20:59.069 raises a profound question about assimilation 00:20:59.069 --> 00:21:01.950 versus adaptation, doesn't it? The young Samuel 00:21:01.950 --> 00:21:05.430 Jackson risked prison time to overthrow institutions 00:21:05.430 --> 00:21:09.759 he saw as corrupt or unjust. The mature Samuel 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:12.640 L. Jackson became the face of the ultimate, powerful, 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:15.619 yet secretive global institution. The contrast 00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:18.619 between the radical activist and the consummate 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:22.059 organizational man is just astounding. It suggests 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:24.460 that his genius lies not only in his performance, 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:27.400 but in his ability to pivot and master the systems 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:29.880 he once opposed, using that corporate infrastructure 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:32.359 to achieve unprecedented financial and cultural 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:35.069 freedom. And that adaptation extended beyond 00:21:35.069 --> 00:21:37.150 the Marvel and Star Wars giants. He anchored 00:21:37.150 --> 00:21:39.650 several other successful blockbusters and franchises, 00:21:39.829 --> 00:21:42.410 demonstrating his consistent appeal. We can't 00:21:42.410 --> 00:21:44.509 forget his acclaimed voice work as Lucius Best 00:21:44.509 --> 00:21:47.009 or Frozone in Pixar's The Incredibles films. 00:21:47.150 --> 00:21:49.150 Which earned him an Annie Award nomination and 00:21:49.150 --> 00:21:51.650 showcased his ability to lead an animated blockbuster. 00:21:51.849 --> 00:21:55.450 He also starred in XXX in 2002. Then there's 00:21:55.450 --> 00:21:58.349 the famous Snakes on a Plane in 2006, a role 00:21:58.349 --> 00:22:00.950 he explicitly stated he took solely based on 00:22:00.950 --> 00:22:03.099 the title. Which is peep star power, isn't it? 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:05.619 Taking a film, not for the script's nuance, but 00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:08.059 because the concept is so catchy, he knew it 00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:10.599 would be a cultural moment. Exactly. He continued 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:12.859 that action persona in Kingsman, The Secret Service 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:16.410 in 2014, and the monster movie Kong. Skull Island 00:22:16.410 --> 00:22:19.230 in 2017. And we also see his deliberate effort 00:22:19.230 --> 00:22:22.650 to revisit and control his older, unique characters. 00:22:22.849 --> 00:22:25.450 He became dominant in sequel and reboot architecture. 00:22:25.750 --> 00:22:29.049 For sure. He reprised his complex, criminally 00:22:29.049 --> 00:22:32.269 brilliant role as Mr. Glass in M. Night Shyamalan's 00:22:32.269 --> 00:22:36.089 Glass in 2019, a sequel to Unbreakable. And he 00:22:36.089 --> 00:22:37.990 returned to the title role in Shapped the same 00:22:37.990 --> 00:22:41.210 year, a reboot sequel to his own 2000 film. His 00:22:41.210 --> 00:22:43.700 career is a conscious feedback loop. He creates 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:45.759 the character and then he returns to monetize 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:47.500 and control the intellectual property he helped 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:50.019 establish. That phenomenal commercial success 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:52.400 is clearly driven by his prolific volume, but 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:55.299 the cultural icon status that's tied to his unique 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:57.799 persona extending far beyond live action films. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.940 It really is. And we should delve into that. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:03.220 His multi -medium career, his off -screen persona, 00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:06.660 his voice, his quirks, his causes. Yeah, let's 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:09.099 explore that. His versatility in utilizing his 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:11.359 distinctive voice is a career unto itself, right? 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:14.420 He crossed over into anime, voicing the title 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:17.259 character in Afro Samurai. And Jin Rummy in the 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:20.119 animated series The Boondocks. And that deep, 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:22.500 authoritative voice, which is capable of both, 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:24.920 you know, righteous indignation and quiet intensity, 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:27.559 also made him perfect for roles that were far 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:29.519 less heroic than The Avengers. He used the voice 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:31.700 of the main antagonist, the corrupt police officer 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:34.859 Frank Tempeny, in the hugely popular video game 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:38.150 Grand Theft Auto, San Andreas in 2004. Which 00:23:38.150 --> 00:23:40.349 shows his willingness to embrace roles across 00:23:40.349 --> 00:23:42.970 the moral spectrum. He's using his voice to lend 00:23:42.970 --> 00:23:45.470 weight to villainy just as easily as heroism. 00:23:45.650 --> 00:23:48.309 And he also utilized that voice for incredibly 00:23:48.309 --> 00:23:51.809 important documentary work, narrating the acclaimed 00:23:51.809 --> 00:23:55.410 2016 documentary I Am Not Your Negro, which explored 00:23:55.410 --> 00:23:58.009 the powerful, difficult writings of James Baldwin. 00:23:58.380 --> 00:24:00.299 And then there's the ultimate gig in narration, 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:03.279 a role that almost seems designed to create a 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:06.339 cultural paradox, the voice of God. That's right. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:09.240 In 2006, he provided the voice of God for the 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:11.220 Bible experience, the New Testament audiobook, 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:14.460 and the thinking behind that casting choice. 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:17.160 The producers chose him specifically for his 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:19.980 deep, authoritative voice. And if we connect 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:22.279 this to the bigger picture, it just underscores 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:25.140 the duality of his vocal brand. the man whose 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:27.519 public mythology is tied to the use of motherfucker 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:30.299 as a coping mechanism. It's simultaneously deemed 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:32.619 the perfect vocal vehicle to deliver the sacred, 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:35.480 authoritative word of God. It highlights the 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:37.920 universality of his gravitas. It really does. 00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:40.160 And of course, that ultimate intersection of 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:42.200 his voice, his public persona, and his notorious 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:45.009 vocabulary. came with those satirical audiobooks. 00:24:45.009 --> 00:24:47.250 Turning a simple reading into a cultural branding 00:24:47.250 --> 00:24:50.029 moment. He recorded the immensely popular audible 00:24:50.029 --> 00:24:53.230 .com audiobook of Go the Fuck to Sleep in 2011. 00:24:53.549 --> 00:24:55.849 And this was a massive commercial success that 00:24:55.849 --> 00:24:57.730 demonstrated the power of the Jackson brand. 00:24:57.930 --> 00:24:59.990 The authoritative presence delivering a highly 00:24:59.990 --> 00:25:02.450 relatable, profane, and hilarious parental plea. 00:25:02.890 --> 00:25:05.089 And he leveraged that brand again during the 00:25:05.089 --> 00:25:07.910 COVID -19 pandemic, didn't he? Reading the satirical 00:25:07.910 --> 00:25:10.589 book Stay the Fuck at Home on Jimmy Kimmel Live 00:25:10.589 --> 00:25:14.210 to promote social distancing. It perfectly illustrates 00:25:14.210 --> 00:25:18.130 his ability to utilize his unique cultural identity 00:25:18.130 --> 00:25:21.509 and his commanding voice for both humor and critical 00:25:21.509 --> 00:25:23.450 public service messaging. Okay, shifting gears 00:25:23.450 --> 00:25:26.170 now to his personal style. He has a very distinct 00:25:26.170 --> 00:25:29.269 public look. The Kangol hat. The Kangol hat has 00:25:29.269 --> 00:25:32.089 become his signature accessory, but the choice 00:25:32.089 --> 00:25:34.089 to shave his head is also part of that branding. 00:25:34.410 --> 00:25:37.490 What was the genesis of the bald look? It was 00:25:37.490 --> 00:25:39.750 practical, really. He started losing his hair, 00:25:39.789 --> 00:25:41.930 and at the time, thick hair was the fashion standard. 00:25:42.130 --> 00:25:44.269 He felt he couldn't face trying to achieve a 00:25:44.269 --> 00:25:46.329 comb -over look, so he just embraced the shaved 00:25:46.329 --> 00:25:49.089 head. And it worked. It did. He often wears intricate 00:25:49.089 --> 00:25:51.849 wigs for his rolls, but he noted that the only 00:25:51.849 --> 00:25:53.869 way he would have time to grow his hair back 00:25:53.869 --> 00:25:57.059 is if he stopped working. which, given the $27 00:25:57.059 --> 00:26:00.299 billion gross, seems unlikely. He had his first 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:03.220 bald role in the great white hype in 1996 and 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:05.400 just hasn't looked back. Speaking of downtime, 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:08.400 his avidity for golf is legendary, and it's a 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:10.920 non -negotiable part of his working life. Golf 00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:14.019 is a core element of his routine, so much so 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:16.799 that he includes a contractual clause in his 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:19.220 film agreements that specifically allows him 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:21.759 to play golf during film shoots. Which is a rare 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:23.940 display of power and boundary setting in Hollywood. 00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:27.259 It is. He's also a keen sports fan. He supports 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:29.880 the Toronto Raptors, the Atlanta Falcons. He 00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:31.720 even appeared in a Falcons Rise Up commercial. 00:26:32.329 --> 00:26:34.609 And surprisingly, he developed a soft spot for 00:26:34.609 --> 00:26:37.470 the English football team Liverpool FC after 00:26:37.470 --> 00:26:40.390 shooting the 51st State there and even the Irish 00:26:40.390 --> 00:26:43.230 football club Bohemian FC. And I appreciate the 00:26:43.230 --> 00:26:46.289 full circle nature of his hobby of collecting 00:26:46.289 --> 00:26:49.289 the action figures of the characters he portrays. 00:26:49.329 --> 00:26:52.630 Jules Winfield, Shaft, Mace Windu, Frozone. It's 00:26:52.630 --> 00:26:54.690 the ultimate meta collecting hobby, isn't it? 00:26:54.750 --> 00:26:56.710 It connects back to that original impetus for 00:26:56.710 --> 00:27:00.339 acting. the need to pretend to be other people 00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:02.299 to overcome the stutter. Now, he gets to literally 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:04.460 collect the physical representations of those 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:07.059 successful identities. Let's discuss his activism 00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:09.200 and political stances, which have often been 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:12.539 controversial and very public. And as always, 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:15.160 we need to report these impartially, just conveying 00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:17.279 the information provided in the sources. Right. 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:19.839 So Jackson was a highly visible campaigner for 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:23.279 Barack Obama in the 2008 primaries. And he made 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:26.220 a memorable and brutally honest comment regarding 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:28.779 his motivation for voting. He stated directly, 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:32.039 I voted for Barack because he was black. That's 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.960 why other folks vote for other people, because 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:36.640 they look like them. He framed this choice as 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:38.480 a recognition of the reality of the American 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:41.539 dream, a concept he felt was a lie when he was 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:44.039 growing up in the segregated South. And his comments 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:46.759 have sometimes drawn significant fire, particularly 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:49.359 concerning conservative political figures. In 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:52.140 2012, while discussing his role in Django Unchained, 00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:54.380 where he plays a deeply villainous house slave 00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:57.880 who collaborates with his white oppressors, Jackson 00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:59.960 controversially compared the character's mindset 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:03.619 to conservative justice Clarence Thomas. He stated 00:28:03.619 --> 00:28:06.259 the character had the same moral compass as Clarence 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:09.519 Thomas does. He later continued this criticism 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:12.099 in 2022 following the Supreme Court's decision 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:14.559 to overturn Roe v. Wade, referring to Thomas 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:17.619 publicly as Uncle Clarence. And our role here 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:20.240 is simply to report these highly visible and 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:23.240 politically charged comments impartially. understanding 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:25.400 they are part of his enduring public persona. 00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:27.980 Right. And despite the often confrontational 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:30.480 nature of his political remarks, he is highly 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:33.059 dedicated to charitable causes focusing on health 00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:35.940 and education. He launched One for the Boys to 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:39.500 raise awareness about testicular cancer. In 2009, 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:41.839 he and his wife started a charity focused on 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:44.680 educational initiatives. And he also threw his 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:46.859 significant public weight behind public service 00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:49.220 announcements during the pandemic. He was very 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:52.390 vocal. encouraging mask wearing as part of California's 00:28:52.390 --> 00:28:55.170 Your Action Save Lives campaign, and urging recovered 00:28:55.170 --> 00:28:57.829 patients to donate blood plasma to help those 00:28:57.829 --> 00:29:00.150 still fighting the virus. He's always willing 00:29:00.150 --> 00:29:01.990 to lend his authority to public health matters. 00:29:02.190 --> 00:29:03.829 And before we move on, we have to mention the 00:29:03.829 --> 00:29:06.589 beautiful detail of his global citizenship acquisition. 00:29:07.049 --> 00:29:09.130 It's a compelling bookend to his origin story, 00:29:09.309 --> 00:29:12.029 isn't it? Following DNA tests that linked him 00:29:12.029 --> 00:29:14.430 partially to the Benga people, Jackson became 00:29:14.430 --> 00:29:17.880 a naturalized citizen of Gabon in 2019. It's 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:20.099 the activist and actor who started life fighting 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:23.339 segregation in America, formally reclaiming a 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:25.460 part of his ancestral identity on the African 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:28.359 continent. It's really powerful. It is. And finally, 00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:30.579 we can look at his remarkable theatrical comeback 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:33.599 and the robust future slate of projects he has 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:36.200 lined up. It proves that even after grossing 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:39.799 $27 billion, the work ethic and the passion for 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:42.650 the craft remain absolutely central. His return 00:29:42.650 --> 00:29:45.930 to the stage in 2022 is perhaps the most redemptive 00:29:45.930 --> 00:29:49.150 narrative arc of his entire career. After an 00:29:49.150 --> 00:29:51.529 11 -year absence from Broadway, he returned to 00:29:51.529 --> 00:29:53.890 star in the revival of August Wilson's The Piano 00:29:53.890 --> 00:29:56.049 Lesson. And this circles back perfectly to the 00:29:56.049 --> 00:29:58.029 lowest point of his career we talked about earlier. 00:29:58.210 --> 00:30:00.569 He missed the original Broadway transfer of this 00:30:00.569 --> 00:30:03.029 exact play decades earlier because of his severe 00:30:03.029 --> 00:30:05.329 struggles with addiction. So to return to it, 00:30:05.369 --> 00:30:08.430 sober and celebrated. It offers incredible symmetry, 00:30:08.609 --> 00:30:10.950 and the production was a deeply personal family 00:30:10.950 --> 00:30:14.200 affair. It was. He played the role of Doker Charles, 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.160 a different role than the one he originated at 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:18.039 Yale Rep, and the production was directed by 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:20.880 his wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson. And the 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.880 performance earned him a Tony Award nomination 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:26.140 for Best Featured Actor in a Play. This represents 00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:28.960 such a powerful, emotional, full -circle moment. 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:32.259 He's reclaiming the stage and his artistic legacy 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:34.700 with his family right there with him. It just 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:36.500 demonstrates that even the financial security 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:39.299 of being the highest grossing actor, it can't 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:41.880 replace the unique validation and artistic challenge 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:45.099 of live theater. Not at all. And his future slate 00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:48.339 looks diverse and ambitious. It's spanning film, 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:50.920 streaming, and potentially more producing work. 00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:53.619 So what's on the docket? Well, he is producing 00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:55.960 a live action film adaptation of the anime series 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:59.119 he voiced, Afro Samurai. He's also set to play 00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:01.240 the character Shonuf in a remake of The Last 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:04.160 Dragon. So these are significant genre throwbacks 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:06.579 and new intellectual property developments he's 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:08.539 guiding himself. Right. And he's not limiting 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:11.240 himself to franchise reprisal. He's set to star 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:13.339 in the Western The Unholy Trinity with Pierce 00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:16.529 Brosnan and the prison drama Last Meals. So he's 00:31:16.529 --> 00:31:19.490 still dedicated to serious, non -franchise dramatic 00:31:19.490 --> 00:31:23.210 work. Absolutely. And in a major streaming commitment, 00:31:23.490 --> 00:31:26.130 he's slated to star in the Paramount Plus spinoff 00:31:26.130 --> 00:31:29.349 series, Nola King, set in New Orleans and related 00:31:29.349 --> 00:31:31.849 to the Tulsa King universe. His character will 00:31:31.849 --> 00:31:33.690 be introduced during the original show's third 00:31:33.690 --> 00:31:36.450 season, setting up another major recurring role. 00:31:36.609 --> 00:31:39.789 So his strategy remains clear. Him maintain high 00:31:39.789 --> 00:31:42.769 volume and high profile across all platforms, 00:31:42.869 --> 00:31:45.390 from stage to streaming to the silver screen, 00:31:45.609 --> 00:31:48.809 ensuring that $27 billion figure just continues 00:31:48.809 --> 00:31:51.569 to climb. So what does this all mean in the end? 00:31:51.650 --> 00:31:54.450 We've traced a remarkable, truly improbable journey. 00:31:54.609 --> 00:31:56.890 I mean, from a childhood stutter overcome by 00:31:56.890 --> 00:31:58.710 the necessity of performance. Through intense 00:31:58.710 --> 00:32:01.109 student activism that resulted in a felony conviction 00:32:01.109 --> 00:32:04.099 and an FBI warning. Battling and ultimately defeating 00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:06.039 severe addiction while working as a security 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:08.200 guard. To becoming the highest grossing actor 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:10.750 in the world. anchoring global franchises like 00:32:10.750 --> 00:32:13.230 Star Wars and the MCU. The architecture of his 00:32:13.230 --> 00:32:15.849 success isn't just about the sheer volume of 00:32:15.849 --> 00:32:18.890 his 152 films. It's defined by his conscious 00:32:18.890 --> 00:32:21.529 decision -making, choosing roles he finds exciting 00:32:21.529 --> 00:32:24.430 to watch and characters with complexity. That 00:32:24.430 --> 00:32:26.910 drive, you know, rooted in his childhood need 00:32:26.910 --> 00:32:29.349 to pretend to be other people to overcome his 00:32:29.349 --> 00:32:31.930 stutter. It defines his magnetic presence and 00:32:31.930 --> 00:32:34.470 his longevity. He took those early coping mechanisms 00:32:34.470 --> 00:32:37.049 of self -reinvention and just perfected them 00:32:37.049 --> 00:32:40.210 into a highly bankable. craft. His career is 00:32:40.210 --> 00:32:43.130 a masterclass in perseverance, in capitalizing 00:32:43.130 --> 00:32:45.549 on second chances and adapting his core strengths, 00:32:45.890 --> 00:32:48.509 that powerful, distinctive voice and that magnetic 00:32:48.509 --> 00:32:52.089 authority. to every conceivable medium the modern 00:32:52.089 --> 00:32:54.450 entertainment industry has to offer. It truly 00:32:54.450 --> 00:32:56.609 makes you reflect on the sheer dedication and 00:32:56.609 --> 00:32:58.910 determination required to transition from a student 00:32:58.910 --> 00:33:01.289 convicted of a felony who struggled with addiction 00:33:01.289 --> 00:33:03.089 and missed his big breaks in the New York theater 00:33:03.089 --> 00:33:06.230 scene to a global Hollywood icon honored by the 00:33:06.230 --> 00:33:08.390 Academy. And that leads us back to our final 00:33:08.390 --> 00:33:10.490 provocative question for you, the listener, to 00:33:10.490 --> 00:33:12.950 consider. Yeah. Given his early history as a 00:33:12.950 --> 00:33:15.910 radical anti -establishment activist who risked 00:33:15.910 --> 00:33:18.589 prison time for social reform. Does his decision 00:33:18.589 --> 00:33:21.450 to anchor high volume mainstream institutional 00:33:21.450 --> 00:33:25.690 roles like Nick Fury commanding SHIELD or Mace 00:33:25.690 --> 00:33:28.369 Windu fighting for the Republic, does that represent 00:33:28.369 --> 00:33:30.839 an integration of his identity? where he chose 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:33.380 to master and utilize the very corporate power 00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:36.440 he once opposed? Or was it simply a calculated, 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:39.059 necessary move toward financial and cultural 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:41.599 freedom that effectively transcended his radical 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:44.559 past? The answer is likely as complex and layered 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:46.660 as the man who delivered it. That's been the 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:49.019 deep dive into the colossal career of Samuel 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:50.279 L. Jackson. We'll see you next time.