Samuel L Jackson

Born: 21st December 1948
Where: Washington, DC

Jackson is one of Hollywood's most in-demand and prolific actors with roles ranging from Mace Windu in the Star Wars series to Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction.

His uncanny knack to pick strong roles in decent films has contributed to his longevity - almost 70 appearances in a 30-year career.

Samuel Leroy Jackson was raised in Tennessee under his grandmother's strict guidance and become involved in the black power movement at college in Atlanta.

In 1969 he protested the absence of blacks on the board of trustees by locking several board members in a building for two days, and was promptly expelled.

After two years as a social worker in LA, Jackson returned to college to pursue acting after being inspired by the Negro Ensemble Company.

Early days with the Black Image Theatre Company touring the country led to a job standing in for Bill Cosby during rehearsals for his show.

He met New York University film student Spike Lee, who expressed his enthusiasm for Jackson's performances and urged him to appear in the films he planned to make.

Early film roles included the "hold up man" in Coming To America and "black guy" in Sea Of Love as well as Stacks Edwards in Goodfellas.

However, it was Lee's Jungle Fever that drew him to the critics' attention (he went on to appear in Lee's School Days, Do the Right Thing, and Mo' Better Blues).

Jackson was an admitted drug user until he completed drug rehab two weeks before playing his role as a drug addict in Jungle Fever, making his performance both a personal and professional success.

Roles followed in Patriot Games, Jurassic Park and True Romance before he received an Oscar nomination for his role in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.

The Oscar nod won him bigger and better roles including parts in Die Hard: With A Vengeance, Eve's Bayou and Jackie Brown.

He starred opposite Kevin Spacey in The Negotiator and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (in 1999 he started a three movie deal as a Jedi in Star Wars: Episode I, II and III).

Jackson took on the role of Shaft made famous by Richard Rowntree and starred in the box office hits Unbreakable and Changing Lanes.

He also travelled to Liverpool to star in the British thriller The 51st State before appearing in the Vin Diesel vehicle xXx.

2002 saw him star in the lacklustre Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and the forgettable John McTiernan thriller Basic.

S.W.A.T. opposite Colin Farrell saw Samuel going through the motions until Quentin Tarantino raised his game for Kill Bill II.

In 2004, he starred in the below-par thriller Twisted opposite Ashley Judd and the voice of Lucius Best aka Frozone in The Incredibles.

Recent work includes the basketball drama Coach Carter and the sequel xXx2: The Next Level opposite Ice Cube.