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Jackson in 2010, image via Miro Vrlik Photography LLC / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Samuel Leroy Jackson
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.
Date of Birth: December 21, 1948
Ethnicity: African-American, small amount of English
Samuel L. Jackson is an American actor and producer. One of the most prolific thespians of his time, his roles include the films School Daze , Coming to America , Do the Right Thing , Mo’ Better Blues , Jungle Fever , Juice (1992), Menace II Society , True Romance , Fresh (1994), Pulp Fiction , Die Hard with a Vengeance , Hard Eight , A Time to Kill , One Eight Seven , Eve’s Bayou , Jackie Brown , Sphere , The Negotiator , The Red Violin , the Star Wars universe, beginning with Episode I – The Phantom Menace ; Deep Blue Sea , the latter-day Shaft films, Unbreakable , xXx , and its sequels; S.W.A.T. (2003), Kill Bill: Volume 2 , The Incredibles , and its sequel; Coach Carter , Snakes on a Plane , Resurrecting the Champ , Jumper , Django Unchained , Oldboy (2013), Kingsman: The Secret Service , Chi-Raq , The Hateful Eight , Kong: Skull Island , Glass , and The Piano Lesson (2024), as well as Nick Fury in the Marvel Universe, particularly the Iron Man and The Avengers films, as well as the series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , What If…? , and Secret Invasion . His films combined have arguably made him the highest-grossing actor of all time. He has also appeared on stage, where he began his career.
Samuel is the son of Elizabeth (Montgomery), a factory worker, and supplies buyer at a mental institution; and Roy Henry Jackson. His parents were both African-American. He was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He participated in the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Samuel is married to actress and producer LaTanya Richardson, with whom he has a daughter, producer Zoe Jackson.
According to a DNA test, he partly descends from the Benga people of Gabon. He has become a Gabonese citizen.
Samuel’s paternal grandfather was Roy Victor Jackson (the son of Albert Jackson and Rosetta Davis). Roy was born in Missouri.
Samuel’s paternal grandmother was Imer/Imellts Lee Watts (the daughter of Henry Jesse Watts and Allie/Ollie Bowen). Imer was born in Alabama.
Samuel’s maternal grandfather was Edgar Montgomery (the son of Miles Montgomery and Lilly/Lillie Branham). Edgar was born in Georgia. Miles was the son of Gibb/Gilbert/Gib Montgomery and Jane Harper. Lilly was the daughter of Arthur Branham and Malissa Fielder.
Samuel’s maternal grandmother was named Pearl Brown (the daughter of John Brown and Mary). Pearl was born in Tennessee.
A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012) stated that Samuel’s genetic ancestry is:
*77% African *21% European *2% Native American
*77% African *21% European *2% Native American
On the show, it was hypothesized that Samuel’s great-great-great-grandmother, Matilda Branham, who was black, had children with Joel Branham, Jr., a caucasian man, with English ancestry. One of these children could have been Samuel’s great-great-grandfather, Arthur Branham.
Genetically, he was found to have a common ancestor with actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph .
Sources: Notes on Samuel’s father’s family – http://lineages.insimple.com http://lineages.insimple.com
Genealogies of Samuel L. Jackson – https://www.geni.com https://www.wikitree.com
Samuel’s maternal grandfather, Edgar Montgomery, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Samuel’s maternal grandmother, Pearl Brown, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Information on Samuel’s Branham line – http://www.genealogy-research-tools.com