Samuel Leroy Jackson, widely globally recognized, appeared in numerous films that have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, naming him the highest-grossing actor of all time. Born on December 21, 1948, Jackson's breakthrough achievement was in 2022 when he received the Academy Honorary Award as "a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres, generations, and audiences worldwide".

He made his professional theatre debut in 1980 and his breakthrough film role with Spike Lee led him to greater prominence. His intriguing performances in The Star Wars prequel trilogy, Marvel Cinematic Universe films, and others underscore his adaptability and prolonged stardom in the acting industry. Alongside acting, he also contributed his robust voice in Pixar films and several big-budget films. Jackson partially descends from the Benga people of Gabon and became a Gabonese citizen in 2019, after DNA testing. Also known for his extensive voice roles, he rendered his voice in Afro Samurai anime series, video games, music videos, and audiobooks. He's appeared in various awards shows and has hosted shows like MTV Movie Awards, the ESPYs, and the Spike TV Video Game Awards.