15 Things You Didn't Know About Samuel L. Jackson

It's Samuel L. Jackson like you've never known him before!

15 Things You Didn't Know About Samuel L. Jackson - We know him as the stentorian voice for many memorable characters on the big screen, but here are a few things we don't know about him.   (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

1 / 15

15 Things You Didn't Know About Samuel L. Jackson - We know him as the stentorian voice for many memorable characters on the big screen, but here are a few things we don't know about him. (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Not-So City Boy - Born in Washington, D.C., the actor grew up an only child in Chattanooga, Tenn., and was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents. Jackson only met his father, who died from alcoholism, twice during his life.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

2 / 15

Not-So City Boy - Born in Washington, D.C., the actor grew up an only child in Chattanooga, Tenn., and was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents. Jackson only met his father, who died from alcoholism, twice during his life. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Amongst Great Men - In the picture you see him greeting President Obama, but he's always been tied to great leaders. At 19, Jackson attended Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral in Atlanta as an usher.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for USC Shoah Foundation)

3 / 15

Amongst Great Men - In the picture you see him greeting President Obama, but he's always been tied to great leaders. At 19, Jackson attended Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral in Atlanta as an usher. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for USC Shoah Foundation)

Stone Cold - He's a winter baby, born on December 21, 1948.(Photo: Pool/Getty Images)

4 / 15

Stone Cold - He's a winter baby, born on December 21, 1948.(Photo: Pool/Getty Images)

Somewhat of a Purist - He's a vegetarian. (Photo: Nathaniel Chadwick/NBC)

5 / 15

Somewhat of a Purist - He's a vegetarian. (Photo: Nathaniel Chadwick/NBC)

Photo By Photo: Nathaniel Chadwick/NBC

ADVERTISEMENT
Samuel L. Jackson's Favorite Things - He's such an avid golfer that there's a clause in his contracts that permits him to easily access golf courses no matter the film shoot's location.   (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for George Lopez)

6 / 15

Samuel L. Jackson's Favorite Things - He's such an avid golfer that there's a clause in his contracts that permits him to easily access golf courses no matter the film shoot's location. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for George Lopez)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for George Lopez

Facts Only - He received an Academy Award nomination for his breakout role in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.   (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

7 / 15

Facts Only - He received an Academy Award nomination for his breakout role in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Major Pull - Jackson asked George Lucas to change Mace Windu's lightsaber so it would be purple in the Star Wars films.   (Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images for Xbox)

8 / 15

Major Pull - Jackson asked George Lucas to change Mace Windu's lightsaber so it would be purple in the Star Wars films. (Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images for Xbox)

Photo By Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images for Xbox

Born Leader - In 1969, the actor protested during his junior year at Morehouse College for the lack of black representation on the school's Board of Trustrees. He was expelled. Three years later, he returned after finding his love for acting while watching the Negro Ensemble Company perform and received his degree in acting from the prestigious HBCU. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Help Haiti) 

9 / 15

Born Leader - In 1969, the actor protested during his junior year at Morehouse College for the lack of black representation on the school's Board of Trustrees. He was expelled. Three years later, he returned after finding his love for acting while watching the Negro Ensemble Company perform and received his degree in acting from the prestigious HBCU. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Help Haiti) 

Best Joke - Jackson studied to become a marine biologist as well as an architect in college.  (Photo: Nathaniel Chadwick/NBC)

10 / 15

Best Joke - Jackson studied to become a marine biologist as well as an architect in college. (Photo: Nathaniel Chadwick/NBC)

Photo By Photo: Nathaniel Chadwick/NBC

ADVERTISEMENT
True Star - The actor's movies have made more money than any other actor's in Hollywood actor — exceeding $7 billion worldwide. Imagine the residuals!  (Photo: Online USA/Getty Images)

11 / 15

True Star - The actor's movies have made more money than any other actor's in Hollywood actor — exceeding $7 billion worldwide. Imagine the residuals! (Photo: Online USA/Getty Images)

Photo By Getty Images

Music Man - He played the french horn and trumpet in his school's symphony orchestra from elementary through high school. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) 

12 / 15

Music Man - He played the french horn and trumpet in his school's symphony orchestra from elementary through high school. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) 

Photo By Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

When Two Actors Come Together - He's married to Fighting Temptations actress LaTanya Richardson.  (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Disney)

13 / 15

When Two Actors Come Together - He's married to Fighting Temptations actress LaTanya Richardson. (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Disney)

Photo By Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Disney

Must Be the Money - For three years, Jackson worked as a camera stand-in for Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show.   (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images) 

14 / 15

Must Be the Money - For three years, Jackson worked as a camera stand-in for Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images) 

The Ultimate Character - Jackson's a huge fan of graphic novels, having read Locke & Key and Scalped, just to name a few.  (Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

15 / 15

The Ultimate Character - Jackson's a huge fan of graphic novels, having read Locke & Key and Scalped, just to name a few. (Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)