Samuel L. Jackson

Cast member Samuel L. Jackson arrives at the premiere of "Iron Man 2" at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, April 26, 2010.

With more than 100 movies under his belt, Jackson's films have earned almost $10 billion at the box office. "I've been fortunate," he said. "Movies that I'd done have made the kind of money that allows me to continue to work, that people see me as viable as a box office draw to people."

Samuel L. Jackson as the radio DJ Mister Senor Love Daddy in Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" (1989).

Growing up in Chattanooga, Tenn., Jackson attended Morehouse College in Atlanta. He told CBS News' Russ Mitchell he originally wanted to be a marine biologist: "I wanted to be the black Jacques Cousteau. I wanted to hang out in the water and look at fish and figure out a way to feed the world from the ocean."

But he changed course after auditioning for a play his junior year: "The night I showed up, all the girls, they were doing photos," he recalled. "And all the girls were sitting around in corsets and garter belts. Okay," he laughed, "this might be all right! And I got in the play and kind of been doing it ever since."

Samuel L. Jackson as a crack addict and Ruby Dee as his mother in Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever" (1991). Jackson won Best Supporting Actor honors at the Cannes Film Festival and from the New York Film Critics Circle.

The role came after Jackson had overcome his own substance abuse issues. "I was like the life of the party when I was an addict - you know, hung out with people, I made 'em laugh and we got high. So I wanted Gator to be that guy, you know, who could charm his mom. He could charm his brother, and get what he needed and be very manipulative."

Jackson earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor as a hit man in Quentin Tarentino's "Pulp Fiction" (1994). He is pictured with his co-assassin John Travolta.

From "Pulp Fiction":

JULES WINNFIELD (Jackson)
There's a passage I got memorized, seems appropriate for this situation: Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."

Those are the last words Winnfield's prey ever hear.

In the John Grisham thriller "A Time to Kill" (1996), Jackson (pictured with Matthew McConaughey) played a man charged with murdering two men who raped his daughter.

Jackson starred with Robert De Niro in Quentin Tarantino's crime thriller "Jackie Brown" (1997).

Samuel L. Jackson and Pam Grier in "Jackie Brown" (1997).

In the big-screen version of the 1970s police drama "S.W.A.T." (2003), Jackson led his Special Weapons and Tactics team to prevent a drug kingpin from escaping justice.

In 2005's "XXX: State of the Union," Jackson played Agent Augustus Eugene Gibbons, part of the elite program that must prevent the violent overthrow of the government of the United States.

Jackson is engaged in a tense hostage situation in the thriller "The Negotiator" (1998).

Actors Samuel L. Jackson and Holly Hunter arrive for the premiere of their film, the Disney/Pixar animation "The Incredibles," Nov. 7 2004, in central London. Hunter lends her voice to ultra-flexible Elastigirl and Jackson to the ice cool superhero Frozone.

Samuel L. Jackson provided the voice for Frozone in the animated superhero comedy "The Incredibles" (2004).

Actor Samuel L. Jackson talks about "Afro Samurai" during an interview at the Comic-Con 2008 convention Thursday, July 24, 2008 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Jackson starred as Sgt. Nathan West in the mystery "Basic" (2003).

In "Rules of Engagement" (2000), directed by William Friedkin, Jackson played an officer accused in the deaths of civilians in a third-world country.

Samuel L. Jackson played a musical instrument appraiser who comes upon a fabled violin whose secrets he can never hope to uncover, in "The Red Violin."

Jackson, a fan of the three original "Star Wars" movies, lobbied director George Lucas for a role

American director George Lucas, American actress Natalie Portman, American actor Samuel L. Jackson, and actor Anthony Daniels, from top to bottom, arrive for the screening of George Lucas' new film "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith", shown out of competition at the 58th international Cannes film festival, southern France, Sunday, May 15, 2005.

Jackson as Jedi knight Mace Windu in the third "Star Wars" prequel, "Revenge of the Sith" (2005). Here he has a chance to stop the evil Emperor Palpatine and fails - where is Jules Winnfield when you need him?

Jackson played a high school basketball coach in "Coach Carter" (2005).

Jackson played a high school teacher combating violence - his students' and his own - in "One Eight Seven" (1997).

Actor Samuel L. Jackson, left, and Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang arrive for the awards ceremony at the 59th International film festival in Cannes, southern France, on Sunday, May 28, 2006.

Actors Bobby Cannavale (L), Samuel L. Jackson and Annabella Sciorra pose at the after-party for the premiere of New Line's "Snakes on a Plane" at Arclight on August 17, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.

American actor and jury member Samuel L. Jackson, left, arrives with his wife LaTanya Richardson for the screening of the film "Volver," at the 59th International Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on Friday, May 19, 2006.

In the comedy "The Man" (2005), Jackson played a government agent searching for his partner's killer, but a case of mistaken identity leads him to salesman Eugene Levy.

Actor Samuel L. Jackson tees off on the 10th hole during opening day of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic golf tournament at SilverRock Resort in La Quinta, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008.

After 20 years, two estranged singers (Jackson and Bernie Mac) reunite for a concert at the Apollo Theater in the comedy "Soul Men" (2008). Also starring was Sharon Leal.

Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Gabriel Macht, stars of "The Spirit," pose at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008.

The visuals of Frank Miller's "The Spirit" (2008) leaned heavily on the movie's newspaper comic strip inspiration, with Jackson playing The Spirit's arch-nemesis, Octopus.

Jackson is pictured here during green-screen photography of "The Spirit."

Actor Samuel L. Jackson shows his hands after imprinting them in cement during a ceremony at Mann's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles where his footprints were also taken on Monday, Jan. 30, 2006.

Actor Samuel L. Jackson arrives at the 15th annual ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, in Los Angeles.

Actor Samuel L. Jackson, left, hits a boxing dummy as TRL host Damian Fahey watches, during his appearance on MTV's "Total Request Live" Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007 at MTV Times Square studios in New York.

Samuel L. Jackson is pictured on the set of "Black Snake Moan" (2006), with director Craig Brewer.

Actor Samuel L. Jackson arrives at the premiere of Yari Film's "Resurrecting the Champ" at the Academy Theater on August 22, 2007 in Beverly Hills, California.

Jackson played a racist LAPD officer in an antagonistic relationship with the inter-racial couple next door in "Lakeview Terrace" (2008).

Actress Halle Berry kisses actor Samuel L. Jackson after she was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 3, 2007.

The French title for "The Other Guys" - "Very Bad Cops" - was so much more appropriate for this comedy of two pairs of law enforcement officers. Jackson belonged the pair that knew what they were doing.

Jackson starred with Naomi Watts in "Mother and Child" (2008).

Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson, cast members of "Mother and Child," pose together at the premiere of the film at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Monday, Jan. 25, 2010.

Samuel L. Jackson smiles during a meeting with journalism students in Bondy, outside Paris, Tuesday, April 13, 2010. Jackson met with students at the school following an invitation from the U.S. Ambassador in France.

Jackson appeared as Col. Nick Fury in "Iron Man 2" (opposite Robert Downey Jr.), as the lead agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Samuel L. Jackson, right, welcomes Robert Downey Jr. onto the stage during a panel for the movie "The Avengers," at Comic-Con 2010 Saturday, July 24, 2010 in San Diego.

Eli Roth, Samuel L. Jackson, Quentin Tarantino — AP

Eli Roth ("Inglorious Basterds") and "Roastmaster" Samuel L. Jackson helped fete writer-director Quentin Tarantino at the director, writer, producer and actor Quentin Tarantino at the 2010 Friars Club Roast, December 1, 2010.

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in the upcoming Marvel Comics action film, “The Avengers.”