In a new interview AAPSamuel L. Jackson has been open about how his sobriety has directly impacted his career success.
Jackson was a member of Spike Lee's band in the mid-90s Forest Fire and Quentin Tarantino pulp FictionHe struggled with an unfulfilling career in the theatre, which led him into a debilitating addiction.
Jackson is currently promoting his role in the Netflix series Piano LessonIt's an adaptation of the August Wilson play, which Jackson returned to throughout his career. After taking on the role of a teenager in college (played by John David Washington in the film), he took on the role of the patriarchal Doaker Charles in the 2022 Broadway revival, reprising the role in the film. Interestingly, the show played a major role in Jackson's decision to get sober.
“I was tired. I was lashed out,” Jackson admitted, “because it was my first time on stage. Piano Lesson“In 1990. I was Charles Dutton's stunt double. I had to go to work every night and listen to him do the part that I did at the Yale Repertory Theater in 1987, and it drove me crazy.”
At the time, Jackson appeared in minor roles. Coming to America And Good friendsbut he was far from the recognizable name or face he is now. In the late '80s and early '90s, Jackson overdosed on heroin several times. He eventually quit heroin but began using cocaine instead.
“I don’t know anything about deciding to get sober because I was trying to get high,” the actor admitted. “My wife and daughter found me lying on the floor,” he recalled of his final overdose. “My best friend in high school was a drug counselor, and my wife called her, and I was in rehab the next day. I didn’t go to bed kicking and screaming because I was tired.”
Jackson reported that staying sober led to “very tangible life changes” both personally and professionally. He starred as crack cocaine addict Gator in Jungle Fever and received more offers. “I played Gator, and then Whoopi Goldberg convinced these people to create this award at the Cannes Film Festival — best supporting actor — for his performance,” he marveled.
“I got another call to come to Hollywood and meet Harrison Ford and see if he was a good guy, and I did. Patriot Games and then I got a three-picture deal,” Jackson continued. “And then pulp Fiction. So when I got clean, my life changed dramatically.”
Despite his continued success more than 30 years later, Jackson was never tempted to give up his sobriety. “My thought was, if I just did drugs and alcohol, all of that would go away,” he said. “Because that's what kept me from coming here in the first place… That's why I pray every day — I roll out of bed and before I do anything else, I get down on my knees and say, 'God, keep the urge to drink and drugs away from me today.' That's all I have to say about that.”
Piano Lesson It will be released on Netflix on November 8. Jackson also stars in: Fight Night: Million Dollar HeistCurrently streaming on Peacock.