Love and Respect Are at the Center of Samuel L. Jackson and Wife LaTanya's 42-Year Marriage

When Samuel was a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, he met LaTanya, who attended Spelman College, per People. The two began dating in 1970, though the early years of their relationship did consist of them dating other people, according to a cover story of Samuel by The New York Times. "Sam was not part of my circle . . . I was a theater snob; he loved movies," LaTanya told the publication. While they seemingly had different interests, the pair were part of the Morehouse Spelman Players and starred in plays and shows together, which made their relationship stronger.

By 1980, Samuel and LaTanya had been dating for 10 years, and according to The New York Times's cover story, she was ready to marry a smart or rich boy. "I married the smart boy," LaTanya explained. The two wed in August 1980.

The details of the couple's engagement are debated among the two, with Samuel jokingly admitting in various interviews that he doesn't remember the proposal, while LaTanya alleges that her sick grandfather was the one who pushed for the marriage to happen, as he didn't want to die before they tied the knot.

Nonetheless, the wedding was quite the event, which included 23 bridesmaids who doubled as singers and dancers for the ceremony, the "Pulp Fiction" actor shared during an appearance on "The Jennifer Hudson Show" in May 2023.

On March 28, 1982, Samuel and LaTanya welcomed their first and only child, a daughter named Zoe, per Closer Weekly. From her birth throughout her childhood and early adult years, both LaTanya and Samuel prioritized being hands-on parents.

The "Glass" actor told The Irish Examiner in 2011, "My dad was an absentee dad, so it was always important to me that I was part of my daughter's life, and she deserved two parents, which is part of the rationale behind us staying married for 30 years."

Zoe is in the entertainment industry like her famous parents and works as a television producer, with a résumé that includes "Chopped," "Top Chef," "RuPaul's Drag Race," "Project Runway," and "The Bachelorette."

In the early 1990s, Samuel struggled with a drug and alcohol addiction. According to a 2021 cover story by Vanity Fair, the "Do the Right Thing" actor believed he had his addiction under control, as he always arrived on set with his lines memorized and a willingness to work. Navigating work, family life, and his addiction was all a balancing act, however, which toppled in the summer of 1990.

After a night of partying with a friend, Samuel returned home drunk and passed out on the floor with drugs in his hand. The next morning, LaTanya and Zoe discovered an unconscious Samuel on the floor, and she immediately made the decision to enter him into a rehabilitation center in upstate New York. He stayed in rehab for 28 days, and after finishing the program, he began filming Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever," which launched his name into the spotlight.

Touching on the impact of his wife on his recovery, Samuel told People in 2022, "She gave me the chance to be the man I was supposed to be."

Outside of their acting careers, Samuel and LaTanya are dedicated to using their platform to raise awareness for meaningful causes. In 1999, the couple started the Samuel L. and LaTanya R. Jackson Foundation, which has donated to several arts, educational, and health organizations in the United States and Africa over the years, as reported by People. In addition to their philanthropy, the two are also into activism and frequently post about causes like voting rights, civil rights, and more on their social media pages.

Being married for decades is certainly something to celebrate, and in August 2020, Samuel honored his wife on their 40th wedding anniversary. In a sweet Instagram post, the "Django Unchained" actor wrote, "50 years ago we started dancing, it was all fun & games. 40 years ago today, s**t got real! The slow drag of our lives pressed together, I led sometimes, sometimes she did. We finally found that rhythm where there was no leader, we moved as one. We're still glued together, hip to hip, holding each other up, not covering as much of the floor, but owning & loving the space that's ours. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY @ltjackson_ Love 💕 You for keeping me on my toes & on the beat for 18,250 days. You make my soul 🎶 sing‼️Don't change the tune, we're not done dancing🖤🖤🖤🖤💗"

Though it has been nearly three years since the couple celebrated this milestone, they are still going strong!