Samuel L. Jackson, 63, has appeared in more than 100 films since starting his career 1972.

Somewhere in between the "Star Wars" franchise, "Snakes on a Plane" and being nominated for an Oscar in 1995 for his role in "Pulp Fiction," Jackson became his own genre—and the highest grossing actor of all time.

Take a look below to see how the kid from Washington D.C. became a box office record-breaker.

Now check out some actresses who weren't as career-savvy >

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