Samuel L. Jackson is a prominent American film actor. He was born in Washington DC, and grew up as an only child in Tennessee. He was involved in the civil rights movement, and was an usher at the funeral of Martin Luther King. He began his acting career in the 1980s, first appearing on the stage. He became known for his roles on Goodfellas, Jurassic Park, Jungle Fever, and his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino, including the now cult film, Pulp Fiction. In the year 2000, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.