Married for over four decades, Samuel Jackson and his wife La Tanya Jackson share one of the longest-lasting celebrity marriages, making their love story worth exploring.
Celebrity couple Samuel L. Jackson and his wife La Tanya Richardson have stuck by each other through thick and thin since walking down the aisle. The pair have been together for decades, all the while, celebrating their long-lived union.
The twosome has been open about how they managed to sustain their love for so long. In one interview, La Tanya admitted staying together amid various marital challenges and scandals required more than just love.
According to her, they have stayed through to each other thanks to a pact they made to stay together through thick and thin. She divulged:
“In the beginning, we always said the most revolutionary thing that black people could do was stay together, raise their children with the nucleus of having a father and a mother, since everybody likes to pretend that that’s not the dynamic of the African-American family.”
The couple resolved to change the narrative, and give their own kids a complete family by staying together at all costs. The strength of their resolve has been tested over the years. Each time, the two emerge stronger, growing their love even deeper.
How Has That Worked Out For Samuel Jackson And His Wife?
So far, Samuel L Jackson and La Tanya Richardson have aced their marriage and parenting game, against all the odds. The pair tied the knot in the eighties, and have been together for over four decades.
Their love story kicked off ten years before their marriage. Yet, the twosome still appears as in love as ever. The couple celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary in August 2022, making many marvel at their union.
The actor has credited his wife with “giving him a reason” to get up when dealing with life’s challenges. Singing odes to his wife on their anniversary in 2020, the actor thanked her for not only helping him get up but also for keeping him on his toes throughout their relationship.
A Look At Their Love Story
Samuel L. Johnson met his future wife back in high school. At the time, the actor attended Morehouse College, an all-boys school in Atlanta, Georgia and decided to join the cheerleading squad as a last resort to meet girls.
His decision paid off, as the group included ladies from a nearby all-girls school, called Spellman College, which La Tanya attended. Thus, their paths crossed, and soon enough, the duo began dating.
Samuel’s wife once admitted she almost didn’t beckme his partner, as he loved movies while she deemed herself a theatre snub. But as fate would have it, their passion soon aligned thanks to their shared interests in their schools’ theatre program.
The couple went on to pursue acting careers before relocating to New York to seek career fulfillment. Shortly after moving to New York, the two commenced plans to get married.
While Samuel L Jackson had no recollection of ever proposing, his wife had some funny details to share about their engagement. According to the actress, her grandfather was on the verge of passing on and had one last wish to walk her down the aisle.
As a result, Samuel decided to ask her grandfather’s permission to marry her. When the elderly man obliged, Samuel proceeded to pop the question to La Tanya, and she said yes. Surprisingly, Samuel has no recollection of the incident, or a proposal ever happening. He shared:
“I don’t remember it, actually. I do remember you having some invitations in your hand and saying ‘this is when this is happening.’”
Given how strong their relationship remains to date, how the proposal played out hardly matters anymore.
Samuel Jackson and His Wife Have One Daughter Together
La Tanya and Samuel Jackson tied the knot in August 1980. Two years later, the couple welcomed their daughter, Zoe Jackson, born on March 28, 1982.
Now forty, Zoe Jackson grew up to become a reality TV producer and assistant director, pursuing a career in the entertainment industry like her parents, albeit, of the cameras.
Braving Marital Woes
Samuel Jackson has been open about how his wife helped him become the man he was meant to be. He reflected on his addiction issues earlier on in their marriage, which almost destroyed him, and the life they were building together.
He recalled how his addiction to crack cocaine made him not be emotionally present for his family, despite being physically there. He said:
“I had basically moved into the basement of our brownstone home. I was like the troll in the basement, and every now and then I’d come upstairs and hover around to do something. I was addicted to being crazy.”
Rather than walk out of his life, La Tanya urged her husband to seek help in rehab. He did so and was able to set his life back on track with a nudge from his beautiful wife. The couple has enjoyed marital bliss ever since.
