Honestly, if you're looking for some dramatic Hollywood breakup or a secret new flame, you’re looking at the wrong guy. Samuel L. Jackson—the man who basically owns the "coolest guy in the room" title—has been with the same woman since the Nixon administration.
So, who is samuel jackson's wife now? It is, as it has been for over four decades, the powerhouse actress and director LaTanya Richardson Jackson.
They didn't just meet at a red carpet event or through a high-profile agent. They met as students in Atlanta back in 1970. He was at Morehouse; she was at Spelman. They were just two theater kids trying to figure out the world. While most Hollywood marriages have the shelf life of an open carton of milk, these two just celebrated 45 years of marriage in August 2025. They even posted photos from a yacht in Cannes to prove that "happily ever after" isn't just for the movies.
Why LaTanya is Way More Than a "Plus One"
It’s easy to get overshadowed when your husband is the highest-grossing actor of all time, but LaTanya is a titan in her own right. She isn’t just "Samuel Jackson's wife now"—she’s a Tony-nominated actress and a history-making director.
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In 2022, she directed the Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson. That made her the first woman to ever direct an August Wilson play on Broadway. Think about that for a second. In the entire history of American theater, she was the one to break that seal. She actually directed Sam in that play, too. Imagine having to give the "Nick Fury" actor notes on his performance. That takes a specific kind of confidence.
She’s also been a staple on Grey’s Anatomy (remember Diane Pierce?) and starred in films like Fried Green Tomatoes and The Fighting Temptations. She’s got this incredible, grounded energy that seems to keep the whole Jackson household from floating away into the stratosphere of fame.
The Pact That Saved Their Marriage
They’re very open about the fact that it hasn't always been easy. There was a point in the early '90s where things almost fell apart. Sam was struggling hard with drug and alcohol addiction. We're talking rock bottom.
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LaTanya was the one who found him passed out in the kitchen and told him, basically, "Get it together or we’re gone." She didn't leave, though. She stayed, got him into rehab, and supported him through the recovery process. Sam has said on record—more than once—that she gave him the chance to be the man he was supposed to be.
They actually have a pact. It’s a simple, "we’re staying together" agreement they made early on. In an industry where people quit on each other over a bad press cycle, they decided that "revolutionary" love meant sticking around when it was actually hard.
Life in 2026: Still Going Strong
As we move through 2026, the Jacksons are busier than ever. They’ve got their daughter, Zoe Jackson, who is a wildly successful Emmy-winning producer behind shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race and Top Chef. Clearly, the talent gene is strong in that family.
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They also do a ton of philanthropy. They recently donated $5 million to Spelman College, which led to the renovation of the performing arts center—now named after them. It’s a full-circle moment for two kids who met on that same campus decades ago.
- Relationship Status: Married since August 18, 1980.
- Total Time Together: 55+ years (dating started in 1970).
- Recent Wins: LaTanya was nominated for a Tony in 2025 for her role in the play Purpose.
- Key Philosophy: "Two people who respect each other, love each other, and look out for each other."
If you’re trying to keep up with them, your best bet is Instagram. They’re surprisingly active there, sharing "couple goals" photos from their summer yacht trips with friends like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.
What to do next
If you're inspired by their story, the best thing you can do is check out some of their collaborative work. Watch The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey on Apple TV+—they produced it together, and it’s a deeply personal project about Alzheimer’s, which has affected both of their families. Seeing them work as a creative team gives you a much better sense of their "secret sauce" than any tabloid ever could.