Samuel felt drawn to acting since early youth, so he chose to attend the Faculty of Drama at the Morehouse College in Atlanta. After graduation, he dabbled in film, theatre, and television but without much success: directors simply refused to work with him because of his alcohol and drug problems. In the late 1980s, the actor ended up in a rehab center.

According to Jackson, the most difficult moment in his life was when, while still at rehab, he looked into the eyes of his wife and daughter and said, "Hi, I’m Sam, and I’m a drug addict."

After completing treatment, Samuel went on to star in more than 100 movies, received many prestigious awards, and, most importantly, became an exemplary husband and father.