LaTanya Richardson Jackson

LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Samuelljacksonnavy.jpg: Corwin M. Colbert derivative work: Prayer for the wild a · Public domain · source
Name	LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Birth date	1946-10-21
Birth place	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, producer
Years active	1973–present
Spouse	Samuel L. Jackson

LaTanya Richardson Jackson is an American actress and producer whose career spans stage, film, and television, known for powerful character work in dramatic and comedic roles. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, she trained in acting and has collaborated with notable directors, playwrights, and ensembles across Broadway, regional theatre, Hollywood, and television. Her work includes critically acclaimed performances in plays by August Wilson and collaborations with filmmakers and actors across the American entertainment industry.

Early life and education

Richardson Jackson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in a community connected to institutions such as Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University in the Atlanta metropolitan area. She attended Hunter College and trained at acting programs associated with companies like the Tennessee Williams Fellowship and institutions linked to the American Conservatory Theater and Juilliard School networks. Early influences included performances at venues such as the Alliance Theatre, the Public Theater, and workshops connected to the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Shakespeare Festival.

Career

Her career encompasses stage directing, producing, and acting, with engagements at organizations including the Lincoln Center, the Guthrie Theater, the Mark Taper Forum, and the Arena Stage. Richardson Jackson collaborated with playwrights and directors associated with August Wilson, Tennessee Williams, Lorraine Hansberry, Arthur Miller, Augusto Boal, and Eugene O'Neill repertoires. She has worked alongside actors such as Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, and Angela Bassett, and with directors including Spike Lee, John Sayles, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Ava DuVernay in various capacities. Her producing and acting credits intersected with companies like Miramax, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., HBO, and Netflix.

Film and television roles

Richardson Jackson’s filmography includes collaborations with filmmakers such as John Singleton, Lee Daniels, Rob Marshall, Alan Parker, and Robert Altman. She appeared in projects alongside performers like Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, and Samuel L. Jackson and in television series produced by networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO, and FX. Notable screen credits connect her to productions by Miramax and streaming projects from Amazon Studios and Netflix, and she worked under producers such as Scott Rudin, Harvey Weinstein, and Reginald Hudlin. Her television guest spots placed her in episodes with casts including Kelsey Grammer, Julie Andrews, Angela Lansbury, Edward Norton, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Theatre work

On stage, Richardson Jackson performed in plays originally by August Wilson, Lorraine Hansberry, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and Eugene O'Neill, appearing at venues such as Broadway Theatre, Neil Simon Theatre, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. She collaborated with directors like George C. Wolfe, Lynn Nottage, Edward Albee, Susan Stroman, and Julie Taymor, and appeared alongside stage actors including Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Alfred Molina, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, and Frances McDormand. Her regional theatre work connected her to institutions such as the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the Old Globe Theatre, and the Long Wharf Theatre.

Personal life

Richardson Jackson is married to actor Samuel L. Jackson, with whom she has one daughter; their family life has intersected with social circles including Spike Lee, Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, and Whoopi Goldberg. She has been involved with organizations such as the NAACP, the Sundance Institute, the Kennedy Center, and philanthropic activities tied to Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine. Her civic and cultural engagements have brought her into association with figures like Coretta Scott King, John Lewis, Ellen Burstyn, and Maya Angelou.

Awards and recognition

Richardson Jackson’s theatre honors connect her to awards and institutions including the Tony Award, the Obie Award, the Helen Hayes Awards, the Drama Desk Awards, and acknowledgments from the American Theatre Wing. Her work has been recognized at festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, and ceremonies hosted by organizations like the Screen Actors Guild and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She has been cited in profiles by outlets connected to The New York Times, The Washington Post, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and broadcast interviews on NPR and PBS.

Category:American stage actresses Category:African-American actresses Category:1946 births Category:Living people