It was three decades ago this week that Samuel L. Jackson delivered his unforgettable interpretation of Jules Winnfield, a hitman with a penchant for quoting scripture, in “Pulp Fiction.” This groundbreaking film by Quentin Tarantino captured the attention of audiences worldwide and helped cement both Jackson and the director as significant figures in pop culture. After this film, Jackson continued to collaborate with Tarantino on various projects, while Tarantino himself has developed a notable ensemble cast that has become a trademark of his films, featuring strong characters and eclectic musical scores. Interestingly, Tarantino himself features in more of his movies than any other actor, often in supporting capacities or as a voice in the background.
In honor of the 30th anniversary of “Pulp Fiction” (which premiered on October 14, 1994), we present a visual representation showcasing the recurring talent across Tarantino’s films over the years.
Alongside John Travolta, Jackson achieved major success in “Pulp Fiction” before taking on the role of a firearms dealer in “Jackie Brown,” released three years later. This film paid tribute to the crime comedy and blaxploitation genres and also featured three notable “Pulp” co-stars—Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, and Steve Buscemi—who had roles in Tarantino’s earlier film, “Reservoir Dogs.” The transition saw them move from their original gangster characters to new roles such as the diner robber Pumpkin, the decisive fixer Winston Wolfe, and Buddy Holly, a waiter at Jack Rabbit Slim’s.
In the 2000s, Jackson appeared in minor roles as the wedding pianist Rufus in the second part of the martial arts film “Kill Bill,” starring his “Pulp Fiction” co-star Uma Thurman, and acted as the narrator in “Inglourious Basterds,” a World War II fantasy thriller. Both films also featured the actors Bo Svenson and Julie Dreyfus. “Basterds” introduced Eli Roth, who played a soldier seeking revenge on Nazis alongside Brad Pitt, and also appeared in “Death Proof,” where he played a comedic bar patron who teased Kurt Russell’s antagonist.
During the 2010s, Tarantino embraced a Western theme with films like “Django Unchained,” a revenge tale set before the Civil War, which gave Christoph Waltz, who played a villain in “Basterds,” a chance to portray a hero. Jackson took on roles in both films, portraying an enslaved assistant in “Django” and the lead bounty hunter in “The Hateful Eight.” After his role as the evil plantation owner in “Django,” Leonardo DiCaprio starred opposite Brad Pitt in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” a story based on the tragic murder of actress Sharon Tate by the Manson family in L.A. However, prominent figures in this decade were film old-timer Bruce Dern and New Zealand stuntwoman and actress Zoe Bell, who were featured in all three films—alongside Tarantino himself, of course.
