Laurence Fishburne Turned Down Samuel L. Jackson’s ‘Pulp Fiction’ Role
Can you even imagine a Pulp Fiction movie without Samuel L. Jackson starring as Vincent Vega’s (John Travolta) partner-in-crime, Jules Winnfield? Who else would be able to deliver that Ezekiel…
Laurence Fishburne attends “The Cave Of Adullam” premiere during the 2022 Tribeca Festival at Village East Cinema on June 13, 2022 in New York City. EP/Actor Samuel L. Jackson from Apple TV+’s ‘The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey’ attends Deadline Contenders Television at Paramount Studios on April 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
John Lamparski/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival/Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Deadline HollywoodCan you even imagine a Pulp Fiction movie without Samuel L. Jackson starring as Vincent Vega's (John Travolta) partner-in-crime, Jules Winnfield? Who else would be able to deliver that Ezekiel 25:17 passage? Well, another award-winning actor was offered the role first, and turned it down. In a new interview Monday (November 21) with journalist Jemele Hill, Laurence Fishburne discussed the role.
In the interview, he was asked if there was a decision made in his acting career that he turned down and later regretted. Before Hill could finish asking her question, Fishburne interjected, "No," and added, "I turned down Pulp Fiction. I do not regret that decision at all, you know why? Because it turned out to be the star-making role of Sam Jackson’s career. That’s the role that made Sam Jackson a star -- and I contributed to that -- I stayed out the way." Hill joked, "I hope you remind him of that!" The two powerhouse actors apparently have never talked about it. But Fishburne maintained that he didn't "regret any of those things." He added, "It wasn't for me." Fishburne, 61, said there were things about Quentin Tarantino's script that he "didn't like." But there were things in the script that "were fun."
Fishburne also turned down 1993's What's Love Got To Do With It five times before agreeing to the role to play Ike Turner. But once he found out that Angela Bassett was starring as Tina, he thought, "Well, I have to do this now." He was a fan of hers and he had worked with her on other projects like Boyz n the Hood (1991).
Pulp Fiction came out in 1994 and also starred Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Christopher Walken, Harvey Keitel and Amanda Plummer. Samuel L. Jackson has starred in over 100 movies, but Pulp Fiction was the turning point in his acting career. Jackson had a minor role in 1988's Coming To America as a "hold-up" man in their version of McDonald's, while Pulp Fiction's opening scene is a hold-up in a restaurant that Jackson happens to be in (We love cinematic parallels). In 1990, Jackson played another minor role in the Martin Scorsese classic, Goodfellas as Stacks Edwards.
As we reported last year, Jackson ranked the top five movies he has starred in while appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, which are all from the late ’90s. Pulp Fiction didn't make the list, but the films he listed all came after that major breakthrough. His top five are: 1996’s The Long Kiss Goodnight and A Time To Kill, 1997’s Jackie Brown, 1998’s The Red Violin, and 1997’s ONE EIGHT SEVEN.
America’s 50 Favorite Actors Of All Time Ranked By Positive Opinion
Audiences know them from long-running TV series, big-time movie openings, and indelible stage performances. They’ve made viewers laugh, cry, and jump from their seats in fright. The best actors in the world have the power to move audiences in ways that few others can—which is why making a list of the absolute best is never an easy task.
Any list of the best needs to be backed up by numbers. So in order to compile a set of America’s 50 favorite actors of all time, Stacker analyzed data from YouGov, with polling conducted between November 2017 and October 2018. First, they measured the level of online activity related to a set of actors to determine which 50 should be included in a survey, with responses weighted to be nationally representative. Then, they ranked those 50 actors from low to high by a percentage of survey respondents with a positive opinion of said actors. Ties were broken by the actor with a lower percentage of negative opinion responses and a higher percentage of “have heard of” responses.
The result is a list of thespians, including Oscar winners, box office juggernauts, and some of the “sexiest men alive.”
#50. Brad Pitt
Rachel Luna/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Brad Pitt, winner of Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood”, poses in the press room during 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rachel Luna/Getty Images)
#49. Sylvester Stallone
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 02: Sylvester Stallone attends the Warner Bros. premiere of "The Suicide Squad" at Regency Village Theatre on August 02, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
#48. Danny Glover
Leon Bennett/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: Danny Glover attends 28th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival - Opening Night premiere of "HERO" at Directors Guild Of America on February 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
#47. John Ritter
Vince Bucci/Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 31: Actor John Ritter presents an award at the 4th Annual Family Television Awards on July 31, 2002 in Beverly Hills, California. The show will air on the ABC television network on Friday August 9, 2002. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
#46. Christopher Walken
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: Christopher Walken attends the "The Family Fang" Premiere - 2016 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC John Zuccotti Theater on April 16, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
#45. Hugh Jackman
Arturo Holmes/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 10: Hugh Jackman attends the opening night of "The Music Man" at Winter Garden Theatre on February 10, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
#44. Matt Damon
Theo Wargo/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 26: Matt Damon attends the "Stillwater" New York Premiere at Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center on July 26, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
#43. Tom Selleck
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Tom Selleck visits the Build Series to discuss his show "Blue Bloods at Build Studio on September 29, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
#42. Nicolas Cage
Sascha Steinbach/Getty ImagesDUESSELDORF, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 25: Nicolas Cage attends the German Sustainability Award 2016 (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis) at Maritim Hotel on November 25, 2016 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images)
#41. Tim Allen
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ImagesWEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Tim Allen performs at The Laugh Factory 42nd annual free Christmas dinner and show at The Laugh Factory on December 25, 2021 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
#40. Mark Wahlberg
Leon Bennett/Getty ImagesWESTWOOD, CA - AUGUST 09: Actor Mark Wahlberg attends the Premiere Of STX Films' "Mile 22" at Westwood Village Theatre on August 9, 2018 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
#39. Patrick Stewart
Rich Fury/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Patrick Stewart attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LIVE on September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
#38. George Clooney
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 07: George Clooney attends the U.S. premiere of Hulu's "Catch-22" at TCL Chinese Theatre on May 07, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
#37. Kurt Russell
Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 23: Actor Kurt Russell attends the 18th Costume Designers Guild Awards with Presenting Sponsor LACOSTE at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 23, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for CDG)
#36. Matthew McConaughey
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: Matthew McConaughey attends the premiere of Illumination's "Sing 2" on December 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
#35. Andy Griffith
Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 7: Actor Andy Griffith poses backstage at the 2nd Annual TV Land Awards held on March 7, 2004 at The Hollywood Palladium, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
#34. John Goodman
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - MAY 15: Actor John Goodman of Roseanne attends during 2018 Disney, ABC, Freeform Upfront at Tavern On The Green on May 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
#33. Christopher Reeve
Jones/Evening Standard/Getty ImagesAmerican actor Christoper Reeve (1952 - 2004), best known for his role as Superman, 1st December 1978. (Photo by Jones/Evening Standard/Getty Images)
#32. Tommy Lee Jones
Takashi Aoyama/Getty ImagesTOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 25: Actor/Director Tommy Lee Jones attends the red carpet of the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival at Roppongi Hills on October 25, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
#31. Al Pacino
Rich Fury/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 19: Al Pacino attends the premiere of Amazon Prime Video's "Hunters" at DGA Theater on February 19, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
#30. Paul Newman
Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesAmerican actor Paul Newman (1925 - 2008), circa 1955. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
#29. Robert De Niro
Carlo Allegri-Pool/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Robert De Niro appears at the opening ceremony for the Tribeca Film Festival on June 9, 2021 in New York City. De Niro co-founded the festival, which is now in its 20th year. (Photo by Carlo Allegri-Pool/Getty Images)
#28. Keanu Reeves
Sam Santos/Getty ImagesTORONTO, ONTARIO - DECEMBER 16: Actor Keanu Reeves attends the Canadian Premiere of "The Matrix Resurrections" held at Cineplex's Scotiabank Theatre on December 16, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Sam Santos/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)
#27. Bruce Lee
Mark Metcalfe/Getty ImagesSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 13: A wax figure of Chinese actor, Bruce Lee is seen at the Chinese Garden of Friendship on August 13, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. The Bruce Lee wax figure will be on display at Madame Tussauds Sydney to mark the 40th anniversary of the actor's death. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
#26. Leonardo DiCaprio
Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Leonardo DiCaprio speaks onstage during the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 19, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 721359 (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Turner)
#25. Liam Neeson
Carlos Alvarez/Getty ImagesMADRID, SPAIN - JULY 16: Actor Liam Neeson attends 'Venganza Bajo Cero' photocall at the Villamagna Hotel on July 16, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
#24. Danny DeVito
Morgan Lieberman/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Danny DeVito arrives at the premiere of FX's "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" season 14 at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on September 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Morgan Lieberman/Getty Images)
#23. Dick Van Dyke
Paul Morigi/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21: Dick Van Dyke attends the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on May 21, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
#22. Bill Murray
Kate Green/Getty ImagesCANNES, FRANCE - JULY 13: Bill Murray attends the "The French Dispatch" photocall during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 13, 2021 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)
#21. Robert Downey Jr.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesWESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Robert Downey Jr. attends the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Dolittle" at Regency Village Theatre on January 11, 2020 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
#20. Gene Wilder
Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Actor Gene Wilder attends the 14th annual Art Directors Guild Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 13, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
#19. Anthony Hopkins
Greg Doherty/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 25: Sir Anthony Hopkins attends the LEAP Foundation on July 25, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images)
#18. Patrick Swayze
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - JULY 27: Actor Patrick Swayze accepts the Independent Career Achievement Award at the Video Software Dealers Association's award show at the organization's annual home video convention at the Bellagio July 27, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
#17. Clint Eastwood
Amy Sussman/Getty Images for AFI)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 03: Director-producer Clint Eastwood attends the 20th Annual AFI Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for AFI)
#16. James Earl Jones
Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 14: Actor James Earl Jones attends the "The Gin Game" Broadway opening night after party at Sardi's on October 14, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
#15. Jack Nicholson
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesCULVER CITY, CA - JUNE 07: Actor Jack Nicholson speaks onstage at the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Shirley MacLaine held at Sony Pictures Studios on June 7, 2012 in Culver City, California. The AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Shirley MacLaine will premiere on TV Land on Saturday, June 24 at 9PM ET/PST. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI)
#14. Eddie Murphy
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Eddie Murphy attends the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 05, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
#13. Steve Martin
Dia Dipasupil/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 29: Steve Martin attends the "Meteor Shower" Broadway Opening Night at the Booth Theatre on November 29, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
#12. Samuel L. Jackson
Paras Griffin/Getty ImagesATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Samuel L. Jackson attends "The Last Full Measure" Atlanta red carpet screening at SCADshow on January 20, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Roadside Attractions )
#11. Jackie Chan
David Livingston/Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 25: Jackie Chan attends the 2019 British Academy Britannia Awards presented by American Airlines and Jaguar Land Rover at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 25, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images,)
#10. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 03: Dwayne Johnson attends the World Premiere Of Netflix's "Red Notice" at L.A. LIVE on November 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
#9. Sean Connery
Stephen Shugerman/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD - JUNE 07: Actor Sean Connery arrives to the 35th AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Al Pacino held at the Kodak Theatre on June 7, 2007 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images for AFI)
#8. Michael J. Fox
Nicholas Hunt/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 30: Michael J. Fox attends red carpet for the Tribeca Talks - Storytellers - 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on April 30, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
#7. Bruce Willis
Theo Wargo/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 04: Bruce Willis attends the 17th Annual A Great Night In Harlem at The Apollo Theater on April 04, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
#6. Will Smith
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Actor Will Smith attends the Centerpiece Gala Premiere of Columbia Pictures' "Concussion" during AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 10, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI)
#5. Morgan Freeman
Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesPASADENA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Morgan Freeman of the television show "The Story of God" speaks during the National Geographic segment of the 2019 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on February 10, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
#4. Harrison Ford
Ian Gavan/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Actor Harrison Ford attends the 'Morning Glory' UK premiere at the Empire Leicester Square on January 11, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
#3. Tom Hanks
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesWEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 02: Tom Hanks attends the Los Angeles premiere of Apple Original Films' "Finch" at The Pacific Design Center on November 2, 2021 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
#2. Denzel Washington
Rich Fury/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been shot in black and white. Color version is not available.) Denzel Washington attends the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Denzel Washington at Dolby Theatre on June 06, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
#1. Robin Williams
Peter Kramer/Getty ImagesNEW YORK - APRIL 27: (FILE PHOTO) (US TABLOIDS OUT) Actor Robin Williams appears onstage during MTV's Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on April 27, 2006 in New York City. It was announced on August 9, 2006 that Williams is seeking treatment for alcoholism after being sober for 20 years. (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
