He built his legacy by portraying dynamic characters in blockbuster films like “Pulp Fiction,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and “Django Unchained.” Behind his immense success, however, is an equally compelling personal story of love, resilience, and redemption shared with his wife, LaTanya Richardson.

Richardson, also a talented actress, was initially unimpressed by Jackson’s flamboyant, self-involved, and emotionally detached personality. Yet, as she got to know him, she recognized his potential, setting the foundation for a relationship that has lasted nearly five decades.

Jackson and Richardson quickly bonded over their shared passion for the arts. Richardson was already an established performer at the time, with Jackson later acknowledging, “She’s been acting longer than I have.”

The two made a pact early in their relationship to stay together no matter what, with Richardson later explaining that they wanted to challenge the stereotype that Black families couldn’t maintain strong, two-parent households.

However, their love and commitment faced a significant test during the early years of their marriage when Jackson became addicted to drugs. By his own admission, his addiction began as a way to cope with the pressures of life and work.

The “Unthinkable” star’s addiction reached its peak in the late 1980s, leading him to isolate himself from his wife and their daughter, Zoe.

For Richardson, the breaking point came one night when she found her husband unconscious on their kitchen floor, having passed out before using a batch of cocaine he had cooked. She staged an intervention, making calls to secure a spot for him in a rehab facility in upstate New York.

When asked if he would have survived without her, Jackson candidly revealed, “I credit her because she could have just taken Zoe and walked out and been done with me. But she didn’t. That’s a greater love than I will ever know, because I don’t know that I would’ve done that.”

Richardson, however, humbly downplayed her role, saying, “He saved his life. He and God saved his life. I was just there.” The actor’s first role after completing treatment was as Gator Purify, a crack-addicted character in Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever.”

His performance was so powerful that the Cannes Film Festival honored him with a special Supporting Actor award, created specifically to recognize his work in the film. From that point forward, his career skyrocketed.

His performances in films like “A Time to Kill” cemented his status as a leading man, and throughout it all, Richardson remained his steadfast partner. After over four decades of marriage, Jackson and Richardson attribute their lasting bond to several key factors.

“A lot of tolerance, because everybody’s got flaws, and not giving up when it would be easy to give up,” Jackson explained. “She has, too, in her head, or whatever in reality, but you got to go, ‘Is that a breakup offense?’ Or is it just that we need to spend a little time together and get some understanding about it?”

When they’re not working, the couple enjoys spending time with Zoe, a TV producer, who brings them joy and laughter. “She makes me laugh like nobody else,” Jackson revealed.

In September 2020, he took to Instagram to celebrate his daughter and sweetly shared, “HAPPY DAUGHTER’S DAY Zoe‼️‼️A constant source of joy & bursting pride & delicious gastronomic surprises. Love you today & errrrrrrday🤩👊🏾👊🏾‼”