Ever wonder how some actors just seem to keep landing amazing roles? Well sometimes it's all about getting the right advice at the right time. And for Samuel L Jackson some of the best career advice he ever received came from none other than Bruce Willis . Get this it's advice that is literally worth billions of dollars!
Bruce Willis's Genius Tip: Find That One Character You Can Always Go Back To
Back in 1994 Samuel L Jackson and Bruce Willis were filming Die Hard With a Vengeance . During filming Willis shared some seriously insightful career wisdom with Jackson. Willis told Jackson something like "You should try to find a character that even when you are in not-so-great movies that maybe don't make a ton of money you can always revisit that role that everyone just loves."
Willis explained he had John McClane from the Die Hard movies. Arnold Schwarzenegger had the Terminator. Sylvester Stallone had Rocky and Rambo. These were characters these actors could always return to no matter what.
Nick Fury Calling! How Samuel L. Jackson Landed His Billion-Dollar Role Thanks to Willis
Jackson admitted that at the time he didn't fully grasp what Willis meant. It wasn't until years later when he got cast as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that it clicked. When Marvel offered him a nine-picture deal to play Nick Fury Jackson realized "Oh snap I'm actually doing exactly what Bruce was talking about. I've got my character now."
And boy was Willis right! Jackson's portrayal of Nick Fury has been incredibly lucrative. The movies he's appeared in as Fury have raked in around $12.8 billion at the box office. That's billion with a B! Nick Fury became Samuel L Jackson's John McClane his Terminator his Rocky. It's the role he can always go back to and fans always love it.
More Than Just Money: Samuel L. Jackson's Happiness vs. Awards and Why Nick Fury Wins
While the money is definitely a great perk for Jackson it's not just about that. He has really embraced being Nick Fury and part of these big blockbuster movies. Jackson has even said he is not chasing Oscars anymore. He told the Los Angeles Times that he "got over it" years ago. For him success is about happiness and being satisfied with his work.
Jackson said he's not interested in doing "statue-chasing movies" just to win an award. He'd much rather be Nick Fury or Mace Windu in Star Wars having fun with a lightsaber in hand. Playing Nick Fury allows Jackson to be part of something huge to entertain millions and clearly makes him happy and that is what matters most.
From Die Hard Buddies to MCU Legends: The Enduring Connection Between Willis and Jackson
Samuel L Jackson and Bruce Willis first teamed up in Die Hard With a Vengeance which many fans consider the best sequel in the franchise. They have great chemistry on screen and their friendship extends beyond that. They worked together again in Unbreakable and Glass further solidifying their bond.
Willis's advice to Jackson on the set of Die Hard shows the kind of camaraderie and support that can exist between actors. It is a testament to their relationship that Jackson still remembers and appreciates this career-changing tip from Willis especially as Willis now faces health challenges and has retired from acting.
Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury MCU Movie Appearances: A Quick List
Want to see Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in action? Here are some of the major MCU movies where he plays the iconic character:
- Iron Man (2008) - Post-credits scene debut
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011) - Cameo
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - Cameo
- The Avengers (2012)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
This list doesn't even include his TV series appearances like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Secret Invasion. Nick Fury is everywhere in the MCU and we have Bruce Willis to thank in part for that!