Who is Zoe Jackson, daughter of Samuel L. Jackson? She’s an Emmy-winning producer with credits including Project Runway and RuPaul’s Drag Race – and she went to school with Anne Hathaway

May 28 , 2025

Samuel L. Jackson was honoured at the New York Museum of Modern Art 2024 Film Benefit, where he was joined by wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson and daughter Zoe Jackson. Photos: @ltjackson_/Instagram

The son of an ‘absentee’ father, Samuel ensured his daughter grew up knowing love from both parents – as well as attending Vassar College with Hathaway, Zoe studied at the French Culinary Institute

Last October, Hollywood legend Samuel L. Jackson was honoured at the Museum of Modern Art’s star-studded Film Benefit in New York – and the celebrated actor had two of the most important women in his life by his side to cheer him on.

We’re talking, of course, about his wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson and their daughter, Zoe Jackson, both of whom looked radiant in white, while the man of the hour sported an all-black ensemble. Other celebrity guests included Denzel Washington, Amanda Seyfried, Natasha Lyonne, Meghann Fahy and Tinseltown’s newest “It” couple, Iris Apatow and Sam Nivola, among others. The evening also featured a performance by singer Tems.

Honoree Samuel L. Jackson and wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson at the Museum of Modern Art Film Benefit in New York last October. Photo: AP

The Pulp Fiction star thanked his partner during his speech, in which he touched on what he called the life-changing power of cinema and on his drive to “keep creating”, but he also gave her a shout-out on Instagram, calling her his “rock”. He then took the chance to thank his daughter, addressing her as “the inspiration”.

So, what else do we know about Zoe Jackson?

She’s an Emmy-winning producer

Samuel L. Jackson’s daughter, Zoe Jackson, as a baby. Photo: @samuelljackson/Instagram

Zoe Jackson, 43, studied psychology at Vassar College, New York, where a classmate was actress Anne Hathaway. On her graduation day, it was her dad who gave the commencement speech, making it extra special. After graduating, Jackson took to production and worked on huge successes like Project Runway and RuPaul’s Drag Race. It was for RPDR that she won an Emmy in 2021. Jackson worked with Hathaway and father Samuel on Funny or Die and collaborated with him again on documentary series Life on the Edge, about gang culture.

She helps keep her parents together

Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson welcomed their daughter, Zoe, on March 28, 1982. Photo: @samuelljackson/Instagram

Zoe Jackson was raised with much love by her superstar parents. Her mum, a prolific actress, took a step back from her career after Zoe was born to focus on motherhood, and her father also made sure to be a part of her life. “My dad was an absentee dad, so it was always important to me that I was part of my daughter’s life, and she deserved two parents, which is part of what informs us staying married for 30 years,” the Star Wars actor told Esquire in 2010. To spend time with their daughter, the busy couple go on a lavish sailing holiday with her every July.

She can cook

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