Jesse Jackson
Biography
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. (October 8, 1941 — February 17, 2026) was an American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He founded of both entities that merged to form Rainbow/PUSH. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. is his eldest son. In an AP-AOL "Black Voices" poll in February 2006, Jackson was voted 'the most important black leader'.
Known For
TV
The Daily Show
Self
1996
TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
TV
Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
1975
TV
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self
2003
TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
TV
A Different World
Himself
1987
TV
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
2005
TV
Explained
Self (archive footage)
2018
TV
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Cocky Locky (voice)
1995
TV
Dinah!
Self
1974
TV
Baseball
Various (voice)
1994
TV
Robins
Self - Guest
2006
TV
The Chris Rock Show
Self
1997
TV
Joy Behar: Say Anything!
2009
TV
Tanner '88
Himself (uncredited)
1988
TV
Shut Up and Dribble
Self - Civil Rights Leader
2018
Film
Nationtime
Self
1972
Film
Decade
Self
1989
Film
Uptight
Self (archive footage)
1968
Film
Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Self
2021
Filmography
2023FilmSouth to Black Poweras Self2022FilmLoudmouthas Self2022FilmEl otro Rey de Chicagoas Self2021FilmPunch 9 for Harold Washington2021FilmDionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Overas Self2021TVObama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Unionas Self2021FilmSummer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)as Self2021FilmSeptember First, Twenty-Twentyas Himself2021FilmSpiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Storyas Self2021FilmStreet Gang: How We Got to Sesame Streetas Self (archive footage)2021FilmKilling Martin Luther King Jr.as Self2021FilmCrack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracyas Self (archive footage)2020TVObamaas Self2020FilmUncle Tomas Self (archive footage)2020FilmBernie Blackoutas Self (archive footage)2020FilmSomeday We'll all Be Free: The Donny Hathaway Storyas Self2019FilmStax, le label soul légendaireas Self (archive footage)2019FilmChicago at the Crossroadas Self2018TVShut Up and Dribbleas Self - Civil Rights Leader2018FilmThe Road to Mass Incarcerationas Self2018TVExplainedas Self (archive footage)2018FilmRise Up: The Movement that Changed Americaas Self2018FilmI Am MLK Jr.as Self2018FilmHope & Fury: MLK, the Movement and the Mediaas Self2017FilmLA 92as Self (archive footage)2016Film'85: The Greatest Team in Football Historyas Self2016FilmCrashing the Partyas Self2016FilmFantastic Liesas Himself (archive footage)2014FilmWe Are Manyas Self2013FilmRichard Pryor: Omit the Logicas Self2012FilmMLK: The Assassination Tapesas Self (archive Footage)2011FilmA Man's Storyas Self2009FilmJoan Baez: How Sweet the Soundas Self2009TVJoy Behar: Say Anything!2009FilmHugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebelas Self2009FilmMichael Jackson Memorialas Self2009FilmThe Nine Lives of Marion Barryas Self2009FilmAnecdotes about Fidel2008FilmThe Day the Troubles Beganas Self2008FilmBallouas Himself2007FilmKing: Man of Peace in a Time of Waras Self2006TVRobinsas Self - Guest2005TVThe Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer2003TVReal Time with Bill Maheras Self2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self2002FilmAmandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmonyas Self (archive footage)2002FilmBaadAsssss Cinemaas Self2001FilmLast Party 2000as Self1999FilmThe Subtext of a Yale Educationas Self1999FilmUniversity, Inc.as Self (Archive Footage)1997Film4 Little Girlsas Self - Founder of the Rainbow Push Coalition1997TVThe Chris Rock Showas Self1997FilmMahalia Jackson: The Power and the Glory1996TVThe Daily Showas Self1996FilmThe Journey of the African-American Athleteas Self (archive footage)1995TVHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Childas Cocky Locky (voice)1994TVBaseballas Various (voice)1994FilmThe Soul of Staxas Self1993FilmCrusade: The Life of Billy Grahamas Self1989FilmDecadeas Self1989FilmRoute One/USAas Self1988FilmJackie Robinson: An American Journeyas On Screen Narrator1988TVTanner '88as Himself (uncredited)1987TVA Different Worldas Himself1986FilmIn Remembrance of Martinas Self1983FilmAmos 'n' Andy: Anatomy of a Controversyas Self1982FilmRichard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Stripas Self - Audience Member (uncredited)1980FilmA Decade of Struggleas Self1980FilmA Matter of Respect1975TVSaturday Night Liveas Self - Host1974TVDinah!as Self1973FilmContradictory America. Faith, hope, love and hate. Film 2as Self/Cameo (archive footage)1973FilmSave the Childrenas Self1973FilmWattstaxas Self1972FilmNationtimeas Self1971FilmWe Are Universal1970FilmKing: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphisas Self (archive footage)1969FilmOperation Breadbasketas Self1968FilmUptightas Self (archive footage)—FilmDear Mister Presidentas Self