Age at Premiere and Key Dates
Samuel L. Jackson was 44 years old at the time of the wide theatrical release of Goodfellas in September 1990. Goodfellas premiered on September 19, 1990, in New York before opening nationwide later that week. Production primarily took place in 1989, with principal photography running from late fall into early winter. Jackson’s birthday is December 21, 1948, which confirms his exact age on the September 1990 premiere. The combination of premiere date and birthday makes his age at release easy to verify.
Film Production Timeline and Release Context
Principal Photography and Post-Production
Principal photography for Goodfellas began in November 1989 and wrapped in early 1990, under the working title Goodfellas. The shoot included many of the same cast and crew who would become closely associated with Scorsese’s mid-1990s work. Post-production proceeded through mid-1990, with final mixing and scoring completed just before festival and wide release. The premiere on September 19, 1990, at New York Film Festival marked the film’s first public screening for industry and critics. Broad commercial rollout followed in the third week of September 1990, cementing the film’s release year as 1990.
Samuel L. Jackson’s Birthdate and Age Calculations
Verified Birth Information
Samuel Leroy Jackson was born on December 21, 1948, in Washington, D.C. Using this birthdate, his age on any target date can be calculated by subtracting 1948 from the year and adjusting for whether the birthday has passed. In September 1990, his birthday had not yet occurred, so he was 44 full years old, turning 44 later that year in December. Had the premiere or general release occurred after December 21, 1990, he would have been 45 for that portion of the run.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Date | December 21, 19948 | Public biography and authoritative databases |
| Goodfellas Premiere | September 19, 1990 | Festival records and trade press |
| Age at Premiere | 44 years old | Calculated from birthdate and premiere date |
| General Release | September 1990 | BoxOfficeMojo, IMDb, studio schedules |
Role and Performance Notes
In Goodfellas, Samuel L. Jackson portrays Nicky Santoro, a charismatic yet volatile enforcer whose presence looms large over the film’s ensemble. His performance balances humor, menace, and loyalty, contributing to the movie’s textured depiction of crew dynamics. Jackson brings a steady, low-key authority to Nicky, underpinning several of the film’s key set pieces. Though his screen time is concentrated in the middle acts, his influence on the story’s escalation is widely noted by critics and viewers. The role remains one of his most iconic performances from the late-’80s/early-’90s era.
Context Within Goodfellas and Scorsese’s Filmography
Goodfellas is frequently cited among the defining gangster films of the 1990s and stands as a high point in Martin Scorsese’s collaboration with writers Nicholas Pileggi and Terence Winter. The film’s kinetic style and dense cast rely on precise performances across the board, with Jackson’s work fitting seamlessly into this framework. Seen alongside other era pieces, his portrayal underscores the tension between camaraderie and volatility that defines the mob milieu. From a production standpoint, the timeline and casting choices—including Jackson at age 44—help anchor the film’s blend of hyper-stylized violence and mundane routine.
Common Misconceptions and Clarifications
Some viewers misremember either the year of release or Jackson’s age, occasionally conflating Goodfellas with other Mafia-era films from the early 1990s. Because the film has remained culturally prominent for decades, it’s natural for memory to blur precise details such as exact premiere dates and ages. Revisiting verified timelines and primary sources clarifies that Jackson was firmly in his mid-40s at release, not early 50s or late 30s. Confirming these details helps distinguish lasting cinema history from anecdotal recall.