Jesse Jackson
Biography
Jesse Louis Jackson, born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, was an American civil rights activist, politician, and Baptist minister. He died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 84. Jackson was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as a shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He founded the entities that merged to form Rainbow/PUSH, and Representative Jesse Jackson, Junior is his eldest son. In a February 2006 AP-AOL Black Voices poll, he was voted the most important black leader. Active in media and entertainment records, Jackson accumulated 86 known credits in acting across film and television.
Career overview
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. was an American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, he later passed away on February 17, 2026. Throughout his life and career, he engaged in political and social endeavors, including running as a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, and serving as a shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. Additionally, he founded both entities that eventually merged to form Rainbow/PUSH. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. is noted as his eldest son.
In media and entertainment data databases, Jesse Jackson has a recorded presence with known credits in acting. He is recognized within film and television reference platforms, where his known credits number eighty-six. In a poll conducted by AP-AOL Black Voices in February 2006, Jackson was voted the most important black leader. His biographical profile spans records detailing his place of birth in Greenville, South Carolina, and his historical recognition as a prominent public figure, civil rights activist, and minister.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Jesse Jackson.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
86 titles- Hollywood Black (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- South to Black Power (2023) as Self
- Loudmouth (2022) as Self - Civil Rights Activist/Self - Baptist Minister (archive footage)
- El otro Rey de Chicago (2022) as Self
- Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) as Self
- Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union (2021) as Self
- Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over (2021) as Self
- Punch 9 for Harold Washington (2021)
- September First, Twenty-Twenty (2021) as Himself
- Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story (2021) as Self
- Killing Martin Luther King Jr. (2021) as Self
- Obama (2020) as Self
- Bernie Blackout (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Someday We'll all Be Free: The Donny Hathaway Story (2020) as Self
- Stax, le label soul légendaire (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Chicago at the Crossroad (2019) as Self
- Explained (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- Shut Up and Dribble (2018) as Self - Civil Rights Leader
- The Road to Mass Incarceration (2018) as Self
- I Am MLK Jr. (2018) as Self
- Rise Up: The Movement that Changed America (2018) as Self
- Hope & Fury: MLK, the Movement and the Media (2018) as Self
- Velshi (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- LA 92 (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Fantastic Lies (2016) as Himself (archive footage)
- '85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016) as Self
- Crashing the Party (2016) as Self
- We Are Many (2014) as Self
- Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic (2013) as Self
- MLK: The Assassination Tapes (2012) as Self (archive Footage)
- A Man's Story (2011) as Self
- Joy Behar: Say Anything! (2009)
- Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel (2009) as Self
- Anecdotes about Fidel (2009)
- Michael Jackson Memorial (2009) as Self
- Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound (2009) as Self
- The Nine Lives of Marion Barry (2009) as Self
- The Day the Troubles Began (2008) as Self
- Ballou (2008) as Himself
- King: Man of Peace in a Time of War (2007) as Self
- Robins (2006) as Self - Guest
- The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (2005)
- Tanner on Tanner (2004) as Self
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- BaadAsssss Cinema (2002) as Self
- Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- Last Party 2000 (2001) as Self
- University, Inc. (1999) as Self (Archive Footage)
- The Subtext of a Yale Education (1999) as Self
- The Chris Rock Show (1997) as Self
- 4 Little Girls (1997) as Self - Founder of the Rainbow Push Coalition
- Mahalia Jackson: The Power and the Glory (1997)
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- The Journey of the African-American Athlete (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Cocky Locky (voice)
- Baseball (1994) as Various (voice)
- The Soul of Stax (1994) as Self
- Crusade: The Life of Billy Graham (1993) as Self
- America's Political Parties: Power and Principle (1992) as Self
- Route One/USA (1989) as Self
- Decade (1989) as Self
- Tanner '88 (1988) as Himself (uncredited)
- Jackie Robinson: An American Journey (1988) as On Screen Narrator
- A Different World (1987) as Himself
- In Remembrance of Martin (1986) as Self
- Not Necessarily the News (1983) as Self (archive footage)
- Amos 'n' Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy (1983) as Self
- Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982) as Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
- A Matter of Respect (1980)
- A Decade of Struggle (1980) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self (uncredited)
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Contradictory America. Faith, hope, love and hate. Film 2 (1973) as Self/Cameo (archive footage)
- Wattstax (1973) as Self
- Save the Children (1973) as Self
- Nationtime: Gary (1972) as Self
- We Are Universal (1971)
- King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970) as Self (archive footage)
- Operation Breadbasket (1969) as Self
- Uptight (1968) as Self (archive footage)
- World in Action (1963)
- Dear Mister President as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jesse Jackson best known for?
Jesse Jackson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Explained (2018), Velshi (2017), ...And Your Love Too (1962), The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (2005).
When and where was Jesse Jackson born?
Jesse Jackson was born on October 8, 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. They passed away on February 17, 2026.
How many credits does Jesse Jackson have?
Jesse Jackson has accumulated over 86 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1963 to 2024.
What is Jesse Jackson's background in cinema and television?
Jesse Louis Jackson, born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, was an American civil rights activist, politician, and Baptist minister. He died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 84. Jackson was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as a shad...
Jesse Jackson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Robins (2006) as Self - Guest — aged about 64
- Explained (2018) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 76
- Baseball (1994) as Various (voice) — aged about 52
- King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 28
- A Different World (1987) as Himself — aged about 45
- Dinah! (1974) as Self — aged about 32
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Jesse Jackson.