It never occurred to Samuel L. Jackson as a kid that he could ever get a chance to meet Marvel co-creator Stan Lee. Long before he stepped onto the silver screen as the ultimate architect of the Avengers initiative, Samuel L. Jackson was simply a kid losing himself in the vibrant, colorful pages of comic books. Growing up far removed from the glitz of Hollywood, the future icon never could have imagined that his childhood heroes would eventually become his peers - let alone that he would forge a genuine, lasting friendship with the legendary mind who brought them to life, Marvel visionary Stan Lee.

After that dream has long been fulfilled, Samuel L. Jackson has revealed that he indeed expected as a kid to one day meet the late Marvel legend.

Samuel L. Jackson is opening up about his cherished bond with the legendary Marvel co-creator Stan Lee. While stepping out for the premiere of The Beast at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on October 6, the 77-year-old actor discovered a striking career milestone: he currently ranks right behind Lee when it comes to cumulative box office revenue across all film roles.

Lee, the visionary mind behind timeless comic icons like Spider-Man, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, and the X-Men, left behind an incredible cinematic footprint, having made cameo and creative appearances in roughly 200 films before passing away in 2018 at the age of 95. For Jackson, who spent his youth immersed in Lee’s groundbreaking stories, forging a personal connection with the icon was something he never could have imagined as a kid.

“Never occurred to me as a kid growing up in segregated Tennessee, I would meet Stan Lee. So when it happens, it’s not even a dream come true. It’s something beyond that,” Jackson told PEOPLE, looking back at his childhood fascination and eventual friendship with Stan Lee.

Reflecting on his experiences with the comic book icon, the MCU’s Nick Fury fondly described Lee to PEOPLE as a genuinely wonderful and charming individual who was always a delight to be around. Following Lee’s passing on November 12, 2018, the Avengers: Endgame star took to X to share an emotional tribute honoring the visionary creator.

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The actor has also proved his take on recognition by Hollywood institutions and what it means to him.  

Throughout a celebrated career spanning more than five decades across film, television, and theater, the Pulp Fiction star has frequently expressed immense pride and fulfillment in his blockbuster roles. Rejecting the idea that industry accolades should dictate an actor's worth, Samuel L. Jackson previously shared with the Los Angeles Times that he measures his professional success purely by personal happiness and satisfaction rather than chasing trophies. 

Emphasizing that he has no interest in taking on projects solely calculated to win awards, the Snakes on a Plane actor famously declared that he would much rather wield a lightsaber as Mace Windu or suit up as Nick Fury. The legendary actor currently anchors the newly released action-thriller The Beast. According to IMDb, the high-stakes narrative centers on a sitting U.S. president as he fights desperately to protect his own life while defending the nation from a catastrophic threat.

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