Samuel L. Jackson after rehab

Samuel L. Jackson already had a theater and film career before he entered treatment for addiction in 1990. About a week after leaving rehab, he began filming Spike Lee’s *Jungle Fever* (1991); it was his first role after treatment and, he has said, his first job while sober. His performance as Gator became a breakthrough and brought him major attention. It is more accurate to say rehab preceded the breakthrough role, not that acting began then or formed part of the treatment itself.