Jackson Exploded When Drunk Cast Ruined Coach Carter Scene
A co-star reveals how Samuel L. Jackson lost his temper during filming when alcohol turned a basketball celebration scene into chaos, plus the Hollywood wisdom that shaped his career approach.
Samuel L. Jackson went ballistic during production of Coach Carter when his co-stars showed up drunk to film a crucial scene. Actor Antwon Tanner, who played Worm in the 2005 basketball drama, spilled the details on a recent podcast about how a celebration sequence turned into a disaster.
The chaos unfolded during a nighttime pool party scene that follows the Richmond High School Oilers' tournament victory. Tanner admitted he brought his own alcohol to set, calling it "coochie juice," and started sharing drinks with other cast members and extras.
"We was walking around, passing out these little cups... to the girls that were in the scene. Everybody was drunk. So we wasn't getting nothing done like we were supposed to. So Sam, when he came to set, s*** gotta go right now, like it's supposed to go. But we all faded [laughs]. He was like, 'What the hell is going on?' He was mad as hell," Tanner recalled.
The True Story Behind the Drama
Thomas Carter directed the film, which earned a 63% rating and told the real story of coach Ken Carter. The actual Carter made headlines in 1999 when he benched his entire undefeated team over poor grades. The movie also marked Channing Tatum's first major film role before he went on to star in Magic Mike, Foxcatcher, and Deadpool & Wolverine.
Jackson's Philosophy on Set Behavior
Despite Tanner's wild story, Jackson has always preached kindness on movie sets. His approach stems from a lesson he learned while filming Die Hard with a Vengeance in 1995. A sign in the production office changed his entire perspective on treating crew members.
"I remember there was a sign on the wall in the Die Hard office that I never forgot, that said, 'Be careful of the toes you step on today, for they could be connected to the a** you have to kiss tomorrow.' So I've been nice to PAs, to everybody and everything else," Jackson explained in a social media video promoting his acting class.
The strategy paid off throughout his career. "Some of those PAs became producers and gave me jobs, because they said, 'I remember when I was a PA on so and so and so. You never hassled me. You didn't make me run and get stuff, and you spoke to me every day.' Be nice to that lighting guy, because your a** could be in the dark."
Career Advice from Bruce Willis
Jackson also received game-changing advice from Bruce Willis during the Die Hard shoot. Willis told him to develop a signature character he could return to when other projects flopped. Willis pointed to examples like Sylvester Stallone's Rocky and Rambo, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator, and his own John McClane character.
Jackson took that advice to heart. In 2008, he introduced Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The character appeared in 13 films over 16 years, and Jackson will likely reprise the role in upcoming Avengers movies. Willis retired from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia.