If there’s one thing that Samuel L. Jackson is known for beyond swearing and chewing scenery on screen, it’s his stylish collection of Kangol hats. Since he first burst onto the scene, the Star Wars actor made the headwear a staple of his fashion sense. Though he still boasts an impressive collection, the Marvel Cinematic Universe star revealed how his wife kept his collection at bay. 

Samuel L. Jackson wears many, many hats 

Actor Samuel L. Jackson and wife LaTanya Richardson arrive for the premiere of Disney And Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” on June 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. | Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

In March 2022, the star appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote his series, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. During the interview, Fallon asked the legendary actor about his Kangol collection, which once was more than 800 hats deep. Samuel L. Jackson told Fallon he didn’t have that many Kangol hats. At least, not anymore.

“My wife got rid of about 500 of them,” he answered. “I’m down to 300.”

Fallon pressed him further about where his love for Kangol hats stemmed from. According to Jackson, it runs in the family, and when Fallon asked how long he’d worn them, Jackson gave an honest answer.

“Oh, geez, [I started] when I stole my first one out of my grandfather’s closet. Long, long time ago,” he told the show. Jackson claims his first Kangol, the one he stole, was a plaid number he still remembers fondly.

Who is Samuel L. Jackson’s wife? 

In the late sixties, Samuel L. Jackson met his wife, actor LaTanya Richardson. They’ve been together ever since. From Jackson’s early drug addiction to his ascent to superstardom, their marriage hasn’t always been easy. Richardson spoke about their secret in an interview with People Magazine.

“In the beginning, we always said the most revolutionary thing that Black people could do was stay together, raise their children with the nucleus of having a father and a mother since everybody likes to pretend that that’s not the dynamic of the African American family,” she told the publication. “In order to change that narrative, we made a decision to say, ‘We are going to stay together no matter what. We’ll figure it out.’”

The couple has been married for more than 40 years. While Richardson is a Tony-nominated actor in her own right, she’s comfortable keeping their private life private. The Pulp Fiction actor speaks highly of his wife and credits her with helping him get on the right path. This openness and honesty show why their marriage lasted, even through some of the worst moments of Jackson’s life.

Jackson is a fashionable guy

Jackson’s hat collection doesn’t just consist of Kangols. HuffPost noted how many hats he’s worn throughout his career, from standard baseball hats to fedoras and more. And the comments on his fashion sense don’t end there. Jackson’s ability to make his accessories work with suits, casual wear, golf ensembles, and t-shirts featuring his beloved characters make him one of the industry’s most uniquely stylish.

So while Samuel L. Jackson’s Kangol collection may have shrunk in recent years, the actor still sports them regularly. In fact, he even has his own line from Kangol itself. Back at home, however, he’ll have to settle for the 300 hats that remain.