Samuel L. Jackson on depicting dementia in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey on Apple TV+

Jackson has a history of Alzheimer’s in his family, so Walter Mosley’s 2010 novel The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, about a man with crippling dementia, resonated

‘It’s something I’ve been preparing for a long time,’ says Jackson, who is executive producer of Apple TV+’s six-episode adaptation and plays the title role

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Samuel L. Jackson plays a man struggling with crippling dementia and memory loss in Apple TV+‘s The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Photo: Apple TV+

Published: 7:15pm, 16 Mar 2022

Samuel L. Jackson has been dealt pretty good cards when it comes to ageing.

“I was fortunate enough to be blessed with a really great gene pool,” the actor says. “There’s a lot of Alzheimer’s in my family, but people live a long time, too.”

The history of Alzheimer’s disease in his family is a big reason why the prolific performer – whose notable big-screen credits include Pulp Fiction, Unbreakable and Black Snake Moan – has long been captivated by Walter Mosley’s 2010 novel The Last Days of Grey.

Jackson is an executive producer of Apple TV+’s six-episode adaptation of the work and appears in the title role as a man suffering from crippling dementia and memory loss who, through the use of an experimental drug, is able to recapture a wealth of recollections for a finite period.

Dominique Fishback and Jackson in a scene from The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Photo: Apple TV+

“It’s something I’ve been preparing for a long time,” says Jackson. “Walter can tell you how long we’ve talked about doing this and how badly I’ve wanted to do it. I’ve seen this series for about 10 years in my head.”