Jackson was born on 4 October 1943 in the settlement of Aveley in Essex, England.

[2] Between 1973 and 1987, he directed many documentary and drama productions for BBC TV and Channel 4, including the 1984 Cold War television film Threads.

[3][4] He also directed theatrical feature films, including L.A. Story (1991), Volcano (1997) and the Kevin Costner-Whitney Houston thriller The Bodyguard (1992).

Jackson won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special for the biopic television film Temple Grandin.

[5] He also won the Television Single Drama category for Threads at the 1985 BAFTA Awards.