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IMDbPro

Mahershala Ali

  • Actor
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000244
Play clip1:57
Mahershala Ali | Career Retrospective
85 Videos
99+ Photos
Mahershala Ali is fast becoming one of the freshest and most in-demand faces in Hollywood with his extraordinarily diverse skill set and wide-ranging background in film, television, and theater.

He can be seen in the independent feature film, Moonlight, as well as reprising his role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, Gary Ross's civil war era drama The Free State of Jones, and Netflix's award-winning series House of Cards as well as Marvel's Luke Cage.

Ali's previous feature film credits include Derek Cianfrance's The Place Beyond the Pines, Wayne Kramer's Crossing Over, John Sayles' Go For Sisters, and David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Again on television, he appeared opposite Julia Ormond in Lifetime's The Wronged Man for which he subsequently received an NAACP Nomination for Best Actor. Ali also had a recurring role on Syfy's Alphas, as well as the role of Richard Tyler, a Korean War pilot, on the critically acclaimed drama The 4400 for three seasons.

On the stage, Ali appeared in productions of Blues for an Alabama Sky, The School for Scandal, A Lie of the Mind, A Doll's House, Monkey in the Middle, The Merchant of Venice, The New Place and Secret Injury, Secret Revenge. His additional stage credits include appearing in Washington, D.C. at the Arena Stage in the title role of The Great White Hope, and in The Long Walk and Jack and Jill. In February 2016, Ali made his New York Broadway debut in Kenny Leon's Smart People.

Born in Oakland, California and raised in Hayward, Ali received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications at St. Mary's College. He made his professional debut performing with the California Shakespeare Festival in Orinda, California. Soon after, he earned his Master's degree in acting from New York University's prestigious graduate program.
BornFebruary 16, 1974
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 16, 1974
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000244
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 84 wins & 96 nominations total

    Mahershala Ali: From "4400" to 'Green Book'

    Image for: Mahershala Ali: From

    Mahershala Ali: From "4400" to 'Green Book'

    Image for: Mahershala Ali: From
    Mahershala Ali is perhaps best known for his performances in "House of Cards" and Moonlight, and has been nominated for his second Oscar for Green Book. What other roles has he played?
    Watch now
    3:58

    Photos392

    + 387

    Known for

    Leave the World Behind
    6.4
    • G. H. Scott
    • 2023
    Swan Song
    6.8
    • Cameron
    • Jack
    • 2021
    Green Book
    8.2
    • Dr. Donald Shirley
    • 2018
    Moonlight
    7.4
    • Juan
    • 2016

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • Jurassic World: Rebirth
      • Duncan Kincaid
      • Completed
      • 2025
    • Wildwood
      • Brenden (voice)
      • In Production
      • 2026
    • Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
      • Aaron Davis (voice)
      • In Production
      • 2027
    • Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother
      • In Production
    • Blade
      • Blade
      • In Development



    • Leave the World Behind
      6.4
      • G. H. Scott
      • 2023
    • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
      8.5
      • Uncle Aaron (voice)
      • 2023
    • Swan Song
      6.8
      • Cameron
      • Jack
      • 2021
    • Eternals
      6.2
      • Eric Brooks
      • Blade (voice, uncredited)
      • 2021
    • Invincible
      8.7
      TV Series
      • Titan (voice)
      • 2021
    • Ramy
      8.0
      TV Series
      • Sheikh Malik
      • 2020
    • True Detective
      8.9
      TV Series
      • Detective Wayne Hays
      • 2019
    • Alita: Battle Angel
      7.3
      • Vector
      • 2019
    • Room 104
      6.1
      TV Series
      • Franco
      • 2018
    • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
      8.4
      • Uncle Aaron (voice)
      • 2018
    • Green Book
      8.2
      • Dr. Donald Shirley
      • 2018
    • Madden NFL 18: Longshot
      6.9
      Video Game
      • Cutter Wade
      • 2017
    • Comrade Detective
      7.2
      TV Series
      • Coach (voice)
      • 2017
    • Roxanne Roxanne
      6.2
      • Cross
      • 2017
    • Hidden Figures
      7.8
      • Colonel Jim Johnson
      • 2016

    Producer



    • Swan Song
      6.8
      • producer (produced by, p.g.a.)
      • 2021
    • We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest
      7.1
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Taste the Revolution
      7.1
      • executive producer
      • 2003

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos85

    Clip 1:57
    Mahershala Ali | Career Retrospective
    Clip 3:24
    How the MCU Might Meet the Mutants
    Clip 3:24
    How the MCU Might Meet the Mutants
    Clip 4:21
    Where Blade Could Make His Debut in Phase Four
    Clip 3:20
    2019 Golden Globes Big Winners
    Clip 2:50
    IMDbrief: What You Missed in the 'Spider-Verse'
    Clip 1:24
    'Kicks': Flaco

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official site
      • Instagram
    • Alternative names
      • Mahershalalhashbaz Ali
    • Height
      • 6′ 2″ (1.88 m)
    • Born
      • February 16, 1974
      • Oakland, California, USA
    • Spouse
      • Amatus Karim AliJune 27, 2013 - present (1 child)
    • Children
      • Bari Najma Ali
    • Parents
        Willicia Gilmore (Goines)
    • Other works
      While at NYU, appeared in productions of "Blues for an Alabama Sky", "The School for Scandal", "A Lie of the Mind", "A Doll's House", "Monkey in the Middle", "The Merchant of Venice", "The New Place" and "Secret Injury, Secret Revenge".
    • Publicity listings
      • 3 Interviews
      • 4 Articles
      • 4 Magazine Cover Photos

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Drama from the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University (2000).
    • Quotes
      'Mahershala' is my nickname.
    • Trademark
        Deep smooth voice
    • Nickname
      • Ali

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is Mahershala Ali?
      51 years old
    • When was Mahershala Ali born?
      February 16, 1974
    • Where was Mahershala Ali born?
      Oakland, California, USA
    • What is Mahershala Ali's birth name?
      Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore
    • How tall is Mahershala Ali?
      6 feet 2 inches, or 1.88 meters

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