Mahershala Ali Rank
About Mahershala Ali
Mahershala Ali is a legendary American actor and rapper. The multiple award-winning actor’s popularity in the movie industry and two decades of experience earned him a spot in Time magazine’s as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.
Early Life
Ali was born in Oakland, California, to parents Willicia Goines and Phillip Gilmore. Growing up in Hayward, California, he was raised in a strong Christian household as his mother was an ordained Baptist minister. However, his father worked as an actor; appearing on Broadway.
In 1996, he earned his degree in mass communication from St. Mary’s College of California in Moraga. Four years later, he graduated from New York University with a master’s degree in fine arts (MFA).
Early Career
Although Ali’s acting career began in 2001, when he starred in television series “Crossing Jordan”, he had his first major film role in 2008 the fantasy film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, directed by famed American filmmaker David Fincher. His performance in Fincher’s movie earned him his first Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination.
Other Career Highlights
Between 2003 and 2004, he appeared in 15 episodes of the American drama TV series “Threat Matrix”, where he starred alongside James Denton, Kelly Rutherford, and Will Lyman, among others.
Ali was portrayed as Richard Tyler in the sci-fi TV series “The 4400”.
Ali voiced the Marvel Comics character, Blade, in the 2021 superhero film, “Eternals”. The role had been previously played by African-American actor Wesley Snipes.
He has also ventured into rap music. He signed to the record label, Hieroglyphics Imperium. His first album, Corner Ensemble, was released in 2016.
True Detective: Season 3
One of his memorable roles was when he portrayed a distressed officer in the third season of HBO anthology crime series “True Detective” in 2019. In that series, he starred alongside Carmen Ejogo, Stephen Dorff, and Ray Fisher, among others. His performance in the series earned him a number of nominations, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Emmy Award.
Moonlight and Other Accomplishments
For his performance in the 2016 drama film “Moonlight”, he received the Academy Award for “Best Supporting Actor”. Two years later, he received that award again for his moving portrayal of the character Dr. Don Shirley in Peter Farrelly-directed film “Green Book”. In the film, Ali starred alongside Viggo Mortensen and Linda Cardellini.
At the African-American Film Critics Association event in 2016, he went home with the award for “Best Supporting Actor”.
The film “Moonlight” helped Ali claim other awards, including from BET Awards (for “Best Actor), Black Reel Awards, Boston Society of Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics Association, and Critics’ Choice Awards.
Ali is a multiple Screen Actors Guild Award-winner. He won his first Screen Actors Guild Award in 2017 for his performance in “Moonlight”. His second came for his role as Jim Johnson in “Hidden Figures”. His third award came for his performance in “Green Book”.
As of 2022, he has received a BAFTA Award and has been nominated three times.
Ali received his first Golden Globe Award in 2019 for his performance in “Green Book”.
In 2020, he received a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in the HBO documentary film, “We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest”.
Did you know?
He was born into a Christian home; however, he later (in 2000), converted from Christianity to Islam. He then took the name “Ali”.
In 2020, Mahershala Ali made it on the list of The New York Times’ 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century. He was ranked 23rd on the list.
Ali Mahershala is the first African American to win the Academy Award twice in the same category – i.e. Best Supporting Actor.
Prior to working with Fincher, Ali appeared in “Crossing Jordan”, a 2000s American crime drama TV series which was created by American filmmaker Tim Kring.
Mahershala Ali Rank
F.A.Q. about Mahershala Ali
When is his birthday?
Mahershala Ali's birthday is on February 16, 1974.
In how many days is his birthday?
Mahershala's birthday is in 304 days
How old is he?
He is 50 years old.
Where is Mahershala from?
He was born in Oakland, California, U.S..