Mahershala Ali — Full Biography | Nazaara Box

👶 Early Life & Education

Full Name: Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore
Date of Birth: February 16, 1974
Place: Oakland, California, USA
Background: Raised by his mother, a Baptist minister, in Hayward after his father (a dancer) left. Named after a biblical figure, he converted to Islam in 2000 and joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, adopting the name Mahershala Ali.

Education:
- St. Mary’s College of California (BA, Mass Communication, 1996)
- NYU Tisch School of the Arts (MFA in Acting, 2000)

🎬 Acting Career

📺 Early Roles (2001–2010)

• Crossing Jordan, Threat Matrix, The 4400 (as Richard Tyler)
• Guest roles in Law & Order: SVU, Lie to Me, Treme

🎥 Breakthrough Films

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
• Predators (2010), The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 (2014–2015)

🏆 Academy Award Wins

• Moonlight (2016) – Best Supporting Actor (First Muslim actor to win an Oscar)
• Green Book (2018) – Best Supporting Actor again (portrayed pianist Dr. Don Shirley)

🌟 Other Major Roles

• Remy Danton in House of Cards (Emmy-nominated)
• Detective Wayne Hays in True Detective Season 3
• Marvel’s Luke Cage as Cottonmouth
• Voice of Uncle Aaron in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
• Upcoming: Starring in Marvel’s Blade reboot (2025)

👨 Personal Life

• Married to Amatus Sami-Karim since 2013 (met at NYU)
• One daughter, Bari Najma Ali, born in 2017
• Known for poetry, calm presence, and love for hip-hop and spoken word

🏅 Awards & Recognition

• 2× Academy Awards (Moonlight, Green Book)
• 1× BAFTA, 1× Golden Globe, 3× SAG Awards, Critics’ Choice Award
• Multiple Emmy nominations
• Named to Time’s 100 Most Influential People (2019)
• Featured in NYT’s “25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century” (2020)

💡 Legacy & Summary

Mahershala Ali is a pioneering artist: the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar, a master of character-driven roles, and a cultural trailblazer. His career is a blend of elegance, discipline, and transformative storytelling—set to continue with his role in Marvel’s Blade.

Sources: Wikipedia, Britannica