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American actor Mahershala Ali’s extraordinary skill has won him several important accolades as well as widespread praise. Not only has he garnered critical praise for his work in cinema and television, but his efforts have also solidified his status as one of the most significant and respected performers of his time.
Biography
Mahershala Ali was born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore on February 16, 1974. Ali, who was born in Oakland, California, got his unique name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz, from the second child of the prophet Isaiah, who is described in the Book of Isaiah. Growing up in a Christian home in Hayward, California, he was raised by his father, Broadway performer Phillip Gilmore, and his mother, Willicia Goines, an ordained Baptist pastor.
Ali started his acting career after earning his MFA from New York University. At first, he was well-known for his parts in TV shows like “Threat Matrix” (2003–04) and “Crossing Jordan” (2001–02). But a major turning point in his career came with his breakout performance as Richard Tyler in the science fiction series “The 4400” (2004–07).
David Fincher’s fantasy film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008) served as Ali’s cinematic debut. With supporting roles in the last two Hunger Games movies and the critically acclaimed political drama series “House of Cards,” he attracted more notice and was nominated for his first Primetime Emmy Award.
Ali’s performances in “Moonlight” (2016) and “Green Book” (2018) represented the apex of his career. His depiction of a sympathetic drug dealer in “Moonlight” won him the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award, making him the first Muslim actor to hold that distinction. Ali became the first Black actor to win two Oscars in the same category and the second Black actor to win multiple acting Oscars for his portrayal of Don Shirley in “Green Book.”
Apart from his Academy Awards, Ali’s talent also shines on television. His executive production of “We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest” brought him a 2020 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program.
Ali was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards for his roles in the Hulu comedy-drama series “Ramy” (2020) and the HBO crime series “True Detective” (2019), showcasing his diverse talent even more. Along with acting as Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes in the Netflix series “Luke Cage” (2016), he has also provided the voice of Aaron Davis in the highly anticipated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and its follow-up “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (2023) animated features.
Who is Mahershala Ali’s Wife?
Mahershala Ali is married to actress and musician Amatus Sami-Karim. They have a daughter born in February 2017.
Mahershala Ali’s Religion
Mahershala Ali is a Muslim. In 2000, he converted to Ahmadiyya Islam changing his surname from Gilmore to Ali.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahershala_Ali
https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a25991079/amatus-sami-karim-mahershala-ali-wife/
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