Mahershala Ali also known as Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore. Ali is an American actor who was born on February 16, 1974. Among the many awards he has won are two Academy Awards, a Primetime Emmy, and a Golden Globe.
For his roles as Don Shirley in the comedy-drama Green Book (2018) and as a drug dealer in the drama Moonlight (2016), Ali was awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is the first Black actor to win two Academy Awards in the same category, the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar, and the second Black actor to win multiple acting Oscars.
In 2020, The New York Times listed him as one of the top 25 actors of the 21st century, and in 2019, Time magazine listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Quick Info
| REAL NAME | Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore |
| NICKNAME | Mahershala Ali |
| BORN | February 16, 1974 |
| AGE | 49 years old (2023) |
| BIRTHPLACE | Oakland, California |
| NATIONALITY | American |
| PROFESSION | Actor, Rapper |
| SPOUSE | Amatus Sami-Karim |
| NET WORTH | $12 Million |
| HEIGHT | 6 feet 1 inches (187cm) |
How was the early life of Mahershala Ali?
The birthplace of Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore is Oakland, California. His mother was a Baptist minister with ordination. His father was a Broadway actor, so acting was in the family’s blood. After high school, Ali studied mass communication at St. Mary’s College of California, where he got his degree in 1996.
On a basketball scholarship, he attended the school; however, he eventually lost interest in pursuing an athletic career and switched to acting. After getting his degree during this time, he worked as an apprentice at the California Shakespeare Theater and made several stage appearances.
After that, he took a break before enrolling in New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. After achieving his master’s degree in 2000, he converted to Islam and started pursuing a career in acting.
Mahershala Ali career
Because of the controversy surrounding his full name, Mahershalalhashbaz finally decided to shorten it to just “Mahershala”. From 2001 until 2010, he stuck to the previous version, only shortening it when someone told him his name was too long to fit on the movie poster for “The Place Beyond the Pines“. Ali got his start in acting on television, booking a notable part in “Crossing Jordan” in 2001.
Alongside a star-studded cast that included Ryan Gosling, Ray Liotta, Bradley Cooper, and Eva Mendes, Ali secured another significant film role in 2012. Despite having a $15 million budget, the movie made $47 million, which indicates that it was a moderate commercial success.
After landing more movie parts, he took on the lead role in “Moonlight”. On a $1.5 million budget, the movie made over $65 million in revenue and received extremely positive reviews from critics. More significantly, he received special recognition and took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He gained fame over the next few years by starring in films like “Alita: Battle Angel“, “Eternals“, and “Swan Song“.
Notable roles in television shows like “Luke Cage“, “True Detective“, and “Ramy” were also consistently booked by him. Furthermore, Ali made a name for himself as a voice actor in animated movies like “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and video games like “Madden 18: Longshot“.
Ali Music career
In the late 2000s, Ali recorded rap music under the name Prince Ali and signed to the Bay Area record label Hieroglyphics Imperium. He released Corner Ensemble, his debut album, in 2006, and Curb Side Service, his second album, in 2007. Rather than going on tour to promote the albums, he decided to concentrate on his acting career.
Ali made an appearance on the album “House Of Cards” by rapper Hus Kingpin in 2015. He used the name to rap on the track “House Of Card Gods” and lend his voice to skits. He appeared as a guest on two albums by Keith Murray: Lord Of The Metaphor 2 (2019) with Casual and Planet Asia, and The Long Goodbye (2020) with Riz Ahmed.
Mahershala Ali personal life
In 2000, Ali became an Ahmadiyya Muslim and changed his surname from Gilmore to Ali. After the September 11 attacks, he has talked about experiencing racial profiling at banks and airports. Ali is married to musician and actress Amatus Sami-Karim, and their first child, a daughter, was born in February 2017.
Hip-hop passionate Ali has stated in multiple interviews that his favorite artists are Planet Asia, Roc Marciano, Mach-Hommy, Pink Siifu, Fly Anakin & Mutant Academy, Mick Jenkins, Sage Elsesser, EARTHGANG, Westside Gunn, Hus Kingpin, & SmooVth.
How much is Mahershala Ali worth?
Mahershala Ali is a well-known American actor with a net worth of $12 million US dollars. He has starred in several movies throughout his career, leading some publications to name him among the world’s most influential individuals and the best actors of the present era.
It was reported in 2018 that Ali had purchased a $2.05 million house in the Mt. Washington neighborhood of Los Angeles.
