Actor
Mahershala Ali
Born 16 February 1974 · Oakland, California, USA
Mahershala Ali is an American actor from Oakland, California, who moved from television into film in the late 2000s. He is known for dramatic supporting roles in Moonlight and Green Book, both of which won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is the first Black actor to win two Oscars in that category.
Key films
Moonlight (2016)
His role as the drug dealer Juan earned his first Oscar and made him a leading screen presence.
Green Book (2018)
His portrayal of pianist Don Shirley won a second Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
His first major film role, in a David Fincher production.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Supporting role in an acclaimed drama about NASA's Black women mathematicians, released the same year as Moonlight.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Voiced Uncle Aaron in the Oscar-winning animated hit, showing his range beyond live-action drama.
Key awards
- 2017 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Moonlight)
- 2019 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Green Book)
- 2019 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor (Green Book)
- 2019 BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor (Green Book)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 35
- 2003Taste the Revolution · as Mac LaslowActor
- 2008The Curious Case of Benjamin Button · as Tizzy WeathersActor
- 2008Umi's Heart · as EzraActor
- 2009Crossing Over · as Detective StricklandActor
- 2009The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button · as SelfActor
- 2010Predators · as MombasaActor
- 2010The Wronged Man · as Calvin WillisActor
- 2010Predators: Moments of Extraction · as Mombasa (voice)Actor
- 2010Predators: The ChosenActor
- 2013The Place Beyond the Pines · as Kofi KancamActor
- 2013Go for Sisters · as DezActor
- 2014The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 · as BoggsActor
- 2014Supremacy · as Deputy RiversActor
- 2015The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 · as BoggsActor
- 2015The Mockingjay Lives: The Making of the Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 · as Self - BoggsActor
- 2016Hidden Figures · as Jim JohnsonActor
- 2016Moonlight · as JuanActor
- 2016Free State of Jones · as Moses WashingtonActor
- 2016Kicks · as MarlonActor
- 2016Gubagude Ko · as OchoroActor
- 2017Roxanne Roxanne · as CrossActor
- 2018Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse · as Uncle Aaron (voice)Actor
- 2018Green Book · as Dr. Don ShirleyActor
- 2019Alita: Battle Angel · as VectorActor
- 2020Between the World and MeActor
- 2021Eternals · as Eric Brooks / Blade (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 2021Swan Song · as Cameron TurnerActor
- 2023Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse · as Uncle Aaron (voice)Actor
- 2023Leave the World Behind · as G.H. ScottActor
- 2023Stand · as Self - ActorActor
- 2025Jurassic World Rebirth · as Duncan KincaidActor
- 2025Jurassic World Rebirth: The Making of a New Era · as SelfActor
- 2026Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother · as LatifActor
- 2026Wildwood · as Brenden (voice)Actor
- 2027Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse · as Uncle Aaron (voice)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.