---
name: "Mahershala Ali"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/mahershala-ali"
fi1m_id: "mahershala-ali"
imdb_id: "nm0991810"
tmdb_id: 932967
wikidata_id: "Q360531"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 February 1974"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 19
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 19
updated: "2026-10-22T02:17:12.451019+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Mahershala Ali

## Identity

Mahershala Ali

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/mahershala-ali
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** mahershala-ali
- **IMDb ID:** nm0991810
- **TMDB ID:** 932967
- **Wikidata ID:** Q360531
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahershala_Ali, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360531, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0991810/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/932967

Actor. Born 16 February 1974 in Oakland, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 February 1974, Oakland, California, USA
- **Active:** 2008–present
- **Also known as:** Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Mahershala Karim-Ali , Hershal Gilmore, Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore
- **Frequently works with:** [Frank Marshall](https://film.one/person/frank-marshall.md), [Janelle Monáe](https://film.one/person/janelle-monae.md), [Robert Rodriguez](https://film.one/person/robert-rodriguez.md), [Taraji P. Henson](https://film.one/person/taraji-p-henson.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscars (2 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 19 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 64 (1), 2010s 72 (10), 2020s 72 (8)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 71 across 19 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 13 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 4 of 15 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 11, Science Fiction 8, Adventure 7, Action 6, Animation 4, Crime 3
- **Screen time:** 34 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $4,902m across 12 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahershala_Ali, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360531, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0991810/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/932967

## Coming up

- *Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse* (2027-06-17), as Uncle Aaron (voice)

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse.md) (87), [*Green Book*](https://film.one/film/green-book.md) (64), [*Jurassic World Rebirth*](https://film.one/film/jurassic-world-rebirth.md) (63), [*Leave the World Behind*](https://film.one/film/leave-the-world-behind.md) (60)
- **Apple TV:** [*Hidden Figures*](https://film.one/film/hidden-figures.md) (80), [*Swan Song*](https://film.one/film/swan-song.md) (71)
- **Disney+:** [*Moonlight*](https://film.one/film/moonlight.md) (89)
- **HBO Max:** [*True Detective*](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md) (80)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*INVINCIBLE*](https://film.one/tv/invincible-2021.md) (74)
- **Pluto TV:** [*The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*](https://film.one/film/the-curious-case-of-benjamin-button.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Mahershala Ali

> Mahershala Ali makes a character’s patience worth watching, letting us feel the effort behind the courtesy. We rate that restraint highly, though warmth alone cannot repair the thin parts he is sometimes given.

On the porch in *Leave the World Behind* (2023), Mahershala Ali makes a polite conversation feel exhausting. His G.H. Scott has to prove he owns the house to Julia Roberts’s Amanda, who does not want to believe him. We felt weary on his behalf, because his patience suggests he has had to do this sort of thing before. Sam Esmail’s film later spends too long explaining what it means, but Ali has already made this encounter painfully clear.

*House of Cards* (2013) brought him wider notice before *Moonlight* (2016) and *Green Book* (2018) established him as a major film actor. Juan, the drug dealer who becomes a surrogate father in *Moonlight*, could accommodate both his calm and his ability to make a difficult man sympathetic. *Green Book* put his dignity and vulnerability to work as Dr. Don Shirley. The shift to his first film lead in *Swan Song* (2021), playing Cameron and Jack, gave him more of a film to carry.

*Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* (2018) makes particularly good use of his voice. He plays Uncle Aaron alongside Brian Tyree Henry as Miles’s father, Jefferson Davis, and their family scenes give the action a reason to matter. Ali helps make Miles’s attachments feel personal, so his choices carry some weight beyond the next set piece. Our reservation about the film is that its busiest action sometimes crowds out these people.

*Jurassic World Rebirth* (2025) gives him far less to work with as boat captain Duncan Kincaid. Gareth Edwards finds patience and scale for the dinosaurs; David Koepp’s script supplies Kincaid with a loss when a scene needs weight. Ali is warm, but there is little in the part for that warmth to attach to. We would not recommend choosing a film simply because he is in it: even an actor this capable needs more than a job description to play. Start with Uncle Aaron, and let the dinosaurs wait.

## Biography

Mahershala Ali is an American actor. Born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore on 16 February 1974 in Oakland, California, he holds a BA from Saint Mary's College of California and an MFA from New York University.

Ali began his career with regular roles in the television series Crossing Jordan (2001–02) and The 4400 (2004–07). His film work includes The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Hidden Figures (2016), the final two Hunger Games films (2014–15), and voice roles as Uncle Aaron in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). He won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for Moonlight (2016) and Green Book (2018), becoming the first Black actor to win two Oscars in that category. He has also received a BAFTA Film Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.

More recent credits include Leave the World Behind (2023) as G.H. Scott and Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) as Duncan Kincaid.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, thewrap.com, eonline.com.*

## On Fi1m (19)

- *Wildwood* (2026), Fi1m 85, as Brenden (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/wildwood.md)
- *Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother* (2026), Fi1m 77, as Latif — [page](https://film.one/film/your-mother-your-mother-your-mother.md)
- *Jurassic World Rebirth* (2025), Fi1m 63, as Duncan Kincaid — [page](https://film.one/film/jurassic-world-rebirth.md)
- *Task* (2025), Fi1m 67, as Eddie Barnes — [page](https://film.one/tv/task.md)
- *Leave the World Behind* (2023), Fi1m 60, as G.H. Scott — [page](https://film.one/film/leave-the-world-behind.md)
- *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse* (2023), Fi1m 82, as Uncle Aaron (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse.md)
- *INVINCIBLE* (2021), Fi1m 74, as Titan (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/invincible-2021.md)
- *Swan Song* (2021), Fi1m 71, as Cameron Turner — [page](https://film.one/film/swan-song.md)
- *Alita: Battle Angel* (2019), Fi1m 72, as Vector — [page](https://film.one/film/alita-battle-angel.md)
- *Green Book* (2018), Fi1m 64, as Dr. Don Shirley — [page](https://film.one/film/green-book.md)
- *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* (2018), Fi1m 87, as Uncle Aaron (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse.md)
- *Hidden Figures* (2016), Fi1m 80, as Jim Johnson — [page](https://film.one/film/hidden-figures.md)
- *Moonlight* (2016), Fi1m 89, as Juan — [page](https://film.one/film/moonlight.md)
- *The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2* (2015), Fi1m 61, as Boggs — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-2.md)
- *The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1* (2014), Fi1m 60, as Boggs — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1.md)
- *True Detective* (2014), Fi1m 80, as Wayne Hays — [page](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md)
- *The Place Beyond the Pines* (2013), Fi1m 66, as Kofi Kancam — [page](https://film.one/film/the-place-beyond-the-pines.md)
- *Predators* (2010), Fi1m 60, as Mombasa — [page](https://film.one/film/predators.md)
- *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2008), Fi1m 64, as Tizzy Weathers — [page](https://film.one/film/the-curious-case-of-benjamin-button.md)

## Complete filmography (56)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse* (2027), as Uncle Aaron (voice)
- *Wildwood* (2026), as Brenden (voice) — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/wildwood.md)
- *Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother* (2026), as Latif — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/your-mother-your-mother-your-mother.md)
- *Task* (2025), series, as Eddie Barnes — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/task.md)
- *Jurassic World Rebirth* (2025), as Duncan Kincaid — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/jurassic-world-rebirth.md)
- *Leave the World Behind* (2023), as G.H. Scott — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/leave-the-world-behind.md)
- *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse* (2023), as Uncle Aaron (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse.md)
- *Swan Song* (2021), as Cameron Turner · Producer — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/swan-song.md)
- *Eternals* (2021), as Eric Brooks / Blade (voice) (uncredited) — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/eternals.md)
- *INVINCIBLE* (2021), series, as Titan (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/invincible-2021.md)
- *Between the World and Me* (2020), Actor
- *A World of Calm* (2020), series, as Narrator
- *We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest* (2020), Executive Producer
- *Waves* (2019), Thanks
- *Ramy* (2019), series, as Sheikh Ali Malik
- *Alita: Battle Angel* (2019), as Vector — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/alita-battle-angel.md)
- *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* (2018), as Uncle Aaron (voice) — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse.md)
- *Green Book* (2018), as Dr. Don Shirley — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/green-book.md)
- *Adnis* (2017), as Adnis
- *Room 104* (2017), series, as Franco
- *Roxanne Roxanne* (2017), as Cross
- *Hidden Figures* (2016), as Jim Johnson — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/hidden-figures.md)
- *Moonlight* (2016), as Juan — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/moonlight.md)
- *Marvel's Luke Cage* (2016), series, as Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes
- *Kicks* (2016), as Marlon
- *Free State of Jones* (2016), as Moses Washington
- *Gubagude Ko* (2016), as Ochoro
- *Race for the White House* (2016), series, as Narrator
- *The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2* (2015), as Boggs — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-2.md)
- *The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1* (2014), as Boggs — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1.md)
- *Supremacy* (2014), as Deputy Rivers
- *True Detective* (2014), series, as Wayne Hays — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md)
- *Go for Sisters* (2013), as Dez
- *The Place Beyond the Pines* (2013), as Kofi Kancam — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-place-beyond-the-pines.md)
- *House of Cards* (2013), series, as Remy Danton
- *Alcatraz* (2012), series, as Clarence Montgomery
- *Alphas* (2011), series, as Nathan Clay
- *Predators: Moments of Extraction* (2010), as Mombasa (voice) · Thanks
- *The Wronged Man* (2010), as Calvin Willis
- *Predators* (2010), as Mombasa — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/predators.md)
- *Predators: The Chosen* (2010), Actor
- *Crossing Over* (2009), as Detective Strickland
- *Lie to Me* (2009), series, as Detective Hughes
- *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2008), as Tizzy Weathers — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-curious-case-of-benjamin-button.md)
- *Umi's Heart* (2008), as Ezra
- *The 4400* (2004), series, as Richard Tyler
- *Threat Matrix* (2003), series, as Jelani Harper
- *Taste the Revolution* (2003), as Mac Laslow · Executive Producer
- *Crossing Jordan* (2001), series, as Trey Sanders
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Tombs' Security Guard
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Mark Foster
- *77 Blackout*, Actor
- *The Personal History of Rachel DuPree*, as Isaac Dupree
- *All Signs of Death*, as Gabe
- *Driver*, Actor
- *Untitled Jurassic World Rebirth Sequel*, as Duncan Kincaid

## Gallery

- ![Mahershala Ali speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Blade", along with Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson, at the San Diego Convention](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-af58d74333a5.jpg) Mahershala Ali speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Blade", along with Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson, at the San Diego Convention — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Jeremy_Renner%2C_Scarlett_Johansson_%26_Mahershala_Ali_%2848471868507%29.jpg/1280px-Jeremy_Renner%2C_Scarlett_Johansson_%26_Mahershala_Ali_%2848471868507%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kevin Feige and Mahershala Ali speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Blade", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-4aafbcc820db.jpg) Kevin Feige and Mahershala Ali speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Blade", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Kevin_Feige_%26_Mahershala_Ali_%2848471870402%29.jpg/1280px-Kevin_Feige_%26_Mahershala_Ali_%2848471870402%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Mahershala Ali speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Blade", along with Tessa Thompson and Taika Waititi, at the San Diego Convention Cen](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-920aebe21e3b.jpg) Mahershala Ali speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Blade", along with Tessa Thompson and Taika Waititi, at the San Diego Convention Cen — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Mahershala_Ali%2C_Tessa_Thompson_%26_Taika_Waititi_%2848471718456%29.jpg/1280px-Mahershala_Ali%2C_Tessa_Thompson_%26_Taika_Waititi_%2848471718456%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star of The 4400, Predators, True Detective, Green Book. (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-ed008191d04c.jpg) Star of The 4400, Predators, True Detective, Green Book. (2016) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Mahershala_Ali_%2824626829692%29.jpg/1280px-Mahershala_Ali_%2824626829692%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Mahershala Ali](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-881add337dc4.jpg) Mahershala Ali — Image via TMDB
- ![Mahershala Ali](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-88bbba6310fc.jpg) Mahershala Ali — Image via TMDB
- ![Mahershala Ali](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-8cde4f61a672.jpg) Mahershala Ali — Image via TMDB
- ![Mahershala Ali](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-b312e828675e.jpg) Mahershala Ali — Gordon  Correll, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Mahershala_Ali_%2829953410761%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Mahershala Ali](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-e63008e415c1.jpg) Mahershala Ali — Image via TMDB
- ![Mahershala Ali](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-0f6b5f0b0935.jpg) Mahershala Ali — Image via TMDB
- ![Mahershala Ali](https://film.one/media/person/8278/gallery-e6e0fc88b2f2.jpg) Mahershala Ali — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 2 won

- 2019: Best Supporting Actor (won), for *Green Book*
- 2017: Best Supporting Actor (won), for *Moonlight*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 2019: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *Green Book*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/mahershala-ali