Age: 52
male
Mahershala Ali (/məˈhɜːrʃələ/ mə-HUR-shə-lə; born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore on February 16, 1974) is an American actor. He has received multiple accolades, including two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019, and in 2020, The New York Times ranked him among the 25 greatest actors of the 21st century. After pursuing an MFA degree from New York University, Ali began his career as a regular on television series Crossing Jordan (2001–02) and Threat Matrix (2003–04), before his breakthrough role as Richard Tyler in the science fiction series The 4400 (2004–07). His first major film role was in the David Fincher-directed fantasy The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). He gained wider attention for supporting roles in the final two films of the original The Hunger Games film series and in House of Cards, for which he received his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination. Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances as a drug dealer in the drama Moonlight (2016) and as Don Shirley in the comedy-drama Green Book (2018). He is the first Black actor to win two Academy Awards in the same category and the second Black actor to win multiple acting Oscars. Ali won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program for executive producing We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest (2020). In 2019, he played a troubled police officer in the third season of the HBO anthology crime series True Detective, and in 2020, he starred in the second season of the Hulu comedy-drama series Ramy. He was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards for both performances. Ali has also played Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes in the first season of the Netflix series Luke Cage (2016) and voiced Aaron Davis in the animated films Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). Description above from the Wikipedia article Mahershala Ali, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Mahershala Ali
Davis Ruffin
for Davis Ruffin in Ain't No Mountain High Enough: The Tammi Terrell Story
Suggested by kamsismith
Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement and the cultural revolution of the 1960s, this biographical drama traces the extraordinary journey of Tammi Terrell, a talented young singer from Philadelphia. From her humble beginnings in the church choir to her meteoric rise in the music industry, Tammi's story is one of resilience, love, and unbreakable bonds. As Tammi's career takes off at Motown Records, she is paired with the charismatic Marvin Gaye, and together they create timeless classics that redefine the soul music genre. However, behind the spotlight, Tammi grapples with a secret medical condition that threatens to derail her career and dreams. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" paints a vivid portrait of Tammi's struggle to balance fame, friendship, and love. The film explores her tempestuous yet inspiring relationship with Marvin Gaye, as they become one of music's most iconic duos. It also delves into the challenges she faces as a black woman in a predominantly white industry, shedding light on the racial and gender dynamics of the era. As Tammi's health deteriorates, her journey takes a heart-wrenching turn. Her courage and resilience in the face of adversity inspire those around her and leave an enduring legacy that transcends time and music.
