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
Luther Vandross
for Luther Vandross in Luther: The Velvet Voice
Suggested by kamsismith
"Luther: The Velvet Voice" is a soul-stirring biopic that traces the extraordinary life of Luther Vandross, whose incomparable talent and smooth vocals touched the hearts of millions. Born and raised in the Bronx, Luther's early struggles with his weight and self-esteem set the stage for a life defined by resilience and determination. The film opens with a young Luther discovering his passion for singing and showcases his journey as he navigates the vibrant music scene of the 1970s and 1980s. Along the way, Luther forms lifelong friendships with fellow artists, such as Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin, who provide insight into his character and influence on the music industry. As Luther's career blossoms, we delve into his personal life, exploring his complex relationships, including his deep connection with his mother and the challenges he faced in expressing his sexuality in an industry that demanded conformity. His enduring bond with long-time collaborator and friend, Marcus Miller, adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the creative partnership that produced some of Luther's greatest hits.
