Mahershala Ali

Mahershala Ali is an American actor whose work in film and television includes Moonlight, Green Book, and True Detective. He is the first Black actor to win two Academy Awards for acting.

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Moonlight: A 2016 drama film directed by Barry Jenkins, following a Black man through three stages of his life. Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing Juan.
Barry Jenkins: An American filmmaker who directed Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk. Jenkins directed Ali in Moonlight, the role that earned Ali his first Oscar.
Saint Mary's College of California: A private liberal arts college in Moraga, California. Ali graduated from the college in 1996 with a degree in mass communication.
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor: An annual Academy Award honoring a supporting performance in a film. Ali won for Moonlight and Green Book, becoming the first Black actor to win two acting Oscars.
Green Book: A 2018 film about pianist Don Shirley and driver Tony Vallelonga on a concert tour in the American South. Ali won his second Academy Award for his portrayal of Don Shirley.
Peter Farrelly: An American film director and screenwriter known for comedy and the drama Green Book. Farrelly directed Ali as pianist Don Shirley in Green Book.
New York University Tisch School of the Arts: The performing, cinematic, and media arts school of New York University. Ali earned a Master of Fine Arts in acting there in 2000.
Black representation in film: The presence and portrayal of Black people in cinema, both on screen and behind the camera. Ali’s award-winning roles contribute to the visibility of Black actors in leading film industries.
True Detective: An American anthology crime-drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto. Ali leads the third season as detective Wayne Hays.
Nic Pizzolatto: An American novelist, screenwriter, and television producer who created True Detective. Pizzolatto created the series whose third season Ali headlined.