Mahershalalhashbaz "Mahershala" Ali (born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore; February 16, 1974) is an American actor. Ali began his career as a regular on series such as Crossing Jordan and Threat Matrix before his breakthrough role as Richard Tyler in the science-fiction series The 4400. His first major film release was in the 2008 David Fincher-directed romantic fantasy drama film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. His other notable films include Predators and The Place Beyond the Pines. He played a major role in Free State of Jones, set during and after the American Civil War. Ali is best known for his recent roles as Remy Danton in House of Cards, Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes in Netflix's TV series Luke Cage, Juan in Moonlight, and Boggs in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and its sequel, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
Movie | The Personal History of Rachel DuPree | Isaac Dupree | 2025 |
Movie | All Signs of Death | Gabe | 2025 |
Movie | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | Uncle Aaron (voice) | 2023-05-31 |
Movie | Leave the World Behind | G.H. Scott | 2023-11-22 |
Movie | Eternals | Eric Brooks / Blade (voice) (uncredited) | 2021-11-03 |
Movie | Between the World and Me | 2020-11-21 | |
Movie | Alita: Battle Angel | Vector | 2019-01-31 |
Movie | Green Book | Dr. Don Shirley | 2018-11-16 |
Movie | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Uncle Aaron / Prowler (voice) | 2018-12-06 |
Movie | Roxanne Roxanne | Cross | 2017-01-22 |
Movie | Gubagude Ko | Ochoro | 2016-06-16 |
Series | Race for the White House | Narrator | 2016-03-06 |
Movie | Free State of Jones | Moses Washington | 2016-06-24 |
Movie | Moonlight | Juan | 2016-10-21 |
Movie | Hidden Figures | Jim Johnson | 2016-12-10 |
Movie | Kicks | Marlon | 2016-09-09 |
Movie | The Realest Real | The Minister | 2016-09-12 |
Series | Marvel's Luke Cage | Cornell Stokes | 2016-09-30 |
Movie | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 | Boggs | 2015-11-18 |
Movie | The Mockingjay Lives: The Making of the Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 | Self (Boggs) | 2015-03-06 |
Movie | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 | Boggs | 2014-11-19 |
Series | True Detective | Wayne Hays | 2014-01-12 |
Movie | Supremacy | Deputy Rivers | 2014-06-12 |
Movie | Go for Sisters | Dez | 2013-11-08 |
Series | House of Cards | Remy Danton | 2013-02-01 |
Movie | The Place Beyond the Pines | Kofi Kancam | 2013-03-20 |
Series | Alphas | Nathan Clay | 2011-07-11 |
Movie | The Wronged Man | Calvin Willis | 2010-10-07 |
Movie | Predators | Mombasa | 2010-07-03 |
Movie | Crossing Over | Detective Strickland | 2009-02-10 |
Movie | The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button | Self | 2009-05-05 |
Movie | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Tizzy Weathers | 2008-12-25 |
Series | Stand Up to Cancer | Himself | 2008-09-05 |
Series | The 4400 | Richard Tyler | 2004-07-11 |
Series | Threat Matrix | Jelani Harper | 2003-09-18 |
Series | Crossing Jordan | 2001-09-24 | |
Series | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Unknown | 1999-09-20 |