Mahershala Ali Trivia

Mahershala Ali trivia highlights the career of the American actor whose acclaimed work has earned him two Academy Awards, along with honors including a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and a Primetime Emmy. From major dramatic roles to lighter behind-the-scenes facts, this page offers a concise, family-friendly way to test what you know about one of his generation’s most celebrated performers.

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Easy Mahershala Ali Trivia

13 questions

These easy Mahershala Ali trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.

  1. Question 1

    What professional name does Mahershala Ali use in his acting career?

    Answer: Mahershala Ali

    Mahershala Ali uses Mahershala Ali is his professional name.

  2. Question 2

    In what California city was Mahershala Ali born?

    Answer: Oakland, California

    He was born in Oakland, California.

  3. Question 3

    On what date was Mahershala Ali born?

    Answer: February 16, 1974

    Mahershala Ali was born on February 16, 1974.

  4. Question 4

    What is Mahershala Ali's birth name?

    Answer: Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore

    His birth name is Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore.

  5. Question 5

    Mahershala Ali is an actor from which country?

    Answer: The United States

    Mahershala Ali is an American actor.

  6. Question 6

    How many Academy Awards has Mahershala Ali won?

    Answer: Two

    He has won two Academy Awards.

  7. Question 7

    For which film did Mahershala Ali win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor: Moonlight, Hidden Figures, or Blade?

    1. A.Hidden Figures
    2. B.True Detective
    3. C.Moonlight

    Answer: Moonlight

    He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Moonlight.

  8. Question 8

    Mahershala Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for which movie about Don Shirley?

    Answer: Green Book

    He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Green Book.

  9. Question 9

    Who did Mahershala Ali play in Green Book?

    Answer: Don Shirley

    In Green Book, Mahershala Ali played Don Shirley.

  10. Question 10

    In Moonlight, what character was played by Mahershala Ali?

    Answer: Juan

    He played Juan in Moonlight.

  11. Question 11

    Mahershala Ali appeared in which film about Black women working in the space race?

    Answer: Hidden Figures

    Mahershala Ali appeared in Hidden Figures.

  12. Question 12

    What was Mahershala Ali's character name in Hidden Figures?

    Answer: Colonel Jim Johnson

    In Hidden Figures, he played Colonel Jim Johnson.

  13. Question 13

    On House of Cards, Mahershala Ali played which character?

    Answer: Remy Danton

    He played Remy Danton on House of Cards.

Mahershala Ali Family Trivia

12 questions

These family Mahershala Ali trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.

  1. Question 1

    Which high school did Mahershala Ali graduate from?

    Answer: Mount Eden High School.

    Mahershala Ali graduated from Mount Eden High School.

  2. Question 2

    What college did Mahershala Ali attend in California?

    Answer: Saint Mary's College of California.

    He attended Saint Mary's College of California.

  3. Question 3

    Saint Mary's College of California, where Mahershala Ali studied, is located in what town?

    Answer: Moraga, California.

    Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, California.

  4. Question 4

    What subject did Mahershala Ali earn his college degree in?

    Answer: Mass communication.

    He earned a degree in mass communication.

  5. Question 5

    Besides studying, what sport did Mahershala Ali play at Saint Mary's?

    Answer: Basketball.

    Mahershala Ali played college basketball at Saint Mary's.

  6. Question 6

    At which university did Mahershala Ali study acting?

    Answer: New York University.

    He studied acting at New York University.

  7. Question 7

    What graduate degree did Mahershala Ali earn from New York University?

    Answer: An MFA.

    Mahershala Ali earned an MFA from New York University.

  8. Question 8

    On which TV series did Mahershala Ali play Dr. Trey Sanders?

    Answer: Crossing Jordan.

    He played Dr. Trey Sanders on Crossing Jordan.

  9. Question 9

    Mahershala Ali trained at which NYU school for the arts?

    Answer: Tisch School of the Arts.

    He trained at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

  10. Question 10

    What was the name of Mahershala Ali's first regular television character?

    Answer: Dr. Trey Sanders.

    His first regular television role was Dr. Trey Sanders on Crossing Jordan.

  11. Question 11

    What is the name of Mahershala Ali's daughter?

    Answer: Bari Najma Ali.

    Mahershala Ali has a daughter named Bari Najma Ali.

  12. Question 12

    Mahershala Ali's father worked as what?

    Answer: An actor.

    His father worked is an actor.

Fun Mahershala Ali Trivia

13 questions

These fun Mahershala Ali trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.

  1. Question 1

    In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which character did Mahershala Ali portray?

    Answer: Bogs Diamond

    Mahershala Ali portrayed Bogs Diamond in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

  2. Question 2

    Which movie in Mahershala Ali's filmography has the delightfully long title The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?

    Answer: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

    Mahershala Ali appeared in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

  3. Question 3

    On the sci-fi series The 4400, what was the name of Mahershala Ali's character?

    Answer: Richard Tyler

    Mahershala Ali played Richard Tyler in The 4400.

  4. Question 4

    Mahershala Ali played the memorably named Tizzy Weathers in which film?

    Answer: The Place Beyond the Pines

    Mahershala Ali played Tizzy Weathers in The Place Beyond the Pines.

  5. Question 5

    In Predators, what character did Mahershala Ali play?

    Answer: Mombasa

    Mahershala Ali played Mombasa in Predators.

  6. Question 6

    Which wonderfully hard-to-forget character name belongs to Mahershala Ali in Alita: Battle Angel?

    Answer: Nescobar-A-Lop-Lop

    Mahershala Ali played Nescobar-A-Lop-Lop in Alita: Battle Angel.

  7. Question 7

    Mahershala Ali appeared in material tied to which 'Battle Angel' film?

    Answer: Alita: Battle Angel

    Mahershala Ali appeared in Battle Angel-related material is part of Alita: Battle Angel.

  8. Question 8

    In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Mahershala Ali voiced Miles's uncle under what family nickname?

    Answer: Uncle Aaron

    Mahershala Ali voiced Uncle Aaron in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

  9. Question 9

    In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, what is the actual name of the character Mahershala Ali voiced?

    Answer: Aaron Davis

    Mahershala Ali voiced Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

  10. Question 10

    What year was Alita: Battle Angel, featuring Mahershala Ali, released?

    Answer: 2019

    Mahershala Ali appeared in the 2019 film Alita: Battle Angel.

  11. Question 11

    Time-travel by filmography: Mahershala Ali appeared in Hidden Figures in what year?

    Answer: 2016

    Mahershala Ali appeared in the 2016 film Hidden Figures.

  12. Question 12

    Green Book landed in Mahershala Ali's career in which release year?

    Answer: 2018

    Mahershala Ali appeared in the 2018 film Green Book.

  13. Question 13

    Which film stars Mahershala Ali and shares its title with a graceful bird and a final musical piece?

    Answer: Swan Song

    Mahershala Ali starred in the film Swan Song.

Funny Mahershala Ali Trivia

13 questions

These funny Mahershala Ali trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.

  1. Question 1

    On the series Ramy, Mahershala Ali popped in as a guest star on which show—just in case your TV remote forgot?

    1. A.Ramy
    2. B.Moonlight
    3. C.True Detective
    4. D.House of Cards

    Answer: Ramy

    Mahershala Ali guest-starred on Ramy.

  2. Question 2

    Mahershala Ali’s character on Ramy has a title that sounds like he could quiet a room with one glance. What is his name?

    Answer: Sheikh Malik

    His character on Ramy is named Sheikh Malik.

  3. Question 3

    True or false: Mahershala Ali won a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on Ramy.?

    Answer: True

    He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Ramy.

  4. Question 4

    Marvel cast Mahershala Ali in 2019 as which famously fanged hero with a day job in vampire hunting?

    1. A.intern
    2. B.interns
    3. C.Blade
    4. D.Doctor Strange

    Answer: Blade

    His 2019 Marvel casting was for Blade, the vampire hunter.

  5. Question 5

    Mahershala Ali’s first TV regular role came with a built-in honorific. Which title appeared before the character’s name?

    Answer: Dr.

    His first TV regular role had the title Dr. before the character’s name.

  6. Question 6

    In Green Book, Mahershala Ali played Don Shirley, a man whose fingers were much busier than most people’s calendars. What was Don Shirley’s profession?

    Answer: Pianist

    Don Shirley, is played by Mahershala Ali in Green Book, was a pianist.

  7. Question 7

    Which award did Mahershala Ali’s Green Book performance earn—proof that elegant piano scenes can come with hardware?

    1. A.Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award
    2. B.Tony Award
    3. C.BAFTA
    4. D.Primetime Emmy Award

    Answer: British Academy Film Award

    His Green Book role earned him a British Academy Film Award.

  8. Question 8

    In Hidden Figures, Mahershala Ali’s character outranks your average office manager by quite a bit. What military rank does he hold?

    1. A.General
    2. B.Colonel
    3. C.Major
    4. D.Captain

    Answer: Colonel

    His Hidden Figures character holds the rank of colonel.

  9. Question 9

    Moonlight didn’t just make people emotional; it also won the top prize. Mahershala Ali’s role helped the film win what award?

    Answer: Best Picture

    His role in Moonlight helped the film win Best Picture.

  10. Question 10

    In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Mahershala Ali voices Uncle Aaron. Uncle to whom, exactly?

    1. A.Miguel O'Hara
    2. B.Miles Morales
    3. C.Peter Parker
    4. D.Gwen Stacy

    Answer: Miles Morales

    Uncle Aaron is Miles Morales’s uncle in Spider-Verse.

  11. Question 11

    On True Detective, Mahershala Ali played Wayne Hays. What kind of job does Wayne Hays have—besides carrying the world’s most noir name?

    Answer: Detective

    Wayne Hays is a detective on True Detective.

  12. Question 12

    Mahershala Ali’s birth name, Mahershalalhashbaz, has a dramatic ring because it comes from which religious text tradition?

    Answer: The Hebrew Bible

    His birth name comes from the Hebrew Bible.

  13. Question 13

    What year was Mahershala Ali’s daughter, Bari Najma Ali, born—giving the family calendar a pretty memorable entry?

    Answer: 2017

    His daughter Bari Najma Ali was born in 2017.

Hard Mahershala Ali Trivia

14 questions

These hard Mahershala Ali trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.

  1. Question 1

    In the third season of True Detective, what was the name of Mahershala Ali's character?

    Answer: Wayne Hays

    Mahershala Ali played Wayne Hays in the third season of True Detective.

  2. Question 2

    Mahershala Ali was born in what year?

    Answer: 1974

    Mahershala Ali was born in 1974.

  3. Question 3

    For which series did Mahershala Ali win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series?

    Answer: Ramy

    He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Ramy.

  4. Question 4

    Which historical figure did Mahershala Ali portray in Green Book?

    Answer: Don Shirley

    In Green Book, Mahershala Ali's role was the historical figure Don Shirley.

  5. Question 5

    In Moonlight, Mahershala Ali played which character described as a drug dealer and mentor?

    Answer: Juan

    Mahershala Ali's Moonlight role was the drug dealer and mentor Juan.

  6. Question 6

    Who is Mahershala Ali married to?

    Answer: Amatus Sami-Karim

    Mahershala Ali's wife is Amatus Sami-Karim.

  7. Question 7

    How old was Mahershala Ali when Moonlight was released in 2016?

    Answer: 42

    He was 42 years old when Moonlight was released in 2016.

  8. Question 8

    Mahershala Ali won his second Oscar in 2019 at what age?

    Answer: 45

    Mahershala Ali was 45 years old when he won his second Oscar in 2019.

  9. Question 9

    In what year did Crossing Jordan, Mahershala Ali's first regular TV role, debut?

    Answer: 2001

    Mahershala Ali's first regular TV role, Crossing Jordan, debuted in 2001.

  10. Question 10

    Before he was Wayne Hays, Mahershala Ali worked the D.C. power game as which House of Cards character?

    Answer: Remy Danton

    On House of Cards, Mahershala Ali appeared is Remy Danton.

  11. Question 11

    Name the True Detective season tied to Mahershala Ali's portrayal of Wayne Hays.?

    Answer: The third season

    Mahershala Ali played Wayne Hays in the third season of True Detective.

  12. Question 12

    What exact Emmy category did Mahershala Ali win for his work on Ramy?

    Answer: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

    For Ramy, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

  13. Question 13

    What is the full name of Mahershala Ali's wife?

    Answer: Amatus Sami-Karim

    Mahershala Ali's wife is Amatus Sami-Karim.

  14. Question 14

    To mark his second Oscar win in 2019, what age belonged on Mahershala Ali's scoreboard?

    Answer: 45

    He was 45 years old when he won his second Oscar in 2019.

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