Salim Akil | |
|---|---|
 Akil at the 2018WonderCon. | |
| Born | Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Screenwriter, producer |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Salim Akil is an American film and television producer, director, and screenwriter fromOakland, California.[1] He developed the television seriesBlack Lightning based on aDC comics characterof the same name. He is a co-founder of Akil Productions which he founded with his wifeMara Brock Akil.[2]
Akil was born in Oakland, California. He attendedColumbia College Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.[3]
Akil began his production career in 1999, working on the filmDrylongso, which played at theSundance Film Festival later that year.[4] In 2000, he worked as a staff writer and executive producer on theShowtime seriesSoul Food.[5] That same year, he founded Akil Productions, then known as Happy Camper Productions, with his wife Mara Brock Akil.[6] Mara later created the showGirlfriends, which premiered in 2000 onUPN, with Salim directing several episodes. The show's spin-offThe Game premiered in 2006 onThe CW, with Salim serving as an executive producer.[7] In 2011, he directed the filmJumping the Broom,[8] which was nominated for aBET Award for Best Movie;[9] he also won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Director in a Motion Picture for the film that same year.[10] In 2012, he directed and co-produced a remake of the filmSparkle.[11] Akil executive produced theBET seriesBeing Mary Jane, created by Mara, which premiered in 2014. In 2016, he received anNAACP Image Award nomination forOutstanding Directing in a Drama Series for the show's episode "Sparrow", as well as a nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television) forThe Start Up.[12] He later began developing the showBlack Lightning, which premiered in 2018 on The CW. He has written and directed several episodes of the series since its premiere. In February 2021, Akil confirmed a spin-off ofBlack Lightning titledPainkiller was in production.[13][14]
Akil marriedMara Brock in 1999. The two met while working on the set ofMoesha.[4] They have two sons.[7][15] He and his wife, Mara, are practicingSufi Muslims. The Akils createdLove is ___, which was based on their relationship, but was canceled after a woman accused Salim of domestic violence in an alleged extramarital affair, as well as copyright infringement by using her screenplay as the basis for the series.[16][17] A statement made by Akil's lawyers denied all allegations.[18][19]
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | NAACP Image Awards | Won | Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series (shared with Mara Brock Akil) | The Game (For episode "Parachutes...Beach Chairs") |
| Nominated | Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series[10] | |||
| Won | Outstanding Director in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television) | Jumping the Broom | ||
| 2016 | NAACP Image Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series | Being Mary Jane (For episode "Sparrow") |
| Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television) | The Start Up | |||
| 2018 | Black Reel Awards | Won | Outstanding Drama Series (Shared with Mara Brock Akil, Greg Berlanti and other producers) | Black Lightning |
