Salim Akil
Birth Name:
Salim Akil
Birth Place:
Oakland, California, United States
Profession
Director, Producer, Writer, Actor
Fast Facts
- When his CW series "The Game" was canceled, a letter-writing campaign from fans helped the show land at BET as part of a multi-year deal
- He worked in a mortuary for five years and a clinic for psychiatric outpatients for another five years before starting his career as a writer and director
- Quote: "(On complaints about Hollywood's lack of diversity) "You change the landscape in Hollywood with action, not words․ My wife and I just want to change that conversation with our work․""
- Quote: "(On musicians as actors): "They're artists and they understand emotion, and they convey emotion in a really special way․""
- Quote: "(On working with his spouse, screenwriter Mara Brock Akil) "I think the pros are that you always have someone who has your back, that you can trust, and who's going to give you an honest opinion․""
- Quote: "(On working with Whitney Houston in "Sparkle") "Whitney would tell me point blank, I lived this and that's not the way it happens․ She always was very honest and very real about what that life [drug abuse] was about․""
- His 2012 remake of the musical film "Sparkle" was "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks' film debut, and it became singer-actress Whitney Houston's last feature film appearance
Awards
- 2007Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series:Nominated
- 2008Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series:Nominated
- 2012Black Reel - Best Director:Nominated
- 2012Image Award - Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series:Winner
- 2012Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series:Nominated
- 2012Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television):Winner
- 2013Black Reel - Best Director:Nominated
- 2014Black Reel - Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series:Nominated
- 2016Image Award - Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series:Nominated
- 2017Jury Prize - Best Short Film:Nominated
- 2018Black Reel - Outstanding Directing, Drama Series:Nominated
- 2018Black Reel - Outstanding Drama Series:Winner
- 2019Black Reel - Outstanding Directing, Drama Series:Nominated