Mara Brock Akil, 1970
Writers · May 27, 1970
Mara Brock Akil
★ HOW OLD IS MARA BROCK AKIL?
Mara Brock Akil is 56 years old, born May 27, 1970 in United States · Gemini.
#7416of 9,291 Writers on HotBirthdays
★ LEDE
About
Mara Brock Akil built a production empire by centering Black life and romance on television. Born May 27, 1970, the American screenwriter and producer became the youngest African American showrunner on broadcast TV at 30 when she created Girlfriends (2000–08). She went on to create Being Mary Jane, The Game, and Love Is across networks including UPN, The CW, BET, OWN, and Netflix, founding Akil Productions in 2000. As a Gemini, she channels communication and storytelling into her signature blend of character-driven drama and ensemble comedy.
★ FEATURE
Biography
Mara Brock Akil built a production empire by centering Black life and romance on television. Born May 27, 1970, the American screenwriter and producer began her career at 23 writing for South Central (1994) on Fox. At 30, she became the youngest African American showrunner on broadcast TV when she created Girlfriends, which ran on UPN and The CW (2000–08), and later became the first African American female showrunner with two concurrent broadcast series when The Game debuted on The CW (2006–09) as a spin-off.
Akil went on to create Being Mary Jane (2013–19), BET's first drama series, and co-created Love Is (2018) on OWN with her husband Salim Akil. She also executive produced Black Lightning (2018–21) on The CW alongside Salim. The duo founded Akil Productions in 2000, which has become a driving force in Black television production. In 2021, she launched Story27 with Netflix, creating Forever (2025), her sixth original series.
Beyond her original creations, Akil served as writer and producer on Moesha (1996–99), The Jamie Foxx Show (1999–2000), Cougar Town (2010), and the theatrical film Sparkle (2012). Throughout the 2000s, she was the only African American showrunner to have series on air every year of the decade, with her work consistently bringing predominantly Black casts to broadcast television when few alternatives existed. Her work spans multiple genres—sitcom, drama, romance—and multiple platforms: broadcast, cable, streaming. A Gemini born in 1970, she carries Life Path 4 energy, channeling structured vision and foundation-building into her career.
★ ORIGIN
Before Fame
Mara Brock Akil began her screenwriting career at age 23 when she wrote for South Central (1994) on Fox. Before creating her breakthrough series Girlfriends at 30, she worked as a writer and producer on Moesha (1996–99) on UPN and The Jamie Foxx Show (1999–2000) on The WB.
★ SIDEBAR
Trivia
- She became the youngest African American showrunner on broadcast network television at age 30 with Girlfriends.
- Akil is the first African American female showrunner to have two series running concurrently on broadcast network TV—Girlfriends and its spin-off The Game.
- She was the only African American showrunner to have series on air every year throughout the 2000s.
- She co-created Love Is (2018) on OWN with her husband Salim Akil and founded Akil Productions with him in 2000.
- Being Mary Jane (2013–19) was BET's first drama series, which she created.
- She launched Story27 with Netflix in 2021, her sixth original series being Forever (2025).
★ SIDEBAR
Numerology
LIFE-PATH NUMBER
The Builder
Disciplined and structured. Mara Brock Akil succeed where consistency beats charisma — long catalogs, repeatable craft, slow-grow audiences.
★ ALL LIFE-PATH 4 CELEBS →★ ASTROLOGY
Birthday compatibility
By Chinese zodiac — san-he trine for best matches, opposing pair for the most friction-prone.
HIGHLY COMPATIBLE
- Hunter SchaferTiger · 1998
- Dylan WangTiger · 1998
- Kerris DorseyTiger · 1998
- AlexandraTiger · 1998
- Declan McKennaTiger · 1998
CHALLENGING
- Griffin GluckDragon · 2000
- Jade Pettyjohn
★ FAQ
Frequently asked
- How old is Mara Brock Akil?
- Mara Brock Akil is 56 years old (born May 27, 1970).
- When is Mara Brock Akil's birthday?
- Mara Brock Akil was born on May 27, 1970.
- What is Mara Brock Akil's zodiac sign?
- Mara Brock Akil is a Gemini, born May 27, 1970.
- What is Mara Brock Akil's Chinese zodiac sign?
- Mara Brock Akil was born in 1970, the year of the Metal Dog.
- Where is Mara Brock Akil from?
- Mara Brock Akil is from United States.
- What does Mara Brock Akil do?
- Mara Brock Akil is a writer.
- Is Mara Brock Akil still alive?
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