MA
Photo of Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

Actor, Writer
Born January 17, 1942Died June 3, 2016 (74 years)
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer and philanthropist. Nicknamed The Greatest, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated figures of the 20th century and as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Ali was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He began training as an amateur boxer at age 12. At 18, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics and turned professional later that year. He became a Muslim after 1961. He won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in a major upset on February 25, 1964, at age 22. On March 6, 1964, he announced that he no longer would be known as Cassius Clay but as Muhammad Ali. In 1966, Ali refused to be drafted into the military, citing his religious beliefs and ethical opposition to the Vietnam War. He was found guilty of draft evasion so he faced 5 years in prison and was stripped of his boxing titles. He stayed out of prison as he appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971, but he had not fought for nearly four years and lost a period of peak performance as an athlete. Ali's actions as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation, and he was a very high-profile figure of racial pride for African Americans during the civil rights movement and throughout his career. As a Muslim, Ali was initially affiliated with Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam (NOI). He later disavowed the NOI, adhering to Sunni Islam, and supporting racial integration like his former mentor Malcolm X.

Ali was a leading heavyweight boxer of the 20th century, and he remains the only three-time lineal champion of that division. His joint records of beating 21 boxers for the world heavyweight title and winning 14 unified title bouts stood for 35 years. He is the only fighter to have been ranked as the world's best heavyweight by BoxRec twelve times. He has been ranked among BoxRec's ten best heavyweights seventeen times, the third most in history. He won 8 fights that were rated by BoxRec as 5-Star, the third most in the history of the heavyweight division. Ali is the only boxer to be named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year six times. He has been ranked the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, and as the greatest athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated, the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC, and the third greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN SportsCentury. He was involved in several historic boxing matches and feuds, most notably his fights with Joe Frazier, such as the Fight of the Century and the Thrilla in Manila, and his fight with George Foreman, known as The Rumble in the Jungle, which has been called "arguably the greatest sporting event of the 20th century" and was watched by a record estimated television audience of 1 billion viewers worldwide, becoming the world's most-watched live television broadcast at the time. Ali thrived in the spotlight at a time when many fighters let their managers do the talking, and he was often provocative and outlandish. He was known for trash-talking, and often free-styled with rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry, anticipating elements of hip hop.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • City of Ali

Known For

  • The Greatest
  • Muhammad and Larry
  • Freedom Road
  • City of Ali
  • Tiger Slam

Featured Videos

    Filmography

    2025
    Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything · as Self - Former Boxing Champion
    2025
    2025
    2024
    Beatles '64 · as Self (archive Footage)
    2024
    Gary · as Self - Boxer
    2024
    WWE Hall of Fame · as Muhammad Ali
    2023
    Sly · as Self
    2023
    Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child · as Self (archive Footage)
    2023
    Right to Fight · as Self - Boxer
    2023
    Reggie · as Self
    2023
    Cassius X: Becoming Ali · as Self (archive Footage)
    2023
    Bill Russell: Legend (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage)
    2023
    Stand · as Self (archive Footage)
    2023
    My Father Muhammad Ali · as Self (archive Footage)
    2022
    Lola · as Self
    2022
    Say Hey, Willie Mays! · as Self (archive Footage)
    2022
    2022
    2022
    McEnroe · as Self (archive Footage) (uncredited)
    2022
    George Carlin's American Dream (TV Series) · as Self
    2022
    2021
    2021
    Ron Lyle · as Self (archive Footage)
    2021
    Citizen Ashe · as Self
    2021
    2021
    I Am Zlatan · as Self
    2021
    The Photograph · as Self
    2021
    Muhammad Ali (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage)
    2021
    2021
    2021
    Untold: Deal with the Devil · as Self - Professional Boxer (archive Footage)
    2021
    2021
    2021
    1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage)
    2021
    2021
    A Life in Ten Pictures (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage)
    2021
    Mister Candid Camera · as Self (archive Footage)
    2021
    Pelé · as Self (archive Footage)
    2021
    2021
    2020
    2020
    2020
    Da 5 Bloods · as Self (archive Footage) (uncredited)
    2020
    Be Water · as Self (archive Footage)
    2020
    Ali's Comeback · as Self (archive Footage)
    2020
    2019
    Richard Jewell · as Self
    2019
    2019
    2019
    Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am · as Self (archive Footage)
    2019
    2019
    2019
    What's My Name: Muhammad Ali (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage)
    2019
    2019
    Icons (2019) (TV Series) · as Self
    2019
    Milk · as Self
    2018
    Shut Up and Dribble (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage)
    2018
    2018
    In Search of Greatness · as Self (archive Footage)
    2018
    2018
    Black Is Beltza · as Self (voice) (archive Footage)
    2018
    Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes · as Self (archive Footage)
    2018
    Explained (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage)
    2018
    Mr. Soul! · as Self
    2018
    Andre the Giant · as Self (archive Footage)
    2018
    I Am MLK Jr. · as Self
    2018
    1968 · as Self
    2017
    2017
    2017
    Foreman · as Self - Former Heavyweight Champion
    2017
    American Made · as Self (archive Footage) (uncredited)
    2017
    2017
    2017
    The 59th Annual Grammy Awards · as Self - In Memoriam
    2016
    The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - In Memoriam
    2016
    2016
    O.J.: Made in America (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage)
    2016
    Muhammad Ali - Rumble in the Jungle · as Self (archive Footage)
    2016
    Muhammad Ali: The Greatest · as Self - 1942-2016
    2016
    O.J.: Made in America · as Self (archive Footage)
    2016
    2015
    2015
    2015
    Best of Enemies · as Self - Boxer
    2015
    2015
    The Seventies (2015) (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage)
    2015
    The Draft · as Self
    2014
    Pawn Sacrifice · as Self
    2014
    I Am Ali · as Self (archive Footage)
    2014
    WWE Hall of Fame · as Self
    2013
    2013
    2013
    Muhammad Ali: The Greatest · as Self (archival Footage)
    2013
    Sir David Frost: That Was the Life That Was · as Self - Interviewee On 'frost On Friday'
    2013
    Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight · as Himself (archive Footage)
    2013
    2013
    2013
    2013
    2012
    2012
    Undertaker: The Streak - 20-0 · as Self (archive Footage)
    2012
    2012
    I Am Bruce Lee · as Self
    2012
    2012
    Bizarre Foods America (TV Series) · as Self
    2011
    The Real Rocky · as Self (archive Footage)
    2011
    2011
    2010
    2010
    2010
    2009
    Muhammad and Larry · as Himself
    2009
    2009
    2009
    2009
    2008
    Soul Power · as Self (archive Footage)
    2008
    Thrilla in Manila · as Himself (archive Footage)
    2008
    2008
    2008
    2008
    Gonzo · as Self (archive Footage)
    2008
    Tyson · as Self (archive Footage)
    2008
    The Night James Brown Saved Boston · as Self (archive Footage)
    2008
    2008
    2008
    2007
    2007
    Balls of Fury · as Self
    2007
    2006
    Ali Rap · as Himself
    2006
    2006
    2006
    2006
    2005
    2005
    The World's Most Photographed (TV Series) · as Self
    2005
    Dancing with the Stars (TV Series) · as Self - Audience Member
    2005
    Soul Deep (TV Series) · as Self
    2004
    2004
    2004
    TV in Black: The First Fifty Years · as Self (archive Footage)
    2004
    Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self
    2003
    2003
    2003
    2003
    2002
    Solino · as Self
    2002
    2002
    2002
    Monday Night Mayhem · as Self (archive Footage)
    2002
    2001
    2001
    2001
    2001
    Piñero · as Self
    2001
    2001
    Democracy Now! (TV Series) · as Self
    2001
    2001
    Fidel · as Self
    2001
    2001
    Muhammad Ali: The Greatest · as Self (archive Footage)
    2001
    2000
    Hendrix · as Self (with Reporters)
    2000
    2000
    2000
    1999
    1999
    1999
    1999
    The Hurricane · as Self
    1999
    Independent Lens (TV Series) · as Self
    1999
    Life · as Self
    1999
    SportsCentury (TV Series) · as Self
    1999
    1998
    1998
    The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts · as Self - Roastee (archive Footage)
    1997
    1996
    1996
    1996
    Die Muhammad Ali Story (TV Series) · as Muhammad Ali
    1995
    Tyson · as Self
    1995
    1994
    Halloween Havoc · as Himself (ringside)
    1994
    Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Self
    1994
    1993
    1993
    Fame in the 20th Century (TV Series) · as Self
    1992
    Malcolm X · as Self - Handshake With Malcolm
    1992
    HBO First Look (TV Series) · as Self
    1992
    Dateline NBC (TV Series) · as Self
    1992
    1991
    1990
    1990
    Outside the Lines (TV Series) · as Self
    1989
    1989
    The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) · as Self
    1989
    WWF: Wrestlemania's Greatest Matches · as Self - Special Guest Refree
    1988
    1986
    Our World (TV Series) · as Self
    1985
    Doin' Time · as Himself
    1983
    1983
    Frontline (TV Series) · as Self
    1982
    Wogan (TV Series) · as Self
    1982
    Late Night With David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self
    1981
    Body and Soul · as Himself
    1980
    1980
    Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War (TV Series) · as Self
    1978
    Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) · as Muhammad Ali
    1978
    Vega$ (TV Series) · as Muhammad Ali
    1977
    Muhammad Ali vs. Earnie Shavers · as Self - Defending Champion
    1977
    1977
    The 49th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter
    1977
    1976
    1976
    The Captain and Tennille (TV Series) · as Self
    1976
    Cos (TV Series) · as Self
    1976
    The Jacksons (TV Series) · as Self
    1976
    1976
    1976
    The Sonny & Cher Show (TV Series) · as Self
    1975
    1975
    1975
    1975
    1975
    Apostrophes (TV Series) · as Self
    1975
    Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self
    1974
    1974
    1974
    Dinah! (TV Series) · as Self
    1974
    The Frost Interview (TV Series) · as Self
    1974
    Am laufenden Band (TV Series) · as Self
    1974
    1973
    Ali the Fighter · as Self
    1973
    Tomorrow with Tom Snyder (TV Series) · as Self
    1973
    WWF on MSG Network (TV Series) · as Self
    1972
    1972
    Money Talks · as Self
    1972
    Malcolm X · as Self (archive Footage)
    1972
    WWF Championship Wrestling (TV Series) · as Self
    1972
    Black Rodeo · as Self
    1972
    The ABC comedy hour (TV Series) · as Self
    1971
    Parkinson (TV Series) · as Self
    1971
    1971
    1970
    1970
    The Flip Wilson Show (TV Series) · as Self
    1970
    The Super Fight · as Himself
    1969
    1968
    60 Minutes (TV Series) · as Self - Former Heavyweight Champion (segment "the Greatest")
    1968
    Soul! (TV Series) · as Self
    1968
    The Dick Cavett Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
    1967
    The Phil Donahue Show (TV Series) · as Self
    1967
    1966
    1966
    Firing Line (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
    1965
    1964
    1963
    The Jerry Lewis Show (TV Series) · as Self
    1963
    Das aktuelle Sportstudio (TV Series) · as Self - Guest In Studio
    1962
    Requiem for a Heavyweight · as Himself (as Cassius Clay)
    1962
    1962
    The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self
    1961
    The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self
    1961
    The New Steve Allen Show (TV Series) · as Self - As Cassius Clay
    1955
    This is Your Life (UK) (TV Series) · as Self
    1952
    Today (TV Series) · as Self
    1950
    The Bob Hope Show (TV Series) · as Self
    1950
    What's My Line? (TV Series) · as Self - Mystery Guest
    1948
    The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Self - Dramatic Speaker

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