Mara Brock Akil, is an American screenwriter, television producer, showrunner, and entrepreneur.
She is best known for creating the hit television series Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane, Love Is, and Forever.
Her groundbreaking work has made her one of the most influential television creators in the American entertainment industry.
| Mara Brock Akil | |
|---|---|
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Mara Dionne Brock |
| Stage Name: | Mara Brock Akil |
| Born: | May 27, 1970 (age 56 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Compton, California, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African American |
| Religion: | Sufi Islam |
| Parents: | Joan Carol Fullmore, William Bartido Brock II |
| Siblings: | William Brock III, Kara Denean Brock, Shamsie Shamsuddin, Saiid Shamsuddin, Chi’Mere Banks |
| Spouse: | Salim Akil (1999) |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Children: | Yasin Ali Akil, Nasir Lukmon Akil |
| Occupation: | Screenwriter, Television Producer, Showrunner, Entrepreneur |
| Net Worth: | $20 million |
Early life and education
Mara Brock Akil was born on May 27, 1970, in Compton, California, United States. She spent her formative years with her parents, Joan Carol Fullmore and William Bartido Brock II, before her family relocated to the Kansas City metropolitan area following her parents’ divorce.
Her ethnicity is African American, and she grew up alongside William Brock III, Kara Denean Brock, Shamsie Shamsuddin, Saiid Shamsuddin, and Chi’Mere Banks.
Her religion is Sufi Islam. She graduated from Raytown South High School in 1988 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1992.
Career
Mara Brock Akil began her television career as a writer on South Central before joining Moesha, where she progressed from writer to producer.
She later became the supervising producer of The Jamie Foxx Show, establishing herself as one of television’s rising creative talents.
Her breakthrough came in 2000 after creating Girlfriends, becoming the youngest African American showrunner on a major U.S. broadcast network.
She expanded her success by creating The Game, Being Mary Jane, Love Is, and Netflix’s Forever, while also serving as an executive producer on Black Lightning.
Alongside her husband, Salim Akil, she co-founded Akil Productions and later launched Story27, continuing to develop original television projects that highlight authentic storytelling and diverse voices.
Awards and nominations
- NAACP Image Award – Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series – Winner
- BET Comedy Award – Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series – Winner
- SHINE Award – Winner for Moesha
- Black Reel Awards for Television – Multiple nominations
- Producers Guild of America Awards – Nominations for television production work
Social media
- Instagram: @marabrockakil
Personal life
Mara Brock Akil, 56 years old, is married to Salim Akil, whom she married in 1999. The couple have two sons, Yasin Ali Akil and Nasir Lukmon Akil. There are no publicly available details about her past relationships.
Outside television production, she enjoys mentoring aspiring writers, journaling, philanthropy, and supporting educational initiatives. Her height is unknown.
Net worth
Mara Brock Akil has a net worth of $20 million USD. Her income comes from television writing, producing, showrunning, executive production, production company ventures, streaming agreements, and royalties from successful television series.
Her work on Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane, Black Lightning, and Forever has established her as one of the entertainment industry’s most successful television creators.
Filmography
- South Central (1994) – Writer
- Moesha (1996–1999) – Writer, Producer
- The Jamie Foxx Show (1999–2000) – Supervising Producer, Writer
- Girlfriends (2000–2008) – Creator, Executive Producer
- The Game (2006–2015, 2021–2022) – Creator, Executive Producer
- Cougar Town (2010) – Writer
- Sparkle (2012) – Screenwriter, Producer
- Being Mary Jane (2013–2019) – Creator, Executive Producer
- Love Is (2018) – Co-Creator, Executive Producer
- Black Lightning (2018–2021) – Executive Producer
- Forever (2025) – Creator, Executive Producer