Who Is Mahershala Ali’s Wife? What Does Amatus-Sami Karim Do?

Mahershala Ali’s life is full of powerful roles and award speeches. But when he steps away from the spotlight, it’s his wife, Amatus-Sami Karim, who stands by him.

They’ve been married since 2013. But their story started way before wedding vows. They first crossed paths at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He was deep in his MFA. She was an undergrad with her own dreams.

It wasn’t love at first sight exactly. Mahershala once shared he tried to get her attention with a handwritten poem on a postcard. She brushed him off. At least at first.

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Time did its thing. There was even a stretch where they didn’t talk for 12 years. He was in LA building his career. She was in New York chasing her own path. Somehow, they found each other again. This time it stuck.

They now share life with their daughter, Bari. And even though Mahershala’s fame has grown, Amatus keeps him grounded. He once joked she calls him out quick if he starts acting bigger than life. That balance shows how deep their bond goes.

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What Does Amatus-Sami Karim Do For Work?

Amatus is no stranger to creative work herself. She wears a lot of hats. She’s a sound artist, actress, and filmmaker. She grew up in Chicago and later trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. NYU added another layer to her craft.

Early on, she worked as a composer and sound designer at the Georgia Shakespeare Festival. From there, she linked up with groups like 651 Arts, NYC Center, and People’s Light & Theatre. She’s got a rich theatre background that people sometimes miss.

Amatus has freelanced for Atlantic Theater Company too. On top of that, she’s collaborated with big names like HBO, Netflix, Hulu, and Apple.

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One standout project is the Emmy-winning documentary We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest. She was the executive producer on that. It’s just one piece of her layered career.

Fans love to know who stands behind their favorite stars. In Mahershala’s case, it’s clear Amatus is not just standing behind him—she’s building her own stage too.