Hollywood Power Couples

Creative Power Couples

Ever wondered who the creators are behind some of your favorite TV shows? Sure, the actors and actresses are great, but without the writers, producers, directors, and cinematographers, we would have (you guessed it) nothing!

So, who are these people? Society is no stranger to power couples and neither is Hollywood, especially in the world of TV. Some of these creators are behind classic TV shows and movies such as Love & Basketball, Soul Food (TV Series), Moesha, Love Is_____, The Jamie Foxx Show, Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane, and many more.

Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil

Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil’s love story is very interesting. In fact, they recently released their latest hit show, Love Is on the OWN Network. This particular show is very unique since it is based on their own authentic love story that dates back to the mid-1990s in Los Angeles, California.

Mara Brock Akil arrived in Los Angeles, fresh-faced and ready to start her career as a writer in Hollywood. It wasn’t long before she landed a job as a staff writer on various TV shows such as South Central, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Moesha. It was on the set of the hit series, Moesha, that she met the aspiring director who would later become her future husband, Salim Akil.

By 1999, Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil were married and already aspiring to do big things in Hollywood. Salim Akil went on to direct Showtime’s Series, Soul Food, which depicted the everyday joys and struggles of a working-class African American family on the Southside of Chicago in the early 2000s. Soul Food went down in history as the longest-running drama series with a predominantly Black cast.

By the year 2000, Mara Brock Akil created the series, Girlfriends, which ran from 2000 to 2008 (a total of eight seasons). The series depicted the single lives of four African American women in Los Angeles, California. In 2006, Mara Brock Akil created a spinoff of Girlfriends, called The Game. This particular series explored the life of a medical student who gave up her own aspirations in order to support her boyfriend’s dream of being a star football player.

As of late, Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil have delved into different genres as well. They are now exploring the comic book world with their new series, Black Lightning, which explores the conflict between family life and being a superhero in a crime-ridden city. Creating their first superhero drama series was definitely a huge milestone in both of their careers due to the fact that neither one of them had ever explored that particular story world. Clearly, the Akils are broadening their horizons in the world of TV by delving into various projects outside of their comfort zone.

The formula for this Hollywood power couple is very simple. Mara Brock Akil brings her love of writing and development to the table while Salim Akil brings his talented cinematography and directing skills. Together, they are able to work at their own individual paces and focus on their specific strengths while striving to reach a common goal.

People say that working closely with your spouse can't be done, but the Akils have definitely proved their critics wrong by creating project after project for nearly 20 years without fail. Even more amazing than their killer TV projects are their two sons Yasin Ali Akil (14) and Nasir Lukmon Akil (9). The couple resides in Los Angeles, California and has managed to stay grounded due to their devout Muslim beliefs.

It’s safe to say that Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil have no intentions of slowing down anytime soon and let's be honest. Why would we want them to?