Biography
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.
Acted in 24
2020s
- 2024
WWE Hall of Fame 2024
Muhammad Ali
- 2022
The King of Miami Beach
Movie
- 2021
Earnie Shavers
Movie
2010s
- 2018
United We Stand: The Ali Summit
archival footage
- 2017
Europa: The Last Battle
TV
- 2012
When Ali Came to Britain
Movie
2000s
- 2009
When Ali Met Cathal
Muhammad Ali
- 2006
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
Muhammad Ali
1990s
- 1997
- 1996
Die Muhammad Ali Story
Muhammad Ali · 6 episodes
- 1991
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
Movie
1980s
- 1985
Doin' Time
Muhammad Ali
WrestleMania
Muhammad Ali (Enforcer)
- 1981
- 1980
1970s
- 1979
Freedom Road
Gideon Jackson
- 1978
Leon Spinks vs Muhammad Ali II
Movie
- 1977
The Greatest
Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali
1960s
- 1967
Something's Happening
Movie
- 1964
Cassius le grand
Movie
Wrote 1
1970s
- 1977
The Greatest
Novel
Created 1
1990s
- 1996
Die Muhammad Ali Story
Creator
Appearances136
2020s
- 2026
- 2025
David Frost Vs
self (archive footage) · 1 episode
- 2024
- 2023
Cassius X: Becoming Ali
Self (archive footage)
My Father Muhammad Ali
Self (archive footage)
- 2022
The Century of Icons
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
McEnroe
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2021
Muhammad Ali
Self (archive footage) · 4 episodes
Parkinson at 50
Self (archive footage)
A Life in Ten Pictures
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
Mister Candid Camera
Self (archive footage)
- 2020
70 Years of Youth Revolt
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
Ali's Comeback: The Untold Story
Self (archive footage)
2010s
- 2019
Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston
Self (archive footage)
Africa Rising
Self - Boxer (archive footage)
Thrilla in Manila
Self
- 2018
Shut Up and Dribble
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
In Search of Greatness
Self (archive footage) - Boxer
The Champ and the King
Self (archive footage)
- 2017
- 2016
Muhammad Ali - Rumble in the Jungle
Self (archive footage)
O.J.: Made in America
Self (archive footage)
Sticky: A (Self) Love Story
Self
- 2015
Les vendredis d'Apostrophes
Self (archive footage)
- 2014
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
Self (Archival Footage)
- 2013
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Himself
The Trials of Muhammad Ali
Self (archive footage)
- 2012
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
Self (archive footage)
Norman Mailer: The American
Self
- 2011
The Real Rocky
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2009
Rumble in the Jungle
Self
Soul Power
Self (archive footage)
- 2008
Thrilla in Manila
Himself (archive footage)
Black Power Salute
Self (archive footage)
Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami
Himself
- 2006
Ali's Dozen
Self
- 2005
If You Can Dream
Himself (Archival Footage)
- 2004
Pelé Forever
Self (archive footage)
- 2003
Jack Paar: Smart Television
Self
The Last Round: Chuvalo vs. Ali
Himself
- 2002
Monday Night Mayhem
Self (archive footage)
- 2001
The Making of 'Ali'
Self
Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World
Himself
Muhammad Ali, the Greatest
Self (archive footage)
- 2000
Ali-Frazier I: One Nation... Divisible
Self
Champions Forever - World Heavyweight Champs!
Himself
Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
Himself
1990s
- 1998
Sugar Ray Robinson: The Bright Lights and Dark Shadows of a Champion
Himself
B.B. King: Live In Africa '74
Self
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
- 1996
Atlanta 1996: Games of the XXVI Olympiad - Opening Ceremony
Self
The Journey of the African-American Athlete
Self (archive footage)
- 1995
Boxing's Greatest Champions
Self
Kings of The Ring - History of Heavyweight Boxing 1919-1990
Himself (Archival Footage)
- 1994
WCW Halloween Havoc 1994
Himself (Ringside)
- 1993
Naked Sport: Welcome to the Sewer
Self
- 1990
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
The Best of ABC's Wide World of Sports: The 60's
Self
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes
Self
- 1986
Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick
Self
- 1983
James Bond: The First 21 Years
Self
- 1982
- 1981
Muhammad Ali vs. Trevor Berbick
Self
Diana
Self
1970s
- 1976
- 1975
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III
Self
Funny Girl to Funny Lady
Self
- 1974
The Rumble in the Jungle: George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali
Self
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II
Self
The Fighters
Self
Black Soul
Self
The Fight
Himself
- 1972
Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II
Self
Wake Up and Apologise
Self
Malcolm X
Self (archive footage)
Black Rodeo
Self
- 1971
Fight of the Century
Self
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier I
Self
- 1970
The Super Fight
Himself
1960s
- 1968
- 1966
Goal!
Self
- 1965
Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson I
Self
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II
Self
- 1964
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston I
Self
- 1963
Cassius Clay vs. Doug Jones
Self
- 1962
- 1961
Thanked in the credits1
2000s
- 2007
