Movie star Akeem Mair is the entertainment industry’s up-and-coming icon. In his career as an artist, he has appeared in several movie productions including Its on You, 417: Person with a Gun, Gangster City, Jolly Boy Friday, Life of a Villain, Red, Fine Line, Happy Birthday, The Kidnap, etc.

Akeem has signed with two agencies: Commercial Talent Agency (under Sarah Angeli) and Minc Talent (under Mariko Ballentine). At 33, Akeem is in his prime. With his noteworthy work ethic and passion, he is destined for greater heights. In fact, he has over 5 million views for a single video alone – the time when he appeared for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which Ellen described as “the best episode she’s ever seen.” Also appearing on Iyanla’s Fix My Life on Oprah’s network, Apex Legends commercial with over 1 Million views on YouTube, Let’s Make A Deal with Wayne Brady, and many more.

Besides this feature with Shoutout LA, Akeem appears in many publications such as Voyage LA, 360 Magazine, Cliche Magazine, Occhi Magazine, KB Popculture, Kivo Daily, Naluda Magazine, Tha Wilson Block Magazine, The Hype Magazine, Dark Magazine, Vents Magazine, We Entertainment News, Star Central Magazine, Natfluence, US Reporter, American Reporter, Time Bulletin, Top 15 Entrepreneurs, LA Wire’s Top 20 IG Accounts to Follow in 2020, and many more.

How did you get started in acting?

I didn’t grow up thinking I wanted to make it out of Hollywood. I actually wanted to be a financial banker. I watched Michael Douglas in the movie called, “The Game,” and I was hooked. The 2000 BMW 740 i, the classy suits, and the stock exchange office. From his personal maid that lives with him in a fancy mansion, I was convince to be financed banker. But one day while working at Ralph’s grocery store, a loyal customer changed my destiny. I was a cashier at Ralph’s when a customer I knew quite well was apparently in a sad mood. So I did my best to brighten up her day using my big positive personality that my customers loved so much. I remember saying, “hi it’s so good to see you again, I hope you found everything ok?” She said quietly, “yes thank you!” I told her, “usually  I see you smiling but whatever you’re going through I know God will pull you out of it!” “ He’ll never give you anything you can’t handle!”

After the transaction I said, “have a bless day, I hope to see you again!!” She stood there frozen for a minute and then finally looked at me. I could see the tears in her eyes when she replies, “Are you an actor?” I said, “No. Why do you ask?” She said, “Because you have this big positive energy. You move people by it. You lifted my spirits after I just lost my home in a foreclosure today.” Her words cut deep within me. After my shift, I rushed home and wondered, What would my life look like if I was a successful Actor? I thought about how I could help millions of people with my big personality the same way I helped her. It was that night I knew I wanted to become an actor. I searched how to get started in acting and it lead to me to Central Casting. And as they say, the rest is history!

What is the most rewarding aspect about being an actor? 

It’s most rewarding when you inspire people around you to go after their dreams or fight for whatever they want in life. Sometimes you don’t notice that people are watching you secretly. I remember a few years back when I was going through a serious depression and had given up my pursuit in making it in Hollywood. One of my friends notice I disappeared from the entertainment world and reach out to me to find out what happened. I told him, “it’s been rough and my progress became stagnant. A big casting director slammed the door in my face and I crashed my truck.” After hearing that my friend said, “that’s why you quit??” He said, “let me be honest with you bro I was so inspired by you and what you’ve been able to accomplish. I said to myself if Akeem can do it, then I can do it!” “You can’t just quit bro because you will let me down!” He really opened my eyes that day. I didn’t realize that people are watching me and low key keeping tabs on me. One day I turned  the lights off in my bedroom and stared into the darkness pondering on what I wanted to do and all of the people who are counting on me to stick with it. This time I attack my dreams head on while carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations on my back. When you hear people tell you how inspired they are by what you do everyday it is the most rewarding feeling.

What sets you apart from other actors or actress in the industry?

What sets me apart from everyone else in Hollywood is that I’m not afraid to fail or dream big. You’re gonna be doubted, called delusional, or laughed at for having big dreams. And it may even come from people you care about like your friends and family. I didn’t care. Some people are afraid to stand out and try new things because it leads to failure and it’s uncomfortable to be in the unknown. I didn’t care. My strong faith has always been my biggest weapon. I just refused to think small or doubt if it will work out. I have always carry the idea that God has my back in everything I do. So regardless if the opposition is stacked high against me, I’m always attacking. Sometimes I fail and do I’ll do it again, fail and keep going like I didn’t fail at all. I am a go getter at heart and so nobody needs to baby me. I got this!

So, how are things going today? How did grit and resilience lead to your eventual success?

Things today are going better than they were years ago. Since recovering from my depression and attacking my dreams in a different way of thinking than before, I booked a Nintendo Switch Apex Legends Commercial, Dominguez Firm Commercial still airing on TV, appeared on CBS Let’s Make A Deal last December, Appeared on Ellen Degeneres Show August 2019, Booked two feature films “It’s On You” and “Black Caesar Pirate King,” Appeared in several Magazines such as Naluda Magazine, 360 Magazine, Vents Magazine, Kivo Daily, LA Voyage, We Entertainmemt News, KB Pop Culture, The Hype Magazine, The Native Influence, Occhi Mag, Cliche Magazine, Tha Wilson Block Mag, Star Central Magazine, NY Wire’s Top 25 Individuals, US Reporter’s Top 15 Entrepreneurs, LA Wire’s Top 20 IG Accounts to Follow in 2020, and many more. I feel like grit and resilience is in every in I do. How you must hold your head up in all your auditions. Even if doesn’t go your way, know that you did your best and there are so many opportunities still out there. Being resilient even if you don’t have a lot of money and you got so much to pay for like acting classes, online services, clothes, and stuff like that to make it in this business. The grit and resilience to stay up in the middle of the night to get things done when you hear people sleeping or watching tv in the other room. It’s not easy but it’s my passion. I must have grit and resilience to make it!

Where do you see yourself in the entertainment industry in the next 10 years?

In the next 10 years I see myself doing exactly what Denzel Washington or Will Smith has done with their respective careers; win an Oscar, become A Lister, be apart of plenty blockbuster movies, become a household name, a true superstar in Hollywood. My main goals has always been the same in this industry, I want to be at the top of the mountain. It’s never been about the money or the fame but being the greatest of all time! What I’m asking for is tremendous hard work and sacrifices but I’m willing to pay the cost.

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