Muhammad Ali
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2024 · WWE Hall of Fame 2024 as Muhammad Ali
- 2023 · Franz Klammer - The Ski "Kaiser" Will Be 70 as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · 70 Jahre Annemarie Moser-Pröll – Ein Leben als Wintermärchen as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · Cassius X: Becoming Ali as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · Tribute to Chuck Wepner: The Legacy and Retirement of the Real Rocky Balboa as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · Bill Russell: Legend as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · Stand as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2023 · My Father Muhammad Ali as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · Le Siècle des icônes as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · Say Hey, Willie Mays! as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · McEnroe as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2022 · The King of Miami Beach as
- 2021 · Muhammad Ali as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali as Self
- 2021 · Parkinson at 50 as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Untold: Deal with the Devil as Self - Professional Boxer (archive footage)
- 2021 · City of Ali as
- 2021 · 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Biography: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper as (archive footage)
- 2021 · Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · A Life in Ten Pictures as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Mister Candid Camera as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · Pelé as Self (archive Footage)
- 2021 · Earnie Shavers as
- 2021 · Ron Lyle as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · 70 Years of Youth Revolt as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Da 5 Bloods as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2020 · Be Water as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Ali's Comeback: The Untold Story as Self (archive footage)
- 2019 · Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston as Self (archive footage)
- 2019 · Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am as Self (archive footage)
- 2019 · Africa Rising as Self - Boxer (archive footage)
- 2019 · Thrilla in Manila as Self
- 2019 · What's My Name | Muhammad Ali as Self (archive footage)
- 2019 · The Kennedy Who Changed The World as Self (archive footage)
- 2018 · Shut Up and Dribble as Self (archive footage)
- 2018 · In Search of Greatness as Self (archive footage)
- 2018 · The Champ and the King as Self (archive footage)
- 2018 · Black Is Beltza as Self (voice) (archive footage)
- 2018 · Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes as Self (archive footage)
- 2018 · Explained as Self (archive footage)
- 2018 · Andre the Giant as Self (archive footage)
- 2016 · O.J.: Made in America as Self (archive footage)
- 2016 · Muhammad Ali - Rumble in the Jungle as Self (archive footage)
- 2016 · O.J.: Made in America as Self (archive footage)
- 2016 · Sticky: A (Self) Love Story as Self
- 2015 · Les vendredis d'Apostrophes as Self (archive footage)
- 2014 · I Am Ali as Self (archive footage)
- 2014 · Muhammad Ali: The Greatest as Self (Archival Footage)
- 2013 · Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight as Himself (archive footage)
- 2013 · Legends of Mid-South Wrestling as Himself
- 2013 · The Trials of Muhammad Ali as Himself
- 2012 · WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak as Self (archive footage)
- 2012 · Norman Mailer: The American as Self
- 2011 · The Real Rocky as Self (archive footage)
- 2009 · Muhammad and Larry as Himself
- 2009 · Muhammad Ali: Fighting Spirit as himself
- 2009 · Rumble in the Jungle as Self
- 2009 · Soul Power as Self (archive footage)
- 2009 · Facing Ali as Self
- 2009 · When Ali Met Cathal as Muhammad Ali
- 2008 · Thrilla in Manila as Himself (archive footage)
- 2008 · Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson as Self
- 2008 · Black Power Salute as Self (archive footage)
- 2008 · Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami as Himself
- 2008 · Tyson as Self (archive footage)
- 2008 · James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston as Self (archive footage)
- 2007 · Ali's 65 as
- 2006 · Ali's Dozen as Self
- 2006 · WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology as Muhammad Ali
- 2006 · Darts Tarts – Welcome to my World as Self (archive footage)
- 2006 · Ali Rap as Himself
- 2006 · Legends Never Die as Self (archive footage)
- 2006 · Out From Ali's Shadow: The Larry Holmes Story as Self (Archival Footage)
- 2004 · TV in Black: The First Fifty Years as Self (archive footage)
- 2003 · Jack Paar: Smart Television as Self
- 2003 · The Last Round: Chuvalo vs. Ali as Himself
- 2002 · The Documented Life and Times of Muhammad Ali - The Greatest as
- 2001 · Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World as Himself
- 2001 · Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration as Self
- 2001 · Muhammad Ali, the Greatest as Self (archive footage)
- 2000 · Ali-Frazier I: One Nation... Divisible as Self
- 2000 · Champions Forever - World Heavyweight Champs! as Himself
- 2000 · Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme as Himself
- 1999 · Muhammad Ali - The Greatest Collection as
- 1998 · Sugar Ray Robinson: The Bright Lights and Dark Shadows of a Champion as Himself
- 1998 · B.B. King: Live In Africa '74 as Self
- 1998 · The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
- 1996 · When We Were Kings as Self
- 1996 · Muhammad Ali The Whole Story as Self
- 1996 · The Journey of the African-American Athlete as Self (archive footage)
- 1996 · Die Muhammad Ali Story as Muhammad Ali
- 1995 · Boxing's Greatest Champions as Self
- 1995 · Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing as Himself
- 1995 · Kings of The Ring - History of Heavyweight Boxing 1919-1990 as Himself (Archival Footage)
- 1994 · WCW Halloween Havoc 1994 as Himself (Ringside)
- 1994 · Touched by an Angel as Self
- 1993 · Naked Sport: Welcome to the Sewer as Self
- 1991 · Muhammad Ali: The Greatest as
- 1990 · Night of 100 Stars III as Self
- 1990 · The Best of ABC's Wide World of Sports: The 60's as Self
- 1989 · Champions Forever as Self
- 1988 · Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes as Self
- 1986 · Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick as Self
- 1985 · Doin' Time as Himself
- 1985 · WrestleMania as Muhammad Ali (Enforcer)
- 1985 · Larry Holmes vs. David Bey as (Archive Footage)
- 1983 · James Bond: The First 21 Years as Self
- 1982 · Wogan as Self
- 1981 · Muhammad Ali vs. Trevor Berbick as Self
- 1981 · Body and Soul as Himself
- 1981 · Diana as Self
- 1980 · Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali as Self
- 1980 · Muhammad and Larry as
- 1979 · Freedom Road as Gideon Jackson
- 1978 · Leon Spinks vs Muhammad Ali II as
- 1977 · The Greatest as Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali
- 1975 · Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III as Self
- 1975 · Ali the Man: Ali the Fighter as Self
- 1975 · Funny Girl to Funny Lady as Self
- 1975 · Apostrophes as Self
- 1974 · The rumble in the jungle: George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali as Self
- 1974 · Muhammad Ali: The Greatest as Self
- 1974 · Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II as Self
- 1974 · The Fighters as Self
- 1974 · The Fight as Himself
- 1974 · Black Soul as Self
- 1972 · Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II as Self
- 1972 · Money Talks as Self
- 1972 · Malcolm X as Self (archive footage)
- 1972 · Black Rodeo as Self
- 1971 · Fight of the Century as Self
- 1971 · Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier I as Self
- 1970 · a.k.a. Cassius Clay as Himself
- 1970 · The Super Fight as Himself
- 1968 · The Dick Cavett Show as Self - Guest
- 1967 · Something's Happening as
- 1965 · Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson I as Self
- 1965 · Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II as Self
- 1964 · Cassius le grand as
- 1964 · Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston I as Self
- 1963 · Der Sport-Spiegel as Self
- 1963 · Cassius Clay vs. Doug Jones as Self
- 1962 · Requiem for a Heavyweight as Himself (as Cassius Clay)
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1962 · The Merv Griffin Show as Self
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- 1961 · Cassius Clay vs. Alonzo Johnson as Self
- 1950 · What's My Line? as Self - Mystery Guest
- 1948 · Bambi Awards as Self (archive footage)