Mustafa Shakir
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1976-08-21
    • Born Place: North Carolina, USA

Mustafa Shakir

Mustafa Shakir is an American actor, musician, and poet, born on August 21, 1976, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Raised in Harlem, New York, he pursued his education at The New School, graduating in 2001 . Before entering the entertainment industry, Shakir worked as a barber, a profession that allowed him to connect with a diverse range of individuals. Shakir's acting career began in the late 1990s with guest roles on television series such as Law & Order, House, and Shameless. In 2016, he secured a regular role as Moses in the neo-noir crime drama Quarry, which marked a significant turning point in his career . The following year, he joined the cast of HBO's The Deuce (2017–2019) as Big Mike, further establishing his presence in the industry. Shakir gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of John "Bushmaster" McIver in the second season of Netflix's Luke Cage (2018). To authentically depict the character's Capoeira fighting style, he underwent rigorous training, including losing 10 to 15 pounds and engaging in six to seven training sessions per week . His performance earned him a nomination for a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. In 2021, Shakir starred as Jet Black in the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop on Netflix. The series, however, was canceled after one season . That same year, he appeared in the film Hide and Seek and continued to build his filmography with roles in The Pretenders (2018), The Grounds (2018), Fight Your Way Out (2017), Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017), Double Play (2017), Driving While Black (2015), Geezas (2011), Daybreak (2010), The Cavern (2005), Marci X (2003), Down to Earth (2001), and Shaft (2000) . Beyond acting, Shakir is a musician and poet known by the alias "Mustafa Effortless." He is an avid comic book fan and has expressed his excitement about portraying Bushmaster in Luke Cage . To maintain peak physical condition for his demanding roles, he follows a strict plant-based diet . As of 2025, Shakir continues to be active in the entertainment industry, with upcoming projects including Love Hurts and Song Sung Blue .

Person History