Isaiah Amir Mustafa(born February 11, 1974)[1]is an American actor and formerAmerican footballwide receiver.[2]Mustafa is widely known as the main character in a series ofOld Spicetelevision commercials, "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like".He is also known for portrayingLuke GarrowayonFreeform's fantasy seriesShadowhuntersand adult Mike Hanlon inIt Chapter Two.
Isaiah Mustafa | |
|---|---|
 Mustafa at the 2024WonderCon | |
| Born | February 11, 1974 Portland, Oregon,U.S. |
| Alma mater | Arizona State University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse |
Lisa Mitchell (m.2018) |
| Children | 2 |
|
American football career | |
| No. 18 | |
| Position: | Wide receiver |
| Personal information | |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Oxnard (CA) Santa Clara |
| College: | Arizona State |
| Undrafted: | 1997 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Childhood
editMustafa was born inPortland, Oregon[3]to Shahidah Mustafa-Davis and John Wali Mustafa, the youngest of seven children in aMuslimfamily.[4]When Mustafa was 5 years old, the family relocated from Portland toMission Viejo, California,and his father opened a limousine service inLaguna Hills.[4]Several years after the family relocated to California, Mustafa's father was killed in a car accident.[5]
He was educated atSanta Clara High School,and later attendedSanta Monica College,before transferring toMoorpark College.[5]Mustafa then studied history atArizona State University,from which he graduated in 1995.[6]
Career
editFootball
editMustafa playedbasketballand ran track at Santa Clara High School inOxnard, California.[2]He did not playhigh school football,but he tried out for Moorpark College's football team hoping for anathletic scholarship;[7]he became afree safety,and later became a wide receiver.[2][7]
After transferring to Arizona State University in 1995, Mustafa was a starting wide receiver for theArizona State Sun Devilsbut had an unspecified "confrontation" with a coach and was benched his senior year.[2]He played during the 1997Rose Bowlbetween the then-undefeated Sun Devils (led by Mustafa's friendJake Plummer)[6]and theOhio State Buckeyes.
Although Mustafa expected to become a high school teacher after graduation, asports agentsuggested that he try out for NFL teams. TheTennessee Oilerssigned him to thepractice squad,then sent him toNFL Europe'sBarcelona Dragonsin 1998.[2]After a season on theOakland RaidersandCleveland Browns' practice squads in 1999, Mustafa attended theSeattle Seahawks'training campin 2000.[8][9]
Acting
edit
After the Seahawks, Mustafa pursued an acting career, playing small roles on various television series, includingUgly BettyandDays of Our Lives.
In 2010, he signed a talent deal withNBCand appeared as a supporting role in the comedy filmHorrible Bosses.[10][11]Mustafa hosted theTBSspecialFunniest Commercials of the Yearin both 2010 and 2011.[12]In 2011, Mustafa guest-starred in two episodes ofABC's action drama seriesCharlie's Angels,portraying Detective Ray Goodson, an ex-boyfriend of one of the Angels.[13]The following year, he guest-starred in two episodes ofThe CW's spy drama seriesNikita,playing the role of Cyrus, a former agent for Division and a member of the "Dirty Thirty".[14]
In April 2013, Mustafa appeared in a commercial for the Israeli beerMaccabee.[15]The following year, he starred in the pilot episode of theUSA Networkcomedy seriesSirensas a police officer named Danny.[16]In May 2015, it was announced that Mustafa would portray the werewolfLuke Garrowayon theFreeformfantasy seriesShadowhunters,based onThe Mortal Instrumentsseries of novels byCassandra Clare.[17]
In 2019, Mustafa played the adult Mike Hanlon (Chosen Jacobsin his younger version) inIt Chapter Two,the sequel to the 2017 horror filmIt.[18]
In 2022, Mustafa played an educated Civil War veteran traveling through the mining town of Yellowstone City, Montana who is unjustly accused of murder after a local miner who just struck gold is found dead, inMurder at Yellowstone City.
Old Spice
editIn February 2010, he gained sudden fame for his main role in the popular "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like"advertising campaign forOld Spice,which featured his monologues.[6][19][20][21]Mustafa's first commercial in the series was directed byTom Kuntz.Subsequently, a three-day session created a series of humorous, personalizedYouTubevideos, with Mustafa reprising the character from the original Old Spice commercial. These were directed at members of the public and celebrities who had asked him questions on websites such asReddit,FacebookandTwitter.[22][23]
On July 26, 2011, Old Spice launched a new campaign on YouTube featuring a challenge between Mustafa andFabioentitledMano a Mano in el Baño.Mustafa said he wasn't worried, even though Fabio has been "the epitome of the sex symbol as a pitchman". Mustafa ultimately emerged as the winner.[24]He resumed his work for Old Spice with a series of advertisements released in January 2014. The campaign featured several webpages selling false products directed at men, which were interrupted with Mustafa suggesting that men buy Old Spice instead.[25]In August 2015, Mustafa once again appeared in Old Spice commercials, this time alongsideTerry Crews.[26]
Personal life
editMustafa has one daughter with his former wife.[27]He previously dated professional wrestler and actress Catherine Joy Perry, better known by her ring nameLana.[28]He married his girlfriend of two years, Lisa Mitchell, on May 26, 2018; they have one son together.[29]
He owned a restaurant, Jo Jo's Barbecue, onMelrose AvenueinLos Angelesin 2000;[8]it has since closed.[7]
Mustafa is a comic book fan; his knowledge ofDoctor Doom's first name helped him win $47,000 onThe Weakest Link,for a question on the first name ofDoctor Frankenstein.[5]The money helped him pursue his post-restaurateurgoal of becoming an actor.[7]Mustafa had expressed interest in playing comic book superheroLuke Cage,[30]and appeared as Cage in aMarvel Comicsweb short, styled after his Old Spice commercials.[31]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Island | Injured Football Player | |
| 2006 | The Last Supper | Moses | Short film |
| 2006 | Even Money | Basketball Player | |
| 2011 | Madea's Big Happy Family | Calvin | |
| 2011 | Horrible Bosses | Officer Wilkens | |
| 2012 | The Three Stooges | Moe's Hip Executive | |
| 2013 | Crush | Coach Evans | |
| 2014 | Back in the Day | T | |
| 2016 | Girl Flu. | Gabriel | |
| 2016 | After the Reality | Garreth | |
| 2019 | It Chapter Two | Mike Hanlon | Shared role withChosen Jacobs |
| 2022 | Home Team | Porcupine Coach | |
| 2022 | Murder at Yellowstone City | Cicero | |
| 2023 | Boy Kills World | Benny |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Football Wives | Football Player | Television film |
| 2008 | Ugly Betty | Bailiff | Episode: "Odor in the Court" |
| 2009 | Days of Our Lives | Cleveland Cop | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Brent Duffy | Episode: "Search and Destroy" |
| 2009 | Eli Stone | Newlywed Husband | Episode: "Tailspin" |
| 2009 | NCIS | Oliver Newcomb | Episode: "Caged" |
| 2010 | Castle | Team Leader | Episode: "Boom!" |
| 2010–2011 | Chuck | Richard "Rick" Noble | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Hot in Cleveland | Coach Kevin | Episode: "LeBron is Le Gone" |
| 2011 | Love Bites | Captain Craig | Episode: "Sky High" |
| 2011 | Femme Fatales | Raven | Episode: "Speed Date" |
| 2011 | Charlie's Angels | Detective Ray Goodson | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Rags | Reginald Worth | Television film |
| 2012 | Nikita | Cyrus | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Anger Management | Paul | Episode: "Charlie Screws a Prisoner's Girlfriend" |
| 2014 | Sirens | Danny | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2014 | Selfie | Mitchell McMoney | Episode: "Nugget of Wisdom" |
| 2014 | Kroll Show | Hammer | Episode: "Mother Daughter Sister Wife" |
| 2015 | Baby Daddy | Captain Hudson | Episode: "An Officer and a Gentle Ben" |
| 2016–2019 | Shadowhunters | Lucian "Luke" Garroway | Main role |
| 2017 | Total Divas | Himself | Episode: "What Happens in Vegas..." |
| 2018–2021 | Robot Chicken | Various voices | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Grey's Anatomy | Brian Williams | Episode: "Today Was a Fairytale" |
| 2022 | Black-ish | Himself | Episode: "And the Winner Is..." |
| 2024 | Cross | John Sampson | Main Role |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Gears of War 3 | COG Gear (voice) |
References
edit- ^"Person Details for Isaiah Amir Mustafa," United States Public Records, 1970–2009 "".FamilySearch.RetrievedFebruary 10,2016.
- ^abcdeWharton, David (April 18, 1998)."Beach Ball".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMarch 3,2010.
- ^"ShadowhuntersCast: Isaiah Mustafa ".Freeform.Archived fromthe originalon June 29, 2017.
- ^abDominguez, Fernando (October 9, 1993)."Like Bo, Moorpark's Mustafa Has Found a Hobby".Los Angeles Times.
- ^abcWeber, Jim (December 15, 2010)."Catching up with Isaiah Mustafa: Obscure Sun Devil, famous pitch man".Yahoo!.Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2016.
- ^abcD'Zurilla, Christie (February 16, 2010)."It's the guy in the Old Spice commercial: Isaiah Mustafa".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMarch 3,2010.
- ^abcdThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno,Wednesday July 28, 2010.
- ^ab"SEAHAWKS CAMP: The long road to the NFL".M.kitsapsun. August 9, 2000. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2010.RetrievedMarch 3,2010.
- ^Farnsworth, Clare (July 15, 2010)."Hey, he smells familiar".Seattle Seahawks. Archived fromthe originalon July 21, 2011.RetrievedJuly 30,2010.
- ^Stanhope, Kate (June 11, 2010)."Old Spice Isaiah Mustafa Signs Talent Deal with NBC".TV Guide.
- ^O., Courtney (July 27, 2010)."Isaiah Mustafa Set for 'Horrible Bosses'".MovieWeb.
- ^Stanley, T.L."Isaiah Mustafa hosting TBS funny-ads show".Adweek.RetrievedFebruary 5,2011.
- ^Webb Mitovich, Matt (August 23, 2011)."Charlie's Angels Exclusive: Isaiah Mustafa Spices Things Up as Angel's Lawman Ex".TVLine.
- ^Nguyen, Hanh (September 14, 2012)."Exclusive: Old Spice Guy Isaiah Mustafa to Charm Nikita".TV Guide.
- ^Wasserman, Todd (May 9, 2013)."The Old Spice Guy Is Selling Beer in Israel".Mashable.
- ^Masters, Megan (October 22, 2012)."TVLine Items: Breaking Bad Vet Visits Parenthood, New Gig for Old Spice Guy and More!".TVLine.
- ^Petski, Denise (May 8, 2015)."Matthew Daddario & Isaiah Mustafa Join 'Shadowhunters' On ABC Family".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedMay 9,2015.
- ^Kroll, Justin (June 9, 2018)."'It Chapter 2' casts Isaiah Mustafa as adult Mike Hanlon ".Variety.RetrievedJune 9,2018.
- ^"That great Old Spice TV ad: 'I'm on a horse' and how he got there".Entertainment Weekly.February 19, 2010.RetrievedMarch 3,2010.
- ^Grant, Drew (February 20, 2010)."Old Spice's Spicy Ad Campaign".Mediatite.RetrievedMarch 3,2010.
- ^Barol, Bill (February 18, 2010)."The making of 'The Man Your Man Could Smell Like'".True Slant. Archived fromthe originalon July 17, 2011.RetrievedMarch 3,2010.
- ^"'Old Spice Guy' takes pitch to YouTube, Twitter ".CSMonitor.RetrievedJuly 17,2010.
- ^Kleinman, Zoe."See Also: Tech Brief".BBC.RetrievedJuly 17,2010.
- ^"MSNBC: Old Spice guy wins online hunk-off over Fabio".NBC News. Archived fromthe originalon September 24, 2020.
- ^"Old Spice, Isaiah Mustafa Stage 'Interneterventions' on 9 Fake Websites for Manly Products".Adweek.January 21, 2014.
- ^Monllos, Kristina (August 6, 2015)."Terry Crews and Isaiah Mustafa Are Now Battling for the Hearts of Old Spice Fans".Adweek.
- ^Mills, Nancy (April 22, 2011)."Isaiah Mustafa takes Old Spice fame to big screen".USA Today.
- ^A Tearful Lana Confesses Her MarriageFearsto Rusev After Running Into Her Famous Ex on Emotional Total Divas Episode
- ^Gavilanes, Grace (August 9, 2018)."2018 Celebrity Weddings".People.Time Inc.p. 26.RetrievedAugust 12,2018.
- ^"Isaiah Mustafa Reveals Secrets Behind Old Spice Commercial".g4tv. July 1, 2010.RetrievedJuly 6,2010.
- ^Goldberg, Matt (May 31, 2011)."Isaiah Mustafa Campaigns for LUKE CAGE with Fake Teaser Trailer".Collider.
External links
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