Mara Brock Akil will receive the Norman Lear Achievement Award at the 37th Annual Producers Guild Awards on February 28th at the Fairmont Century City Plaza in Los Angeles, California. This award is sponsored by Delta Air Lines.
Brock Akil began his career as a writer on FOX’s “South Central” at the age of 23, and went on to create and write “Girlfriends” on UPN, starring Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, and Persia White, at the age of 30, becoming the youngest African-American showrunner on broadcast network television. Brock Akil is the only African-American showrunner to run a series on annual television in the 2000s.
Brock Akil created BET’s first drama series, “Being Mary Jane,” alongside “The Game” and its spinoff series for Paramount+ in 2021. Brock Akil previously co-produced “Love Is” for OWN. She also worked as an executive producer on The CW’s “Black Lighting” with her husband Salim Akil under their production company Akil Productions from 2018 to 2021.
Most recently, Brock Akil produced Netflix’s “Forever,” an adaptation of Judy Blume’s 1975 novel of the same name. The teen drama, starring Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr., was renewed for a second season in May.
“The mark of a great producer is the ability to bring stories to life with both purpose and imagination, and Mara Brock Akil has done this throughout her career, leaving an indelible impact on television and the industry as a whole,” PGA Presidents Donald De Line and Stephanie Alleyne said in a statement. “With shows like “Girlfriends,” “The Game,” and “Being Mary Jane,” she set a standard of excellence that continues with her latest series, “Forever.” Her body of work is a testament to the influence producers have on the media. ”
“I am honored to receive the award named after Norman Lear, a visionary who pushed the boundaries of what was possible in television. His work taught us that storytelling can move culture, challenge assumptions and create community. Those are the values that have guided my career,” said Brock Akil. “Storytelling is a privilege, and we’re grateful to the Producers Guild for recognizing our work and to the incredible teams who help bring these stories to life. This gratitude motivates us to continue championing characters and worlds that reflect the complexity, beauty, and courage of our lives.”
The 2026 Producers Guild Awards are produced by Anchor Street Collective. Sponsors include McLaren, Delta Air Lines, Glenfiddich Scotch Whiskey and Greenslate.
