Mahershala Ali has a lot to celebrate this week.

On top of welcoming a daughter with wife, Amatus Sami-Karim, on Sunday, Ali became the first ever Muslim actor to win an Academy Award. He won for his role in the film "Moonlight."

During his emotional acceptance speech, Ali took a moment to thank his "wonderful teachers and professors" and shared some advice he learned from them.

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"It's not about you, it's about these characters," he said. "You are a servant. You're in service to these stories and these characters."

Ali also thanked Sami-Karim, who stood by his side during her third trimester of pregnancy with daughter Bari Najma Ali throughout all of award season.

"I just want to thank her for being a soldier through it all and carrying me through this process," he said.

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Laurence Walker, a volunteer with the Cajun Navy Relief, left, takes two volunteers out on his boat on Lake Oconee to search for Gary Jones, Tuesday, February, 18, 2024, in Eatonton, Ga. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and an Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over a week ago, Saturday Feb. 8th. The body of Wilson was found Sunday, Feb. 9th and Jones has not been found. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com