Mara Brock Akil will receive the Norman Lear Achievement Award at the 37th annual Producers Guild Awards, set to take place on Feb. 28 at the Fairmont Century City Plaza in Los Angeles, California. The award is sponsored by Delta Air Lines.
Brock Akil began her career as a screenwriter on Fox’s “South Central” at 23, later becoming the youngest African American showrunner on broadcast network television when she created and wrote UPN’s “Girlfriends,” starring Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, and Persia White at 30 years old. Brock Akil is the only African American showrunner to have a series on television during every year of the 2000s.
Brock Akil created BET’s first drama series “Being Mary Jane,” alongside “The Game” and its spinoff series on Paramount+ in 2021. Brock Akil previously co-created “Love Is” on OWN. She also collaborated as an executive producer on The CW’s “Black Lighting” with her husband Salim Akil with their production company Akil Productions from 2018 to 2021.
Most recently, Brock Akil produced Netflix’s “Forever,” an adaptation of the 1975 Judy Blume novel of the same name. The teen drama, which stars Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr., was renewed for a second season in May.
“The hallmark of a great producer is the ability to bring stories to life with both purpose and imagination. Mara Brock Akil has done this throughout her career, leaving an indelible impact on television and the industry as a whole,” said PGA Presidents Donald De Line and Stephanie Allain in a statement. “With shows like “Girlfriends,” “The Game,” and “Being Mary Jane,” she has set a standard for excellence that continues with her most recent series, “Forever.” Her body of work stands as a testament to the profound influence producers can have on the medium.”
“I am deeply honored to receive an award that bears the name of Norman Lear, a visionary who expanded the boundaries of what television could be. His work taught us that storytelling can move culture, challenge assumptions, and create community – values that have guided my career,” said Brock Akil. “Storytelling is a privilege, and I’m grateful to the Producers Guild for recognizing the work and the incredible teams who have helped bring these stories to life. This acknowledgment inspires me 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 Whisky and GreenSlate.