Mahershala Ali won the best supporting actor on Sunday at the 89th Oscars for his role in coming of age drama "Moonlight."

This 43-year-old African American actor got a lot of attention this awards season for his portrayal of a Cuban drug dealer and the leading role's surrogate parent on the some level in the drama.

"Moonlight" told a timeless story of human self-discovery and connection in which a young black man struggled with his identity from childhood to adulthood.

"I want to thank my teachers, my professors, I had so many wonderful teachers," Ali said when receiving the award.

"One thing that they consistently told is that ...it is not about you, it is about the characters. You are in service to these stories and these characters."

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