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Akeem was born on September 16, 1988, in Pasadena, California, to entrepreneur Errol James Mair and public service professional Queen Alice Mair. He was named after Eddie Murphy's character in the hit film Coming to America and is the eldest of four siblings.
Akeem developed an interest in acting during his time at Linda Vista Elementary School in Pasadena, performing in numerous school productions. "I fell in love with the excitement and the impact my onstage talents had on people. Being any character I wanted offered me an escape from everyday life," he said. He later graduated from John Marshall Fundamental High School in Pasadena in June 2007. His parents valued a strong educational foundation.
After high school, Akeem took college courses at Pasadena City College, aiming for a business degree to become a financial banker. However, a loyal customer at his day job recognized his charismatic personality and asked, "Are you an actor?" This encounter inspired him to pursue acting as his passion and career.
Akeem Jamahl Mair has secured several principal and leading roles in productions at various California universities, Warner Brothers projects, and independent films. Notable roles include Norman in the remake of Hannah and Her Sisters, originally played by Tony Roberts, and Will in Good Will Hunting, originally portrayed by Matt Damon, both produced by the Los Angeles Film School. He appeared in Art Institute of Hollywood short films such as Limbo, playing a basketball player who dies from a drug overdose; Silent Love as Felix, a hopeless mime romantic; and Life of a Villain as Skrilla, a thug whose negative influence leads to tragic consequences.
At Columbia College of Hollywood, Akeem led in All About the Money as Jim, a lowlife killed over unpaid debts, and A Wonderful World as Frank Simmons, a homeless man given a second chance. At the University of Southern California, he starred as Todd in Spotted and as Steve Boyer in the remake of Born on the Fourth of July. At UCLA, he played Brad, the BKE leader in Initiation; Anthony, a robotic inventor in The Old College Try; and Marcus, a gym instructor in Adagio.
Two New York Film Academy films featuring Akeem—The Kidnap, where he played a principal kidnapper, and Fine Line, as Joe, a washed-up film writer—were screened with Warner Brothers and received acclaim. Fine Line’s success led fellow NYFA members to ask the director, "Who is this guy?" Akeem is known for his upbeat, positive energy that brings enthusiasm to every project.
He has also landed key roles in independent films such as Red, portraying a young Black man frustrated by police violence, which will be submitted to LA Film Festivals. He starred as Rich Boy, a biker gang thug in Jolly Boy, slated for Sundance; Chris in Happy Birthday, entering multiple LA Film Festivals; Police Officer Cueno in Gangster City, battling corruption and gangs; and appeared in a film written and produced by Andoni Zorbas, also entering LA Film Festivals. Additionally, he played Jimmy in Another Crazy Christmas, produced by CL3 Productions, currently being pitched to HBO, Ice Cube, and Tyler Perry Productions.
Online, Akeem has featured in several web series episodes of Motivate Me, appearing as himself receiving psychiatric help in episode 5 and as Ivory, an eager band member chasing a promised record deal in episode 11. He stars as Allistair, a vampire on a mission to eradicate vampire hunters in the web series Blood of the Dead. He also appears on the popular YouTube channel Girls Going Viral.
