Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir bin Mohama Mahathir bin Mohamad

Born 10 Jul 1925 Malaysia

Citizenship Malaysia

Age 100 yr Today

6 min read

Reading time

1,197

Words

Apr 19, 2026

Published

Film credits

Books

Awards

TL;DR

Mahathir Mohamad made his acting debut in the 2015 film Kapsul and later appeared in the documentary M for Malaysia 2019 and the series Startup: The Real Story 2021. He appears as himself in archive footage in Man on the Run 2023. His accolades include the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding and the King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam, among over 50 awards.

Identity & family.

KIN · 18

Names, aliases, and relatives of Mahathir Mohamad — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Mahathir bin Mohamad

Native Name Mahathir bin Mohama

Nicknames Che Det, Tun M, Sharpie, Malaysia's Margaret Thatcher

Aliases Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad, Hon. Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mahathir Ben Mohamad, Mahathur Mohamad, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

PARENTS: Wan Tempawan Wan Hanapi Mohamad Iskandar
SPOUSES: Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali
CHILDREN: Marina Mahathir Mokhzani Mahathir Mukhriz Mahathir Mirzan Mahathir Melinda Mahathir Mazhar Mahathir Maizura Mahathir
SIBLINGS: Habsah Mohamad Murad Mohamad Rafeah Mohamad Mashahor Mohamad Omar Mohamad Johora Mohamad Mustaffa Mohamad Mahadi Mohamad

At a glance.

STATS

Mahathir Mohamad by the numbers — life, work, and family.

100 Age

4 Film credits

16 Books

53 Awards

1 Marriage

7 Children

Who is Mahathir Mohamad?

BIOGRAPHY

Mahathir Mohamad — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born in 1925 in Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad was one of nine children to Wan Tempawan Wan Hanapi and Mohamad Iskandar. His education included Universiti Malaya, the National University of Singapore, and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, where he earned a medical degree.

Career

Mahathir Mohamad first appeared on screen in the 2015 Malay-language film Kapsul. He appeared in the documentary M for Malaysia 2019, which chronicled the 2018 Malaysian general election. In 2021, he appeared in the series Startup: The Real Story. His most recent role was as himself in archive footage for the 2023 film Man on the Run.

Personal life

Mahathir Mohamad married Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali in 1956. They have seven children: Marina, Mokhzani, Mukhriz, Mirzan, Melinda, Mazhar, and Maizura. He has eight siblings, including Habsah, Murad, and Rafeah.

Legacy

Mahathir Mohamad has received numerous awards, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, the King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam, and the Nishan-e-Pakistan. He holds honorary doctorates from Keiō University, Waseda University, and Tsinghua University. He is a Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm. His influence extends beyond politics into film and public speaking.

Filmography.

FILMS · 4

Browse the complete filmography of Mahathir Mohamad — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie

Man on the Run

2023
Movie

Startup: the Real Story

2021
Movie

M for Malaysia

2019
Movie

The Rakyat VS Najib Razak

2019

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 52

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Mahathir Mohamad — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding
Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights
King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam
Commander of the National Order of the Cedar
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers
Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
doctor honoris causa of Keiō University
honorary doctor of Waseda University
honorary doctor of the Tsinghua University
Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
Nishan-e-Pakistan
Order of the White Elephant
Order of Sultan Mahmud I of Terengganu
Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah
Order of the Crown of Johor
Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak
Order of Kinabalu
Kedah Supreme Order of Merit
Royal Family Order of Kedah
Royal Family Order of Johor
Order of Friendship
Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit
Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín
Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
Asia's Most Influential Malaysia
Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali
Dostyk Order of grade I
Order of the Paulownia Flowers
Order of the Republic
Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle
Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class
Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru
Family Order of Laila Utama
Order of the Liberator General San Martín
Order of Mubarak the Great
Order of the Rising Sun
Order of Diplomatic Service Merit
Order of the Liberator
Order of José Martí
Order of the Aztec Eagle
Order of Good Hope
Order of Merit
Royal Order of the Polar Star
Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Order of Civil Merit
Star of the Republic of Indonesia
National Order of the Cedar
Order of Lakandula
Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Order of the Sun of Peru
National Order of Mali

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 16

Mahathir Mohamad's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

The Malay Dilemma

by Mahathir bin Mohamad
Amazon Goodreads

Mahathir Mohamad

by Mahathir bin Mohamad et al.
Amazon Goodreads

Mahathir on Science and Technology

by Mahathir bin Mohamad
Amazon Goodreads

The Voice of Asia

by Mahathir bin Mohamad et al.
Amazon

A Doctor in the House

by Mahathir bin Mohamad
Amazon Goodreads

A New Deal for Asia

by Mahathir bin Mohamad
Amazon Goodreads

Korridor Raya Multimedia

by Mahathir bin Mohamad

Could not load more books.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 28

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Mahathir Mohamad.

When was Mahathir Mohamad born?

July 10, 1925 is Mahathir Mohamad’s birth date. He was born in Malaysia and is 100 years old as of 2025.
Where was Mahathir Mohamad born?

Malaysia is his birthplace, with no public record of the specific city.
How old is Mahathir Mohamad?

As of 2025, Mahathir Mohamad is 100 years old, born on July 10, 1925. He witnessed significant periods of Malaysian history.
What is Mahathir Mohamad's birth name?

His full birth name, Mahathir bin Mohamad, appears on official documents.
What is Mahathir Mohamad's name in his native language?

His Malay name is Mahathir bin Mohama, but he is known publicly as Mahathir Mohamad.
What is Mahathir Mohamad's occupation?

Mahathir Mohamad is an actor with credits including Kapsul 2015 and Man on the Run 2023.
What nationality is Mahathir Mohamad?

Mahathir Mohamad is Malaysian by birth and citizenship.
What language does Mahathir Mohamad speak?

His native language is Malay. He is also fluent in English and has used it in international engagements.
Who are Mahathir Mohamad's parents?

His parents are Wan Tempawan Wan Hanapi and Mohamad Iskandar. They raised him as one of nine children.
Who is Mahathir Mohamad married to?

Mahathir Mohamad married Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali in 1956, and they remain married.
Does Mahathir Mohamad have children?

Yes, he has seven children: Marina, Mokhzani, Mukhriz, Mirzan, Melinda, Mazhar, and Maizura. His eldest is Marina Mahathir, a prominent activist.
Does Mahathir Mohamad have any siblings?

Yes, he has eight siblings: Habsah, Murad, Rafeah, Mashahor, Omar, Johora, Mustaffa, and Mahadi Mohamad. He was one of nine children.
Where did Mahathir Mohamad go to school?

He studied at Universiti Malaya, the National University of Singapore, and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. He earned a medical degree.
What awards has Mahathir Mohamad won?

He has received over 50 awards including the Jawaharlal Nehru Award, the King Faisal International Prize, and the Nishan-e-Pakistan. Many are for his contributions to international understanding and Islam.
How many awards has Mahathir Mohamad won?

Mahathir Mohamad has won 53 major awards, including national honors and honorary doctorates.
What is Mahathir Mohamad best known for?

Mahathir Mohamad appears as himself in Man on the Run 2023 and in Kapsul 2015. He also appears in other documentaries.
What is Mahathir Mohamad's Instagram?

His official Instagram handle is @chedetofficial. He shares updates and personal messages there.
How tall is Mahathir Mohamad?

Mahathir Mohamad is 5 feet 7 inches 1.70 m tall.
What are the nicknames of Mahathir Mohamad and what do they mean?

His nicknames include Che Det his pen name, Tun M an honorific, Sharpie, and Malaysia’s Margaret Thatcher. Each reflects a facet of his public image.
Why does Mahathir Mohamad have so many aliases?

He holds various titles like Datuk Seri Dr., Tun Dr., and Honorary Doctor. These aliases come from the numerous honors and degrees he has received over his long career.
What is Mahathir Mohamad's Twitter handle?

His Twitter handle is @chedetofficial. He uses the platform to communicate with the public.
What is Mahathir Mohamad's Facebook page?

His official Facebook page is TunDrMahathir. It shares news and personal updates.
What film did Mahathir Mohamad appear in 2023?

He appeared in the 2023 film Man on the Run as himself in archive footage. It is his most recent film appearance.
What was Mahathir Mohamad's first film?

Mahathir Mohamad made his film debut in the 2015 Malay-language film Kapsul.
What is the most recent award Mahathir Mohamad received?

Mahathir Mohamad’s most recent award on record is the Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali.
How many children does Mahathir Mohamad have?

Mahathir Mohamad has seven children: Marina, Mokhzani, Mukhriz, Mirzan, Melinda, Mazhar, and Maizura.
Who is Mahathir Mohamad's spouse?

Mahathir Mohamad’s spouse is Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, whom he married in 1956.
What is Mahathir Mohamad's native language?

His native language is Malay, and he speaks English fluently.

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Audited & updated by

Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on April 19, 2026

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Mahathir Mohamad.

TL;DR

Early life

Career

Personal life

Legacy

Man on the Run

Startup: the Real Story

M for Malaysia

The Rakyat VS Najib Razak