Djimon Hounsou

Also Known As: Djimon, Djimon Gaston Hounsou, Djimon Hounso, Djimon Housoun, 디몬 하운수, ジャイモン・ガストン・フンスー, Джимон Унсу, Джаймон Унсу, جیمون هانسو

Biography: Djimon Gaston Hounsou (born April 24, 1964) is a Beninese-American actor and model. He began his career appearing in music videos, made his film debut in Without You I'm Nothing and earned widespread recognition for his role as Cinqué in the Steven Spielberg film Amistad. As an actor, Hounsou has been nominated for two Academy Awards. Hounsou became a naturalized American citizen in 2007. He was reluctant to renounce his Beninese citizenship and therefore opted to become a dual citizen of both Benin and the United States, effectively rendering him a Beninese-American. Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in 1964, to lbertine and Pierre Hounsou. He immigrated to Lyon in France at the age of thirteen with his brother, Edmond. In 1987, he became a model and established a career in Paris. He moved to the U.S. in 1990. One year before obtaining his college degree, he dropped out of school. In 1989, he appeared in a music video of Straight Up by Paula Abdul. Hounsou's film debut was in the 1990 Sandra Bernhard film Without You I’m Nothing, and he has had television roles on Beverly Hills, 90210 and ER and a guest starring role on Alias, but received a larger role in the science fiction film Stargate. His first on-screen appearance was in the 1990 Janet Jackson video “Love Will Never Do (Without You).” He also starred in a 2002 Gap commercial directed by Peter Lindbergh, dancing to a rendition of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" by Arrested Development's Baba Oje. He received wide critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award nomination for his role as Cinqué in the 1997 Steven Spielberg film Amistad. He gained further notice as Juba, in the 2000 film Gladiator. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for In America, in 2004, becoming the fourth African male to be nominated for an Oscar (along with Basil Rathbone, Cecil Kellaway and Omar Sharif). In 2006, he won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Blood Diamond; he received Broadcast Film Critics Association, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Academy Award nominations for this performance. In 2007, Hounsou began dating model/CEO of Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons. In 2008 Hounsou and Simmons visited Hounsou's family and while there, the two participated in a traditional commitment ceremony. On May 30, 2009, Simmons gave birth to their son, Kenzo Lee Hounsou, reportedly named because Kenzo means 3 (Kimora's third child).

Department: Acting

Place of Birth: Cotonou, Dahomey [now Benin]

Birthday: April 24, 1964

Adult: No

Gender: Male

Popularity:

11.97%

Known For:

Gladiator
Constantine
Blood Diamond
Stargate
The Island
In America
Renegade
Eragon
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life
Amistad
Never Back Down
Biker Boyz
Deep Rising
The Four Feathers
Push
Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney+ Day Special
Beauty Shop
Kimana Tuskers
The Tempest
Dead Weight
A Quiet Place: Day One
Ozi: Voice of the Forest
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Special Forces
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire
Elephant White
The Middle Passage
Last Breath
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver
Baggage Claim
Guardians of the Galaxy
Air
Furious 7
Seventh Son
The Vatican Tapes
Black Adam
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Gran Turismo
The Legend of Tarzan
Same Kind of Different as Me
Without You I'm Nothing
Creating a Universe - The Making of Rebel Moon
Unlawful Entry
The Zealot
The Bleeding Ground
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Beneath the Storm
I Am Heath Ledger
Black Panther
Serenity
Shazam!
Aquaman
Charlie's Angels
Captain Marvel
The King's Man
A Quiet Place Part II
Killing Zoe
A Place in Time
In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven
African History Y
Ill Gotten Gains
Strength and Honor: Creating the World of 'Gladiator'
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
The Monster
One Last Fight
Rebel Moon - Chapter Two: Curse of Forgiveness