Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou

59 · Born: Apr 24, 1964

Personal Details

Official Socials
Born Apr 24, 1964 Cotonou, Dahomey [now Benin]
Parents
  • Albertine Hounsou
  • Pierre Hounsou
Relatives
  • Edmond Hounshou (Sibling)

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).

Career

Ozi: Voice of the Forest
Ozi: Voice of the Forest as Ozi's Father (voice)
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A Quiet Place: Day One
A Quiet Place: Day One as Island Man
2023
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire as General Titus
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Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo as Steve Mardenborough
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2022
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank as Sumo (voice)
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2021
A Quiet Place Part II
A Quiet Place Part II as Man on Island
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Kimana Tuskers
Kimana Tuskers as Narrator (voice)
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The King's Man
The King's Man as Shola
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What If...?
What If...? as Korath (voice)
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2019
Serenity
Serenity as Duke
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Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels as Bosley
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Shazam!
Shazam! as Wizard
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Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel as Korath
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2018
In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven
Dragons: Race to the Edge
Dragons: Race to the Edge as Drago (voice)
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2017
Same Kind of Different as Me
Same Kind of Different as Me as Denver
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King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword as Bedivere
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2016
The Legend of Tarzan
The Legend of Tarzan as Chief Mbonga
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Wayward Pines
Wayward Pines as CJ Mitchum
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2015
Furious 7
Furious 7 as Jakande
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The Vatican Tapes
The Vatican Tapes as Vicar Imani
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Air
Air as Cartwright
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2014
Seventh Son
Seventh Son as Radu
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Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy as Korath
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How to Train Your Dragon 2
How to Train Your Dragon 2 as Drago (voice)
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2013
Baggage Claim
Baggage Claim as Quinton Jamison
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2011
Elephant White
Elephant White as Curtie Church
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Special Forces
Special Forces as Commander Kovax
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2010
The Tempest
The Tempest as Caliban
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Black Panther
Black Panther as T'Challa
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Black Panther
Black Panther as Black Panther (voice)
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2009
Push
Push as Henry Carver
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2008
Never Back Down
Never Back Down as Jean Roqua
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2006
Eragon
Eragon as Ajihad
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Blood Diamond
Blood Diamond as Solomon Vandy
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2005
Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop as Joe
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The Island
The Island as Albert Laurent
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Constantine
Constantine as Midnite
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2004
Renegade
Renegade as Woodhead
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2003
In America
In America as Mateo
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Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life
Biker Boyz
Biker Boyz as Motherland
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Alias
Alias as Kazari Bomani
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2002
The Four Feathers
The Four Feathers as Abou Fatma
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2000
Gladiator
Gladiator as Juba
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1997
Amistad
Amistad as Cinque
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Ill Gotten Gains
Ill Gotten Gains as Fyah
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1994
Stargate
Stargate as Horus
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2017
I Am Heath Ledger
I Am Heath Ledger
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2007
A Place in Time
A Place in Time
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2018
In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven