Djimon Hounsou

Where to watch Djimon Hounsou

• GladiatorMovie · 2000

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).

Filmography

1. 2026The Passengeras Hassan
2. 2026Thrashas Dr. Dale Edwards
3. 2026Twistedas Dr. Kezian
4. 2024A Quiet Place: Day Oneas Henri
5. 2024Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiveras Titus
6. 2023Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fireas Titus
7. 2023Gran Turismoas Steve Mardenborough
8. 2023Shazam! Fury of the Godsas Wizard
9. 2022Black Adamas Wizard
10. 2022Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hankas Sumo (voice)
11. 2021The King's Manas Shola
12. 2021What If...?as Korath (voice) · 1 episode
13. 2021A Quiet Place Part IIas Man on Island
14. 2021INVINCIBLEas Martian Emperor (voice) · 1 episode
15. 2019Charlie's Angelsas Edgar Bosley
16. 2019Shazam!as Wizard
17. 2019Captain Marvelas Korath
18. 2019Serenityas Duke
19. 2018Aquamanas King Ricou (voice)
20. 2017Same Kind of Different as Meas Denver
21. 2017King Arthur: Legend of the Swordas Bedivere
22. 2017I Am Heath Ledgeras Self
23. 2016The Legend of Tarzanas Chief Mbonga
24. 2015Airas Cartwright
25. 2015The Vatican Tapesas Vicar Imani
26. 2015Dragons: Race to the Edgeas Drago (voice) · 1 episode
27. 2015Wayward Pinesas CJ Mitchum · 10 episodes
28. 2015Furious 7as Mose Jakande
29. 2014Seventh Sonas Radu
30. 2014Guardians of the Galaxyas Korath
31. 2014How to Train Your Dragon 2as Drago (voice)
32. 2013Baggage Claimas Quinton Jamison
33. 2011Special Forcesas Commander Kovax
34. 2011Elephant Whiteas Curtie Church · Producer
35. 2010The Tempestas Caliban
36. 2010Black Pantheras T'Challa
37. 2009Pushas Henry Carver
38. 2008Never Back Downas Jean Roqua
39. 2006Eragonas Ajihad
40. 2006Blood Diamondas Solomon Vandy
41. 2005The Islandas Albert Laurent
42. 2005Beauty Shopas Joe
43. 2005Constantineas Midnite
44. 2004Blueberryas Woodhead
45. 2003In Americaas Mateo
46. 2003Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Lifeas Kosa
47. 2003Biker Boyzas Motherland
48. 2002The Four Feathersas Abou Fatma
49. 2002Dead Weightas Detective Youssouf
50. 2001Aliasas Kazari Bomani · 3 episodes
51. 2000Gladiatoras Juba
52. 1998The Wild Thornberrysas Villager (voice) · 1 episode
53. 1998Deep Risingas Vivo
54. 1997Amistadas Cinque
55. 1994Stargateas Horus
56. 1994ERas Mobalage Ikabo · 6 episodes
57. 1993Killing Zoeas Moïse (voice)
58. 1992Unlawful Entryas Prisoner on Bench
59. 1990Beverly Hills, 90210as Nightclub Doorman · 1 episode
60. 1953The Oscarsas Self · 1 episode