Djimon Hounsou | |
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 Hounsou in 2016 | |
| Born | Djimon Gaston Hounsou (1964-04-24)April 24, 1964 (age 61) |
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| Years active | 1986–present |
| Partner | Kimora Lee Simmons (2007–2012) |
| Children | 1 |
Djimon Gaston Hounsou (/ˈdʒaɪmənˈuːnsuː/JY-mənOON-soo;[1]French:[dʒimɔ̃unsu]; born April 24, 1964)[2] is aBeninese-American actor. He began his career appearing in music videos and made his film debut inWithout You I'm Nothing (1990). He then earned widespread recognition for his role asCinqué in theSteven Spielberg filmAmistad (1997), which earned him aGolden Globe nomination. For his performances inIn America (2002) andBlood Diamond (2006), Hounsou was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In theMarvel Cinematic Universe, he portraysKorath the Pursuer inGuardians of the Galaxy (2014),Captain Marvel (2019) andWhat If...? (2021). In theDC Extended Universe, he appears as the Fisherman King inAquaman (2018) and asthe wizard Shazam inShazam! (2019),Black Adam (2022) andShazam! Fury of the Gods (2023). His other notable films includeStargate (1994),Gladiator (2000),Constantine,The Island (both 2005),Special Forces (2011),How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014),Furious 7 (2015),The Legend of Tarzan (2016),A Quiet Place Part II (2021),Gran Turismo,Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire (both 2023),Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver andA Quiet Place: Day One (both 2024).
Hounsou made hisdirectorial debut with the documentary filmIn Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven (2018).
Hounsou was born inCotonou,Benin, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou.[3] He immigrated toLyon inFrance at the age of 12[4] with his brother Edmond. Soon after arriving there, he dropped out of school and was homeless for a time. A chance meeting with a photographer led to an introduction to fashion designerThierry Mugler, who encouraged Hounsou to pursue a modelling career.[2] In 1987, he became a model and established a career in Paris. He was found at Porte de Clichy. He moved to the United States in 1990.[citation needed][5]
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Between 1989 and 1991, Hounsou appeared in the music videos for "Straight Up" byPaula Abdul, "I Don't Wanna Lose You" byTina Turner, "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" byJanet Jackson andMadonna's "Express Yourself".[6][7] He also appears inEn Vogue's music video for "Hold On".
Hounsou's film debut was in the 1990Sandra Bernhard filmWithout You I'm Nothing. He had television parts onBeverly Hills, 90210 andER and a guest starring role onAlias. He had a larger role in the science fiction filmStargate.[2]
Hounsou received wide critical acclaim and aGolden Globe Award nomination for his role asCinqué in the 1997Steven Spielberg filmAmistad and gained further notice as Juba in the 2000 filmGladiator.[2] In 2004, he was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor forIn America, making him the fourth African male to be nominated for an Oscar. In 2005, he played a mercenary in the movieThe Island alongsideEwan McGregor andScarlett Johansson. In 2006, he won theNational Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance inBlood Diamond and receivedBroadcast Film Critics Association,Screen Actors Guild Award andAcademy Award nominations for this performance.[2][8][unreliable source?]
Hounsou had a supporting role in the 2009 science-fiction filmPush, as Agent Henry Carver.[9] In 2011, he starred as a French commando in the French filmForces spéciales.[10]
DirectorTim Story toldIGN that if he had done a thirdFantastic Four film, he would have liked Hounsou to portrayBlack Panther.[11] In November 2008, it was announced that Hounsou would provide the voice of Black Panther in thetelevision series of the same name.[12] He had signed on to playAbdiel in the film version ofJohn Milton'sParadise Lost withBenjamin Walker andBradley Cooper, but the film was scrapped in early February 2012.[13]
In 2013, he appeared in the comedy filmBaggage Claim alongsidePaula Patton. He also voiced Drago Blodfist inHow to Train Your Dragon 2 and portrayedKorath the Pursuer in theMarvel Studios filmGuardians of the Galaxy, both in 2014.[14][15] He played villains in two 2015 films:Seventh Son andFurious 7, the latter being the seventh installment ofThe Fast and the Furious franchise.[16]
In February 2016, it was reported that Hounsou would join the second season of the television seriesWayward Pines.[17] Also in 2016, he played Chief Mbonga inThe Legend of Tarzan.
In 2018, Hounsou joined theDC Extended Universe, voicing the Fisherman King Ricou inAquaman (with the character motion-captured by Andrew Crawford). He then replacedRon Cephas Jones as the WizardShazam inShazam! (2019).[18][19] He reprised his role inBlack Adam (2022) andShazam! Fury of the Gods (2023).[20][21] Also in 2019, he reprised his role as Korath in the Marvel Studios filmCaptain Marvel and then in the animated seriesWhat If...?.
In November 2022, it was announced that Honsou had joined the cast of thefilm based on theGran Turismo video game, withGeri Halliwell playing his wife.[22]
In January 2025, Hounsou claimed that, throughout his career, he has encountered challenges like those experienced by other Black actors in Hollywood, including beingtypecast, and claimed he's been always getting "unfair compensation." He blamedsystemic racism for this predicament, saying that, despite having been twice nominated for anAcademy Award, he is still "struggling financially to make a living."[23]
On 24 February 2007, it was announced that Hounsou would be the newCalvin Klein underwear model. At the time, he was represented by Los Angeles modeling agentOmar Albertto.[24][25]
In 2010, Hounsou was featured as the narrator inESPN's series of "32 Teams, 1 Dream" commercials for the2010 FIFA World Cup. He spoke at the Summit on Climate Change at theUnited Nations on September 22, 2009.[26] On December 1, 2009, he told French media that developed countries "need to be held accountable" for their contribution toclimate change.[27]
In 2018, Hounsou made hisdirectorial debut with the documentary filmIn Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven, which examines the history, nature and religious practices ofWest African Vodun.[28][29] The documentary premiered at theMiami International Film Festival on March 10, 2018.[30]
In 2024, Hounsou had a guest performance on South African record producer and DJBlack Coffee's "Ode to Ancestors" song which was included in anEP inspired byZack Snyder's movie,Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver.[31]
In 2007, Hounsou began dating modelKimora Lee Simmons.[32] Hounsou and Simmons visited Hounsou's family in his native Benin in the summer of 2008, where the two participated in a traditional commitment ceremony. They were adorned in traditional clothing and used the ceremony, in the presence of Hounsou's family, to confirm that they were "dedicated to each other 100%", although they emphasized the ceremony was not a wedding. In the début of Kimora Lee Simmons' showKimora: Life in the Fab Lane, he was billed as her husband.[33] In 2009, Simmons gave birth to their son.[34] Hounsou and Simmons, who were never legally married in the United States, announced their separation in November 2012.[35]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Doorman | Episode: "Class of Beverly Hills" |
| 1999 | ER | Mobalage Ikabo | 6 episodes |
| 2000 | The Wild Thornberrys | Villager (voice) | Episode: "Luck Be an Aye-Aye" |
| 2001 | Soul Food | Victor Onuka | Episode: "Games People Play" |
| 2003–2004 | Alias | Kazari Bomani | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Black Panther | T'Challa / Black Panther (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Wayward Pines | CJ Mitchum | 8 episodes |
| 2018 | DreamWorks Dragons | Drago Bludvist (voice) | Episode: "King of Dragons, Part 2" |
| 2019 | The Longest Day in Chang'an | Master Ge | Episode: "Time Of Great Waste" |
| 2021 | Invincible | Martian Emperor (voice) | Episode: "Neil Armstrong, Eat Your Heart Out" |
| 2021 | What If...? | Korath (voice) | Episode: "What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | NBA 2K21 | Coach Henry Bishop | Alsomotion capture |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | In America | Nominated |
| 2007 | Blood Diamond | Nominated | ||
| 2004 | Black Reel Awards | In America | Won | |
| 2007 | Blood Diamond | Won | ||
| Broadcast Film Critics | Nominated | |||
| 1998 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Drama | Amistad | Nominated |
| 2004 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Male | In America | Won |
| 1998 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Amistad | Won |
| 2004 | Outstanding Supporting Actor | In America | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Blood Diamond | Won | ||
| 2006 | National Board of Review | Best Supporting Actor | Won[37] | |
| 2001 | Screen Actors Guild | Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture | Gladiator | Nominated |
| 2004 | In America | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role | Blood Diamond | Nominated[38] |
