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).
Djimon Hounsou was born on April 24, 1964, in Cotonou, Benin. Recognized as a Beninese-American actor and model, Hounsou began his career by appearing in music videos. He made his film debut with "Without You I'm Nothing" and gained widespread recognition for his role as Cinqué in Steven Spielberg's "Amistad."
Hounsou's career milestones have made him one of Hollywood's most notable figures. He stepped into modeling by appearing in Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" music video in 1989 and moved to the United States in 1990. After transitioning from France to America, he began to secure more opportunities in the film industry and shaped his acting career. Hounsou became a U.S. citizen in 2007 while retaining his Beninese citizenship, making him a dual citizen.
Some of Djimon Hounsou's most significant works include films like "The Passenger," "Sudden Attack," "Twisted," "A Quiet Place: Day One," "Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver," "Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire," "Gran Turismo," "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," and "Black Adam." These projects have showcased Hounsou's talents and established him as a recognized actor internationally.
Throughout his career, Hounsou has received two Academy Award nominations. He remains active in his career today, continuing to engage audiences with new projects. The answer to the question of who Djimon Hounsou is lies in his multifaceted talents and impressive performances. Djimon Hounsou's films are closely followed by cinema enthusiasts.
Djimon Hounsou is a Benin-born actor and model. He has taken on significant roles in Hollywood since the mid-1990s and has won numerous awards.
He is 62 years old, born in 1964.
Djimon Hounsou's most recognized film is 'Blood Diamond.' His performance in this film received great acclaim and earned him an Oscar nomination.
Djimon Hounsou was born in Benin, a country in West Africa. He immigrated to the United States at a young age.
Djimon Hounsou has appeared in series such as 'The Legend of Tarzan' and 'American Horror Story.' His performances in these series have garnered attention.
