Djimon Hounsou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Djimon Hounsou
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Hounsou in 2016
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Djimon Gaston Hounsou
April 24, 1964 Cotonou, Dahomey
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| Years active | 1986–present |
| Partner(s) | Kimora Lee Simmons (2007–2012) |
| Children | 1 |
Djimon Gaston Hounsou (born April 24, 1964) is a talented actor from Benin, a country in West Africa, who also became an American citizen. He started his career by appearing in music videos. Later, he began acting in movies.
Djimon Hounsou became widely known for his role as Joseph Cinqué in the movie Amistad (1997), directed by Steven Spielberg. This role earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in In America (2002) and Blood Diamond (2006).
You might recognize him from superhero movies! In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he plays Korath the Pursuer in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Captain Marvel (2019). He also voiced Korath in the animated series What If...? (2021). In the DC Extended Universe, he appeared as the Fisherman King in Aquaman (2018) and as the wizard Shazam in Shazam! (2019), Black Adam (2022), and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023).
Some of his other well-known films include Stargate (1994), Gladiator (2000), Constantine (2005), The Island (2005), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), Furious 7 (2015), and Gran Turismo (2023). He also directed a documentary film called In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven in 2018.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin. When he was 12 years old, he moved to Lyon, France, with his brother Edmond. After arriving in France, he left school and was homeless for a while.
One day, he met a photographer by chance. This meeting led him to fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who encouraged Djimon to try modeling. In 1987, he started his modeling career in Paris. He then moved to the United States in 1990.
Djimon Hounsou's Acting Career
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Early Roles and Music Videos
Between 1989 and 1991, Djimon Hounsou appeared in several popular music videos. These included "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul, "I Don't Wanna Lose You" by Tina Turner, and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" by Janet Jackson. He was also in Madonna's "Express Yourself" and En Vogue's "Hold On".
His first movie role was in the 1990 film Without You I'm Nothing. He also had parts in TV shows like Beverly Hills, 90210 and ER. He played a bigger role in the science fiction movie Stargate.
Rising to Fame in Movies
Djimon Hounsou received great praise for his role as Joseph Cinqué in the 1997 Steven Spielberg film Amistad. He also gained more attention as Juba in the 2000 movie Gladiator.
In 2004, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in In America. This made him one of the few African men to be nominated for an Oscar. In 2005, he played a mercenary in The Island alongside Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. In 2006, he won an award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Blood Diamond, and he received more Oscar nominations for this role.
In 2009, Hounsou had a supporting role in the science-fiction film Push. In 2011, he starred in the French film Special Forces.
Superhero and Animated Roles
Djimon Hounsou has been a part of many exciting projects. He voiced Drago Bludvist in How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014). He also played Korath the Pursuer in the Marvel Studios movie Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).
In 2015, he played villains in two films: Seventh Son and Furious 7, which is part of The Fast and the Furious series. In 2016, he joined the TV series Wayward Pines and played Chief Mbonga in The Legend of Tarzan.
In 2018, Djimon Hounsou joined the DC Extended Universe. He voiced the Fisherman King Ricou in Aquaman. He then took on the role of the Wizard Shazam in Shazam! (2019). He played the Wizard again in Black Adam (2022) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023). In 2019, he also returned as Korath in the Marvel Studios film Captain Marvel and the animated series What If...?.
In 2023, he starred in the movie Gran Turismo, which is based on the popular video game series. He also appeared in Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire and Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver.
Djimon Hounsou has spoken about the challenges he has faced in his acting career, similar to other Black actors in Hollywood. He has worked hard to overcome these challenges and continue his successful career.
Modeling Career
On February 24, 2007, it was announced that Djimon Hounsou would be a new model for Calvin Klein underwear. This was a big step in his modeling career.
Other Work and Interests
In 2010, Djimon Hounsou was the narrator for ESPN's "32 Teams, 1 Dream" commercials for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He also spoke at the Summit on Climate Change at the United Nations in 2009, talking about how developed countries should be responsible for their part in climate change.
In 2018, Hounsou directed his first documentary film, In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven. This film explores the history and religious practices of West African Vodun. The documentary was shown for the first time at the Miami International Film Festival.
In 2024, Djimon Hounsou was featured on a song called "Ode to Ancestors" by South African DJ Black Coffee. This song was part of an album inspired by the movie Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver.
Personal Life
In 2007, Djimon Hounsou started dating model Kimora Lee Simmons. In 2008, they visited his family in Benin and took part in a traditional commitment ceremony. They showed their dedication to each other, though it was not a legal wedding in the United States. In 2009, they had a son together. Djimon Hounsou and Kimora Lee Simmons announced their separation in November 2012.
Images for kids
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Hounsou in 2016
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Hounsou at Final DipCon Opening Reception in 2013
See also
In Spanish: Djimon Hounsou para niños
