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Djimon Hounsou
Hounsou at the 2016 WonderCon
Born	Djimon Gaston Hounsou (1964-04-24) April 24, 1964 (age 60) Cotonou, Benin
Occupation(s)	Actor, model
Years active	1986–present
Partner(s)	Kimora Lee Simmons (2007–12)
Children	1

Djimon Gaston Hounsou (US: /ˈdʒaɪmən ˈhɒnsuː/; French: [dʒimɔ̃ unsu]; born April 24, 1964) is a Beninese-American model, and actor. Hounsou began his career appearing in music videos. He made his film debut in the Sandra Bernhard film Without You I'm Nothing (1990) and gained widespread recognition for his role as Cinqué in the Steven Spielberg film Amistad (1997). He gained further recognition for his roles in Gladiator (2000), In America (2004) and Blood Diamond (2006). He has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Academy Awards.

Early life

Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Bénin, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He emigrated to Lyon in France at the age of thirteen with his brother, Edmond. Soon after arriving in France, Hounsou dropped out of school and became homeless for a time. A chance meeting with a photographer led to Hounsou being introduced to fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who encouraged Hounsou to pursue a modeling career. In 1987, Hounsou became a model and established a career in Paris. He moved to the United States in 1990.

Career

Acting

Between 1989 and 1991, Hounsou appeared in the music videos for "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul, "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" by Janet Jackson, and Madonna's "Express Yourself".

Hounsou's film debut was in the 1990 Sandra Bernhard film Without You I'm Nothing. He had television parts on Beverly Hills, 90210 and ER and a guest starring role on Alias. Hounsou captured a larger role in the science fiction film Stargate.

Hounsou 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. In 2004, Hounsou was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for In America, making him the fourth African male to be nominated for an Oscar. 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.

Hounsou also acted in a supporting role in the 2009 science fiction film Push, as Agent Henry Carver. In 2011, he starred as a French commando in the French film Forces spéciales.

Director Tim Story told IGN that if he were to do a third Fantastic Four movie, he would like to have Hounsou as the Black Panther. In November 2008, it was announced that Hounsou would be providing the voice of the Black Panther in the television series of the same name. Hounsou had signed on to play Abdiel in the film version of John Milton's Paradise Lost with Benjamin Walker and Bradley Cooper. The film however was scrapped in early February 2012.

In 2013, he appeared in the comedy film Baggage Claim alongside Paula Patton. He also voiced Drago Bludvist in How to Train Your Dragon 2 and portrayed Korath the Pursuer in the Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy, both in 2014. He played villains in two 2015 films, Seventh Son and Furious 7, the seventh installment of The Fast and the Furious film series, the latter where he played the role of Mose Jakande, a Nigerian-French Mercenary.

On February 17, 2016, FOX reported that Hounsou would join the second season of the television series Wayward Pines.

Modeling

On February 24, 2007, it was announced that Hounsou would be the new Calvin Klein underwear model.

Other work

In 2010, Hounsou was featured as the narrator in ESPN's running series of "32 teams, 1 dream" commercials for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Hounsou spoke at the Summit on Climate Change at the United Nations on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. On Tuesday, December 1, 2009, Hounsou told French media that developed countries “need to be held accountable” for their contribution to climate change.

Personal life

In 2007, Hounsou began dating model Kimora Lee Simmons. On May 30, 2009, Simmons gave birth to their son, Kenzo Lee Hounsou, reportedly named because "Kenzo" means "three" (Kimora's third child). 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. The couple were adorned in traditional clothing and used the ceremony, in the presence of Hounsou's family, to solidify that they are "dedicated to each other 100%." The two, however, emphasized that the ceremony was not a wedding. In the début of Kimora Lee Simmons' show, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, he was billed as her husband. Hounsou and Simmons, who were never legally married in the United States, announced their separation in November 2012.

Filmography

Television

Awards and nominations

See also

• List of male underwear models

References

1. "Djimon Hounsou pronunciation". Forvo.com. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
2. See co-star's pronunciation at approximately 7:32 and 7:47. "Never Back Down - Interviews..." YouTube. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
3. See the interviewer and DiCaprio's pronunciations at approximately 3:57 and 4:04. "Blood Diamond Leonardo DiCaprio interview". YouTube. 29 September 2006. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
4. ^ "Djimon Hounsou: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
5. ^ "Djimon Hounsou Biography (1964-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
6. Djimon Hounsou Biography - Yahoo! Movies
7. "Straight Up". Paula-Abdul.net. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
8. "Love Will Never Do Without You". songfacts.com. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
9. "Djimon Hounsou Awards". imdb. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
10. "Push Djimon Hounsou Interview". About.com. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
11. "Djimon Hounsou and Diane Kruger's SPECIAL FORCES Explodes onto Blu-ray & DVD in February". January 17, 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
12. "Story talks black panther". ign.com. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
13. "Djimon Hounsou Roars as the Black Panther".
14. "Legendary Pulls Plug on Bradley Cooper's 'Paradise Lost'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
15. "Alan Taylor Offers New 'Thor 2′ Details; Djimon Hounsou on 'Guardians of the Galaxy'". screenrant.com. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
16. "Djimon Hounsou Joins Fast & Furious 7". empireonline.com. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
17. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (February 17, 2016). "Djimon Hounsou cast in 'Wayward Pines' season 2". Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
18. "Calvin Klein's New Brief Boy". ashionweekdaily.com. February 23, 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
20. "Developed countries need to be held accountable". Rfi.fr. 2009-12-02. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
21. Slonim, Jeffrey. "People.com". People.com. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
22. "Kimora Lee Simmons, Djimon Hounsou Had Commitment Ceremony". Usmagazine.com. 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
23. Jordan, Julie (2012-11-21). "Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou Separate". People. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
24. "Marvel Studios Begins Production on Guardians of the Galaxy". Marvel.com. July 20, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
25. "Winners: National Board Of Review". cbs news. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
26. "Screen Actors Guild: The nominees". ew.com. Retrieved 19 September 2015.

External links

• Djimon Hounsou at IMDb
• Punching Up His Career Courant.com (March 10, 2008)
• Djimon Hounsou: The Push Interview with Kam Williams

• 1964 births
• Living people
• American male film actors
• American male television actors
• American male voice actors
• Beninese male television actors
• Beninese male film actors
• French male film actors
• Beninese emigrants to the United States
• French male television actors
• Independent Spirit Award winners
• People from Cotonou
• American male models
• Beninese male models
• French emigrants to the United States
• Beninese emigrants to France