Djimon Hounsou

Beninese-American actorTemplate:SHORTDESC:Beninese-American actor

**Djimon Gaston Hounsou** (/ˈdʒaɪmən ˈuːnsuː/; French: [dʒimɔ̃ unsu]; born April 24, 1964) is a Beninese-American actor and model. He began his career appearing in music videos. He made his film debut in *Without You I'm Nothing* (1990) and earned 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* (2003), and *Blood Diamond* (2006), receiving Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nominations for both the latter films. He also played an antagonist in *Furious 7* (2015). He has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. He plays an important role as well in the French film *Forces spéciales* (2011).

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he portrays Korath the Pursuer in *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), *Captain Marvel* (2019) and the second episode of *What If...?* (2021). In the DC Extended Universe, he appears as the Fisherman King in *Aquaman* (2018), and as the wizard Shazam in *Shazam!* (2019) and the upcoming *Shazam! Fury of the Gods* (2023). He plays Papa Midnite in another DC movie, *Constantine* (2005).

## Early life

Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook.Template:Citation needed He emigrated to Lyon in France at the age of 12 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 designer Thierry Mugler, who encouraged Hounsou to pursue a modeling career. In 1987, he became a model and established a career in Paris. He moved to the United States in 1990.Template:Citation needed

## Career

### Acting

 File:Djimon Hounsou (cropped).jpg
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". He also appears in En Vogue's music video for "Hold On".

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*. He had 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,* and gained further notice as Juba in the 2000 film *Gladiator*. In 2004, he 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 2005 he played a mercenary in the movie *The Island* alongside Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. In 2006 he won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in *Blood Diamond,* and received Broadcast Film Critics Association, Screen Actors Guild Award and Academy Award nominations for this performance.Template:Unreliable source?

Hounsou had 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* film, he would like to have Hounsou as Black Panther. In November 2008, it was announced that Hounsou would provide the voice of Black Panther in the television series of the same name. He had signed on to play Abdiel in the film version of John Milton's *Paradise Lost* with Benjamin Walker and Bradley Cooper, but the film was scrapped in early February 2012.

In 2013, he appeared in the comedy film *Baggage Claim* alongside Paula Patton. He also voiced Drago Blodfist 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 17 February 2016, it was reported that Hounsou would join the second season of the television series *Wayward Pines*. Also in 2016, he played Chief Mbonga in *The Legend of Tarzan* movie.

In July 2018, Hounsou joined the DC Extended Universe, voicing the Fisherman King Ricou in *Aquaman* (with the character motion-captured by Andrew Crawford), and replacing Ron Cephas Jones as the Wizard Shazam in *Shazam!* (2019). Also in 2019, he reprised his role as Korath in the Marvel Studios film *Captain Marvel* and the animated series *What If...?*. He will reprise his role as the wizard Shazam in *Shazam! Fury of the Gods*.

### Modeling

On 24 February 2007, it was announced that Hounsou would be the new Calvin Klein underwear model. At the time, he was represented by Los Angeles modeling agent Omar Albertto.

### Other work

In 2010, Hounsou was featured as the narrator in ESPN's series of "32 Teams, 1 Dream" commercials for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He spoke at the Summit on Climate Change at the United Nations on 22 September 2009. On 1 December 2009, he 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. In 2009, Simmons gave birth to their son, Kenzo Lee Hounsou. 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' 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.

## References

1. ↑ Hounsou, Djimon (May 26, 2016). Tonight at 9/8c on #foxtv #waywardpines.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Djimon Hounsou: Biography. *TV Guide*.
3. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Daily Show". Comedy Central. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
4. ↑ Djimon Hounsou Biography - Yahoo! Movies Template:Webarchive
5. ↑ Straight Up. Paula-Abdul.net.
6. ↑ Love Will Never Do Without You. songfacts.com.
7. ↑ Djimon Hounsou Awards. IMDb.
8. ↑ Push Djimon Hounsou Interview. About.com.
9. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Djimon Hounsou and Diane Kruger's SPECIAL FORCES Explodes onto Blu-ray & DVD in February". January 17, 2013. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
10. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Story talks black panther". ign.com. May 8, 2007. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
11. ↑ Djimon Hounsou Roars as the Black Panther.
12. ↑ Legendary Pulls Plug on Bradley Cooper's 'Paradise Lost'. *The Hollywood Reporter* (9 February 2012).
13. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Alan Taylor Offers New 'Thor 2′ Details; Djimon Hounsou on 'Guardians of the Galaxy'". *screenrant.com*. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
14. ↑ Marvel Studios Begins Production on Guardians of the Galaxy. Marvel.com (July 20, 2013).
15. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Djimon Hounsou Joins Fast & Furious 7". *empireonline.com*. 12 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
16. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Wagmeister, Elizabeth (February 17, 2016). "Djimon Hounsou cast in 'Wayward Pines' season 2". *Variety*. Archived from the original on February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
17. ↑ [1]Template:Dead link
18. ↑ Exclusive: DC's 'Shazam!' casts 'Guardians' actor Djimon Hounsou as the Wizard.
19. ↑ Exclusive: 'Aquaman' reveals first look at the exotic Fisherman King.
20. ↑ Jirak, Jamie (July 23, 2021). Shazam! Fury of the Gods Set Photo Reveals Return of Surprising Actor.
21. ↑ Omar Albertto on FASHION NET (en).
22. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Calvin Klein's New Brief Boy". *ashionweekdaily.com*. February 23, 2007. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
23. ↑ NPRTemplate:Dead link
24. ↑ Developed countries need to be held accountable. Rfi.fr (2009-12-02).
25. ↑ Slonim, Jeffrey (November 15, 2012). Russell Simmons Okay with Kimora & Djimon. *People*.
26. ↑ 'Life in the Fab Lane' star Kimora Lee Simmons gives birth to baby boy (June 1, 2009).
27. ↑ Kimora Lee Simmons, Djimon Hounsou Had Commitment Ceremony. Usmagazine.com (2009-03-09).
28. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Jordan, Julie (November 21, 2012). "Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou Separate". *People*. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
29. ↑ Sharf, Zack (2022-02-09). 'Rebel Moon' First Look: Zack Snyder Debuts Concept Art From His 'Star Wars'-Inspired Netflix Epic (en-US).
30. ↑ Winners: National Board Of Review. *CBS News*.
31. ↑ Screen Actors Guild: The nominees. ew.com.

## External links

* Djimon Hounsou at IMDb
* Djimon Hounsou: The Push Interview with Kam Williams

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