Djimon Hounsou
Known for Acting · 85 credits
- Born
- 1964-04-24 (age 62)
- Place of birth
- Cotonou, Dahomey [now Benin]
- Also known as
- Djimon · Djimon Gaston Hounsou · Djimon Hounso · Djimon Housoun · Джимон Унсу
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (17)
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self
INVINCIBLE
2021
as Martian Emperor (voice)
ER
1994
as Mobalage Ikabo
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990
as Nightclub Doorman
The View
1997
as Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self - Guest
What If...?
2021
as Korath (voice)
Dragons: Race to the Edge
2015
as Drago (voice)
The Wild Thornberrys
1998
as Villager (voice)
The Oscars
1953
as Self
Wayward Pines
2015
as CJ Mitchum
Alias
2001
as Kazari Bomani
The Longest Day in Chang'an
2019
as Ge Lao
Soul Food
2000
as Victor Onuka
BIANCA
2022
as Self - Guest
Black Panther
2010
as Black Panther (voice)
Dish Nation
2012
as Self
Movies (68)
Gladiator
2000
as Juba
Thrash
2026
as Dr. Dale Edwards
Constantine
2005
as Midnite
Furious 7
2015
as Mose Jakande
How to Train Your Dragon 2
2014
as Drago (voice)
Captain Marvel
2019
as Korath
Black Adam
2022
as Wizard
Gran Turismo
2023
as Steve Mardenborough
A Quiet Place Part II
2021
as Man on Island
Shazam!
2019
as Wizard
Guardians of the Galaxy
2014
as Korath
Blood Diamond
2006
as Solomon Vandy
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
2017
as Bedivere
A Quiet Place: Day One
2024
as Henri
The King's Man
2021
as Shola
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
2023
as Wizard
Aquaman
2018
as King Ricou (voice)
The Legend of Tarzan
2016
as Chief Mbonga
The Island
2005
as Albert Laurent
Stargate
1994
as Horus
Serenity
2019
as Duke
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
2022
as Sumo (voice)
Never Back Down
2008
as Jean Roqua
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire
2023
as Titus
Seventh Son
2014
as Radu
Push
2009
as Henry Carver
Charlie's Angels
2019
as Edgar Bosley
Deep Rising
1998
as Vivo
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver
2024
as Titus
Eragon
2006
as Ajihad
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life
2003
as Kosa
Beauty Shop
2005
as Joe
Twisted
2026
as Dr. Kezian
Baggage Claim
2013
as Quinton Jamison
Unlawful Entry
1992
as Prisoner on Bench
The Four Feathers
2002
as Abou Fatma
Special Forces
2011
as Commander Kovax
The Vatican Tapes
2015
as Vicar Imani
Biker Boyz
2003
as Motherland
OZI: Voice of the Forest
2024
as Jojo
Highlander
as Sunda Kastagir
Killing Zoe
1993
as Moïse (voice)
In America
2003
as Mateo
Renegade
2004
as Woodhead
The Tempest
2010
as Caliban
Same Kind of Different as Me
2017
as Denver
Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney+ Day Special
2021
as Korath (voice) (archive footage)
Dead Weight
2002
as Detective Youssouf
Elephant White
2011
as Curtie Church
I Am Heath Ledger
2017
as Self
Creating a Universe - The Making of Rebel Moon
2024
as Self
Black Panther
2010
as T'Challa
Air
2015
as Cartwright
Strength and Honor: Creating the World of 'Gladiator'
2005
as Self
Amistad
1997
as Cinque
A Place in Time
2007
as Self
The Bleeding Ground
as Idoma Kwali
Ill Gotten Gains
1997
as Fyah
Janet Jackson: Japanese Singles Collection - Greatest Hits
2022
Without You I'm Nothing
1990
as Ex-Boyfriend
Red Card
as Max Elmi
The Zealot
One Last Fight
as Tiga
Strength and Honor: Production Pods
2005
as Self
African History Y
The Middle Passage
2000
as Narrator (voice - U.S. Version)
Kimana Tuskers
2021
as Narrator (voice)
In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven
2018
as Host
About Djimon Hounsou
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… With 85 credits spanning from 1953 to 2026, Djimon Hounsou has appeared in 68 films and 17 TV shows.
Fans searching for Djimon Hounsou movies, Djimon Hounsou filmography, or the latest projects starring Djimon Hounsou can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Djimon Hounsou Movies
- Gladiator (2000) — as Juba
- Thrash (2026) — as Dr. Dale Edwards
- Constantine (2005) — as Midnite
- Furious 7 (2015) — as Mose Jakande
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) — as Drago (voice)
Where to Watch Djimon Hounsou Films
Most Djimon Hounsou movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Djimon Hounsou, check our movies catalogue and browse page.