This page uses content from the Djimon Hounsou biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Djimon Gaston Hounsou (born April 24, 1964) is an Academy Award-nominated Beninese actor, dancer and fashion model who was born in Cotonou, Benin.

Hounsou immigrated to Paris at the age of 13 with a brother, and lived on the streets, until he was discovered by fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who made him a model. Modeling led to acting. His film debut was in Without You I'm Nothing, and he has had parts on Beverly Hills, 90210 and ER and a guest starring role on Alias, but his first major role was in the science fiction film Stargate.

His first on-screen appearance was in the 1990 Janet Jackson video "Love Will Never Do (Without You)", which co-starred Antonio Sabato Jr.

He received wide critical acclaim for his role as Cinqué in the Steven Spielberg film Amistad. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for In America in 2004. That year, with Charlize Theron, a South African actress nominated for her work in Monster, was the first time that two African-born performers were nominated for an Oscar in the same year.

He is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Filmography

• Without You I'm Nothing (1990)
• Unlawful Entry (1992)
• Stargate (1994)
• The Small Hours (1997)
• Amistad (1997)
• Ill Gotten Gains (1997)
• Deep Rising (1998)
• Gladiator (2000)
• The Middle Passage (2000) (documentary) (narrator in US version)
• The Tag (2001)
• Dead Weight (2002)
• The Four Feathers (2002)
• In America (2002)
• Heroes (2002) (short subject)
• Biker Boyz (2003)
• Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
• Blueberry (2004)
• Constantine (2005)
• Beauty Shop (2005)
• The Island (2005)
• Blood Diamond (2006)
• Eragon (2006)

Upcoming:

• The Trunk (2007)

External links

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