Djimon Hounsou

About Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Gaston Hounsou (born April 24, 1964) is a two-time Academy Award-nominated Beninois actor, dancer and fashion model.

Djimon Hounsou (pronounced /ʒaɪ́mʌ̌n ɒ́nsǔ/ (last name pronounced Hansoo)) was born in Cotonou, Benin, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou. He immigrated to Paris at the age of thirteen with his brother, Edmond. One year before obtaining his college degree he dropped out of school. He lived on the streets for a while until he was discovered by fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who made him a model. Modeling led to acting.

Djimon's film debut was in Without You I’m Nothing, and he has had television parts 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)”, which co-starred Antonio Sabato, Jr. 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.