Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Gaston Hounsou ( ; ; born April 24, 1964) is a Beninese-American actor. He began his career appearing in music videos and made his film debut in Without You I'm Nothing. He then earned widespread recognition for his role as Cinqué in the Steven Spielberg film Amistad (1997), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. For his performances in In America (2002) and Blood Diamond (2006), Hounsou was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he portrays Korath the Pursuer in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Captain Marvel (2019) and 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), Black Adam (2022) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023). His other notable films include Stargate (1994), Gladiator (2000), Constantine, The Island (both 2005), Special Forces (2011), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), Furious 7 (2015), The Legend of Tarzan (2016), A Quiet Place Part II (2021), Gran Turismo, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire (both 2023), Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver and A Quiet Place: Day One (both 2024).

Hounsou made his directorial debut with the documentary film In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven (2018).

Early life Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou. He immigrated 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 modelling career.

Career Acting

Between 1989 and 1991, Hounsou appeared in the music videos for "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul, "I Don't Wanna Lose You" by Tina Turner, "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 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 had done a third Fantastic Four film, he would have liked Hounsou to portray 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 latter being the seventh installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise.

In 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.

In 2018, Hounsou joined the DC Extended Universe, voicing the Fisherman King Ricou in Aquaman (with the character motion-captured by Andrew Crawford). He then replaced Ron Cephas Jones as the Wizard Shazam in Shazam! (2019). He reprised his role in Black Adam (2022) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023). Also in 2019, he reprised his role as Korath in the Marvel Studios film Captain Marvel and then in the animated series What If...?.

In November 2022, it was announced that Honsou had joined the cast of the film based on the Gran Turismo video game, with Geri Halliwell playing his wife.

In January 2025, Hounsou claimed that, throughout his career, he has encountered challenges like those experienced by other Black actors in Hollywood, including being typecast, and claimed he's been always getting "unfair compensation." He blamed systemic racism for this predicament, saying that, despite having been twice nominated for an Academy Award, he is still "struggling financially to make a living."

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 September 22, 2009. On December 1, 2009, he told French media that developed countries "need to be held accountable" for their contribution to climate change.

In 2018, Hounsou made his directorial debut with the documentary film In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven, which examines the history, nature and religious practices of West African Vodun. The documentary premiered at the Miami International Film Festival on March 10, 2018.

In 2024, Hounsou had a guest performance on South African record producer and DJ Black Coffee's "Ode to Ancestors" song which was included in an EP inspired by Zack Snyder's movie, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver.

Personal life In 2007, Hounsou began dating model Kimora Lee Simmons. 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. In 2009, Simmons gave birth to their son. Hounsou and Simmons, who were never legally married in the United States, announced their separation in November 2012.

Filmography Film

Year Title Role Notes 1990 Without You I'm Nothing Ex-Boyfriend 1992 Unlawful Entry Prisoner on Bench 1993 Killing Zoe Moïse (voice) 1994 Stargate Horus Credited as "Djimon" 1997 Ill Gotten Gains Fyah Amistad Joseph Cinqué 1998 Deep Rising Vivo 2000 Gladiator Juba 2002 Le Boulet Detective Youssouf The Four Feathers Abou Fatma 2003 In America Mateo Biker Boyz 'Motherland' Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life Kosa 2004 Blueberry Woodhead 2005 Constantine Papa Midnite Beauty Shop Joe The Island Albert Laurent 2006 Blood Diamond Solomon Vandy Eragon Ajihad 2007 A Place in Time Himself Documentary film 2008 Never Back Down Jean Roqua 2009 Push Henry Carver 2010 The Tempest Caliban 2011 Elephant White Curtis 'Curtie' Church Special Forces Kovax 2013 Baggage Claim Quinton Jamison 2014 How to Train Your Dragon 2 Drago Bludvist (voice) Guardians of the Galaxy Korath the Pursuer Seventh Son Radu 2015 Furious 7 Mose Jakande The Vatican Tapes Vicar Imani Air Cartwright 2016 The Legend of Tarzan Chief Mbonga 2017 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Bedivere Same Kind of Different as Me Denver I Am Heath Ledger Himself Documentary film 2018 Aquaman King Ricou (voice) In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven Narrator Also director, writer and producer; Documentary film 2019 Serenity Duke Captain Marvel Korath Shazam! The Wizard Charlie's Angels Edgar 'Bosley' Dessange 2020 A Quiet Place Part II Man on Island 2021 The King's Man Shola 2022 Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank Sumo (voice) Black Adam The WizardCameo 2023 Shazam! Fury of the Gods Ozi: Voice of the Forest Ozi's Father (voice) Gran Turismo Steve Mardenborough Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of FireGeneral Titus 2024 Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver A Quiet Place: Day One Henri ("Man on Island") 2026 Twisted Dr. Kezian Thrash Dr. Dale Edwards The Passenger Hassan Highlander Sunda Kastagir Filming Red Card Max Elmi Filming

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref 1990 Beverly Hills, 90210 Doorman Episode: "Class of Beverly Hills" 1999 ER Mobalage Ikabo 6 episodes 2000 The Wild Thornberrys Villager (voice) Episode: "Luck Be an Aye-Aye" 2001 Soul Food Victor Onuka Episode: "Games People Play" 2003-2004 Alias Kazari Bomani 3 episodes 2010 Black Panther T'Challa / Black Panther (voice) 6 episodes 2016 Wayward Pines CJ Mitchum 8 episodes 2018 DreamWorks Dragons Drago Bludvist (voice) Episode: "King of Dragons, Part 2" 2019 The Longest Day in Chang'an Master Ge Episode: "Time Of Great Waste" 2021 Invincible Martian Emperor Episode: "Neil Armstrong, Eat Your Heart Out" What If...? Korath (voice) Episode: "What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes 2020 NBA 2K21 Coach Henry Bishop Also motion capture

Music video

Year Title Artist Notes 1992 "Too Funky" George Michael Original director's cut

Awards and nominations