Djimon Hounsou (born on 24 April 1964) is a renowned American actor and model. He was born in 1964 in Cotonou, Benin.
As a child, he moved to France, where he dropped out of school and became homeless for some time.
He eventually got into modeling and later pursued a career in acting. Since the 1990s, Hounsou has starred in many Hollywood films and is respected for his work. Let us know more about Djimon’s early life, career, net worth, etc.
| Profile Summary | |
|---|---|
| Name | Djimon Hounsou |
| Birth Date | born on 24 April 1964 |
| Birth Place | Cotonou, Benin |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 59 years old as of 2023 |
| Height | In Feet & Inches: 6′ 2″ In Centimeter: 188 cm In Meter: 1.88 m |
| Weight | In Kilogram: 82 kg In pounds: 181 lbs |
| Net Worth | $15 million as of 2023 |
| Profession | Actor and Model |
| Parents | Albertine and Pierre Hounsou |
| Sibling | Edmond in Lyon |
| Martial Status | Married |
| Wife | Kimora Lee Simmons |
| Children | Kenzo Lee Hounsou |
| Nationality | Beninese-American |
| Religion | Christian |
Who is Djimon Hounsou?
Djimon Hounsou is a famous Beninise-American actor and former model. He was born in 1964 in Cotonou, Benin, and moved to France as a child.
Hounsou started his career as a model in Paris in the 1980s. He then moved to America in 1990 to pursue an acting career.
Some of Hounsou’s most notable movie roles include Juba in Gladiator, Solomon Vandy in Blood Diamond, and Korath in Guardians of the Galaxy.
He has received Academy Award nominations for his Amistad and In America roles. Hounsou is known for voicing roles in animated films like How to Train Your Dragon 2.
With his talented acting abilities, Hounsou has become one of Hollywood’s most respected African-American actors.
He continues taking on impactful roles while supporting humanitarian causes in Africa through his work with charities.
Early Life of Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Hounsou was born on 24 April 1964 in Cotonou, Benin. He was taken to his parents, Albertine and Pierre Hounsou. Djimon had 3 older siblings and was the youngest child in the family. When
Djimon was 12 years old when his parents sent him to live with his older brother Edmond in Lyon, France, to get better education opportunities. However, Djimon needed help to adjust to the new environment and culture.
He missed his home in Benin and often felt lonely as his parents and other siblings were far away.
Djimon lost interest in studies and eventually dropped out of school.
He lived on the streets for a while and had financial difficulty. It was a challenging period for young Djimon, who was away from his family in a new country.
Djimon Hounsou Age
Djimon Hounsou is currently 59 years old as of 2023 because he was born in 1964 in Cotonou, which is located in Benin, West Africa.
At a young age, he moved to France and started his career as a model in his 20s. In his 30s, Hounsou began pursuing an acting career and got his first major role in Amistad in 1997.
He received widespread critical acclaim for his performance. Since then, Hounsou has appeared in many major Hollywood films like Gladiator, Blood Diamond, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Even at 59, Hounsou continues to take on significant roles and proved his talent and experience as an actor through his work in movies like Aquaman, Shazam!, and Captain Marvel.
Throughout his decades-long career in the entertainment industry, Djimon Hounsou has accomplished a lot and gained worldwide recognition for his contributions.
Djimon Hounsou Height and Weight
Djimon Hounsou is 6 feet and 2 inches tall, which is equal to 188 centimeters or 1.88 meters. He weighs around 80-82 kg, which is equal to around 176-181 lbs.
Djimon works hard to maintain his athletic physique through regular exercise and training. He has the perfect height, musculature, and fitness combination, which is desirable for action movie roles.
His height and strong build have helped him convincingly portray historical and fictional characters requiring physical strength on screen.
Djimon Hounsou Career
Djimon Hounsou began his career performing in music videos for famous artists like Janet Jackson and Madonna in the late 1980s.
He debuted in 1990 in the movie Without You I’m Nothing. However, his breakthrough role came in 1997 when he was cast as Cinque in the critically acclaimed Steven Spielberg film Amistad.
Since then, he has had a successful Hollywood career with memorable roles in blockbuster films like Gladiator, Blood Diamond, and several Marvel movies.
He has earned Oscar nominations and many other awards for his powerful performances.
Djimon has worked hard to become one of the most respected actors in the industry and continues to take on diverse roles well into his late 50s and 60s.
Djimon Hounsou Movies
- Without You I’m Nothing (1990)
- Stargate (1994)
- Amistad (1997)
- Gladiator (2000)
- In America (2003)
- Constantine (2005)
- The Island (2005)
- Blood Diamond (2006)
- Furious 7 (2015)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Shazam! (2019)
- The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
- Aquaman (2018)
Djimon Hounsou in Shazam
Djimon Hounsou plays the Wizard in the Shazam movie. He gives Billy Batson the power to transform into an adult superhero with a magic word.
Wizard helps Batson control new abilities and fights monster villain Sivana. Hounsou reprises their famous role in the next movie too.
Djimon Hounsou Wife
Djimon Hounsou dated and married Kimora Lee Simmons. They met in 2007 and quickly fell in love.
In 2008, they traveled to Benin for a traditional wedding ceremony in front of Djimon’s family. This helped Kimora understand Djimon’s culture and heritage.
They had one son together named Kenzo Lee Hounsou in 2009. Though Kimora and Djimon were never officially married, they were in a long-term and committed partnership.
Unfortunately, in 2012, they announced they had separated after five years together. Djimon and Kimora remain on good terms and co-parent their son.
Kimora will always hold an important place in Djimon’s life as the mother of his child.
Djimon Hounsou Net Worth
Djimon Hounsou’s estimated net worth is around $15 million as of 2023. He has earned his wealth primarily from his successful acting and model career.
Some of Hounsou’s notable movie roles include Gladiator, Blood Diamond, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Furious 7, earning him salaries in the millions for each film.
In addition to his acting income, he has endorsed major brands like Calvin Klein, contributing to his net worth.
Hounsou also owns several properties and invests wisely in the stock market. His modeling work in the late 1980s and music video appearances helped kickstart his financial success.
Overall, Djimon Hounsou has built a lucrative career in entertainment spanning decades.
Facts About Djimon Hounsou
- Djimon Hounsou was born in 1964 in Cotonou, Benin. He moved to France with his brother at age 12.
- Hounsou began his career as a model in Paris in 1987. He has modeled for big brands like Calvin Klein.
- Hounsou made his film debut in 1990. He is best known for his Gladiator, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Blood Diamond roles.
- He received Academy Award nominations for his In America and Blood Diamond roles.
- Djimon Hounsou has a son named Kenzo Lee Hounsou, born in 2009, from his past relationship with model Kimora Lee Simmons.
- He stands at 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs around 90 kg.
- Hounsou has starred in many big Hollywood blockbusters and worked with top directors like Steven Spielberg.
- Hounsou lives in the United States now and has American citizenship besides his Beninese citizenship. He is fluent in French and English.
Djimon Hounsou has found great success and fame in Hollywood through his acting talent and hard work.
While his journey began with struggles as a child in Benin, he now lives comfortably in the United States with the earnings from his illustrious movie career.
Hounsou continues inspiring audiences around the world with his amazing on-screen performances. I hope you enjoyed learning more about his fascinating life story.
Next Read: Matthew Sato Age