Born on April 24, 1964 in Cotnou, Benin, Djimon Hounsou is an Academy Award-nominated Beninois actor, dancer and fashion model. When he was 13, he and his brother immigrated to Paris. He dropped out of college after a year and lived on the streets before being discovered by fashion designer Thierry Mugler. He was made into a model and then became an actor afterwards.
Djimon Hounsou had his film debut in the 1990 musical comedy Without You I’m Nothing. He continued his career by appearing on episodes of television series. Hounsou was on Beverly Hills, 90210 and ER, as well as being cast in a small role in Alias. He was then given a larger role in sci-fi film Stargate in 1994. He was also featured in a Janet Jackson video called “Love Will Never Do (Without You).” In 1997, he earned his first Golden Globe Award nomination for playing Cinqu? in the Spielberg film Amistad.
Hounsou received wide critical acclaim for his portrayal of the character Juba, in the 2000 adventure movie Gladiator, which also starred Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. In 2002, he starred in a commercial for Gap directed by Peter Lindbergh. He was also given roles in Le Boulet and Biker Boyz. The next year, he appeared as Kosa in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. In 2004, he became the first black African to be nominated for an Oscar. His performance in In America garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was also given the National Board Review Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 2006’s Blood Diamond. Hounsou was also given roles in the films Constantine with Keanu Reeves, The Island with Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, and was also in the fantasy Eragon, adapted from the novel of the same name.