His role as Juba in the movie Gladiator, a slave with a kind heart who looked out for his friend Maximus; gave him a lucid throw into limelight; Djimon Hounsou, is our MBBA Man Crush Monday.
ACCOLADES
Djimon Hounsou is a Beninese-American actor and model. He was born in Cotonou in April 1964, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He migrated to Lyon in France at the age of twelve with his brother, Edmond. After arriving in France, Hounsou dropped out of school and became homeless for a time. A chance meeting with a photographer led to Hounsou being introduced to fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who encouraged Hounsou to pursue a modeling career. In 1987, Hounsou became a model and established a career in Paris. He moved to the United States in 1990.
Between 1989 and 1991, Hounsou appeared in several music videos for Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson and Madonna.
Hounsou’s film debut was in Sandra Bernhard 1990 film, “Without You I’m Nothing.” He had television parts on Beverly Hills, 90210 and ER and a guest starring role on Alias. Hounsou had a larger role in the science fiction film Stargate.
AWARDS
In 2005, Djimon Hounsou played a mercenary in the movie The Island, alongside Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. In 2006, he won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Blood Diamond; he received Broadcast Film Critics Association, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Academy Award nominations for this performance. Hounsou acted in 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.
In November 2008, it was announced that Hounsou would be providing the voice of the Black Panther in the television series of the same name. Hounsou had signed on to play Abdiel in the film version of John Milton’s Paradise Lost with Benjamin Walker and Bradley Cooper. The film however was scrapped in early February 2012.
2013, he appeared in the comedy film Baggage Claim alongside Paula Patton. He also voiced Drago Bludvist 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 seventh installment of The Fast and the Furious film series, the latter where he played the role of Mose Jakande, a Nigerian-French mercenary.
On 17 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 movie.
In July 2018, Hounsou joined the DC Extended Universe, voicing the Fisherman King Ricou in Aquaman (with the character being motion-captured by Andrew Crawford), as well as replacing Ron Cephas Jones as the Wizard Shazam in Shazam! (2019).
Also in 2019, he reprised his role as Korath in the Marvel Studios film Captain Marvel.
MODELLING
Djimon Hounson became the face of Calvin Klein underwear, as it was announced on the 24th of February 2007, he was being represented by Los Angeles modeling agent, Omar Albertto.
MEDIA
2010, Hounsou was featured as the narrator in ESPN’s running series of “32 teams, 1 dream” commercials for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Hounsou spoke at the Summit on Climate Change at the United Nations on 22 September 2009.
On 1 December 2009, Hounsou told French media that developed countries “need to be held accountable” for their contribution to climate change.
LOVE LIFE
In 2017 Hounsou began dating model Kimora Lee Simmons. 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.
NETWORTH
Djimon Hounsou in 2020, has a net worth of $12 million.
1 Comment
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