Djimon Hounsou

Cast · Director · Writer

Born

April 24, 1964 · Cotonou, Benin

Birth name

Djimon Gaston Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He moved to Lyon, France, when he was 13. Hounsou has graced the catwalks of Paris and London as a popular male model. He has since left his modeling career and has worked on Gladiator (2000) by Ridley Scott and Amistad (1997) by Steven Spielberg.