Star Facts:
Birth Date:
  • 24 April 1964
Birthplace:
  • Cotenou, Benin
Quote:
  • "School bored me. Being educated and being intelligent are two different things. I thought I was smart enough. And I wanted to be an entertainer. I stopped going to school as a way of saying I was mature, a way of saying I was going to choose who I was going to become." (Daily News, December 3, 1997)
Education:
  • Dropped out of school
Claim to Fame:
  • Breakthrough screen role as Cinque in Steven Spielberg's AMISTAD (1997)
Family:
  • Father: Chef
  • Mother: Albertine Hounsou, d. 1989
  • Brothers: Has three, all older; Hounsou was sent to live with brother Edmond in France
  • Sister: Has one, older
Significant Other:
  • Victoria Mahoney: Actress, screenwriter; b. 1966
Factoid:
  • Name is pronounced "Jee-mon Hahn-soo"
  • 1986: 'Discovered' by a fashion photographer while living on the streets in Paris, moved to Los Angeles and cast by David Fincher in the music videos "Straight Up" (by Paula Abdul) and "Express Yourself" (by Madonna)
  • Learned English by watching television
Feature Film
Credits:
  • 2008: Push, Never Back Down
    2006: Eragon, Blood Diamond
    2005: The Island, Beauty Shop, Constantine
    2004: Blueberry
    2003: Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Biker Boyz, Heroes
    2002: In America, The Four Feathers, Le Boulet
    2001: The Tag
    2000: Passage du milieu, Gladiator
    1998: Deep Rising
    1997: Small Hours, Ill Gotten Gains, Amistad
    1994: Stargate
    1992: Unlawful Entry
    1990: "Beverly Hills, 90210" (TV), Without You I'm Nothing
Academy Awards®: