Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou is a two-time Academy Award-nominated actor for his work in Ed Zwick's "Blood Diamond" and Jim Sheridan's "In America."

Born in Benin, West Africa, Hounsou moved to Paris at the age of 13 to pursue a Western education. As an adult, he was discovered by fashion designer Thierry Mugler and subsequently modeled for and appeared in several iconic music videos for legendary photographer Herb Ritts and director David Fincher. Small film roles followed before Hounsou's breakthrough performance as Cinque, the African who leads an uprising to regain his freedom in Steven Spielberg's 1997 film "Amistad." Hounsou earned a Golden Globe nomination and a NAACP Image Award for the part. He later shared a SAG Award nomination as a member of the cast of Ridley Scott's Academy Award-winning Best Picture "Gladiator."

In 2006, Hounsou received an NAACP Image Award, a National Board of Review citation and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his role as a forced laborer who discovers a rare gem in "Blood Diamond," starring Leonardo DiCaprio. For his performance as an artist afflicted with AIDS in the film "In America," Hounsou garnered an Independent Spirit Award, was named 2004's ShoWest Supporting Actor of the Year and shared an ensemble SAG Award nomination.

Hounsou starred opposite Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Alfred Molina and Chris Cooper in Julie Taymor's screen adaptation of "The Tempest." His film credits also include "Baggage Claim," Michael Bay's "The Island" with Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, "Eragon," "Constantine" with Keanu Reeves, Jan de Bont's "Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" with Angelina Jolie and Shekhar Kapur's "The Four Feathers" with the Kate Hudson and the late Heath Ledger.

Hounsou has shot "Fast & Furious 7" for Universal Pictures and director James Wann and the independent thriller "Air," directed by Christian Cantamessa and co-starring Norman Reedus. In 2014, he starred as Korath the Pursuer in Disney's "Guardians of the Galaxy," James Gunn's adaptation of the Marvel Comic, and in Mark Neveldine's thriller "The Vatican Tapes" for Lionsgate. In 2015, Hounsou also appeared in the Universal fantasy adventure film "Seventh Son" with Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

For television, Hounsou voiced the Black Panther in the BET animated series based on the Marvel Comic. He also starred as a refugee seeking asylum in a memorable six-episode arc on "ER" and played a recurring role in the series "Alias," starring Jennifer Garner.

Hounsou also produced and developed a slate of feature films and documentaries via his company Fanaticus Entertainment.

As a celebrity ambassador for Oxfam, Hounsou advocates for the poor, aid to Africa, farmers affected by unfair international trade rules and other social justice issues. In 2009, he opened the United Nations General Assembly in New York with a compelling speech about the impact of climate change on developing nations. Hounsou also appeared before the U.S. Senate on behalf of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and participated in a hearing and summit for the International Arms Ban Treaty.

20th Century Fox