Djimon Hounsou said he feels 'cheated' after his 30 years in Hollywood. Here's a look at his storied career.

Clay WalkerMar 28, 2023, 03:03 IST

Djimon Hounsou has been in Hollywood for over three decades.Ron Galella/Getty Images; Mike Marsland/Getty Images; Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Hounsou recently told The Guardian he feels he has been "tremendously cheated" by the industry.
As of 2023, Djimon Hounsou has acted in 48 films.

Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin. He started as a model in France before he began acting.

Djimon Hounsou and his son, Kenzo.@djimon_hounsou/Instagram

Hounsou's first role was in 1990's "Without You I'm Nothing" starring comedian Sandra Bernhard.

Djimon Hounsou made his movie acting debut in "Without You I'm Nothing" (1990) and is credited as ex-boyfriend.Photo courtesy of Go Ahead Bore Me...

Two years later, Hounsou appeared in 1992's "Unlawful Entry."

Djimon Hounsou was in "Unlawful Entry" (1992) and played a prisoner.Photo courtesy of Largo Entertainment

In 1993, Hounsou voiced a character in the thriller "Killing Zoe."

Djimon Hounsou voiced the character of Moise in "Killing Zoe" (1993).Photo courtesy of Davis-Films

In 1994, Hounsou starred in the sci-fi film "Stargate" alongside Kurt Russell and James Spader.

Djimon Hounsou as Horus in "Stargate" (1994).Photo courtesy of Canal+

Hounsou's role in Steven Spielberg's "Amistad" (1997) earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

Hounsou played Cinque in "Amistad" (1997).Photo courtesy of Dreamworks Pictures

Also released in 1997 about a slave ship, "Ill-Gotten Gains" was Hounsou's first leading role.

Djimon Hounsou played Fyah in "Ill-Gotten Gains" (1997).Photo courtesy of Spats Inc.

That same year, Hounsou starred in a film called "The Small Hours."

Djimon Hounsou in 1997 at "The Peacemaker" Los Angeles premiere.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Hounsou played a part in the 1998 sci-fi film "Deep Rising."

Djimon Hounsou portrayed the character Vivo in "Deep Rising" (1998).Photo courtesy of Calimari Productions

In 2000, Hounsou starred in Ridley Scott's smash hit "Gladiator."

Hounsou played Juba in "Gladiator" (2000).Getty Images/Getty Images

Also in 2000, Hounsou narrated a film called "The Middle Passage."

Djimon Hounsou narrated "The Middle Passage" (2000).Photo courtesy of Les Films du Dorlis

Hounsou acted in a short film called "The Tag" alongside Kelly Rutherford in 2001.

Djimon Hounsou during the 2001 "Snatch" Los Angeles premiere.Steve Granitz/Getty Images

The following year, Hounsou starred in the French film "Dead Weight" (2002).

Djimon Hounsou played Detective Youssouf in "Dead Weight" (2002).Photo courtesy of France 2 Cinéma

In 2002's "The Four Feathers," Hounsou worked with Heath Ledger and Kate Hudson.

Djimon Hounsou's character in "The Four Feathers" (2002) was named Abou Fatma.Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Hounsou got his first best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his role in 2002's "In America."

Hounsou as Mateo in "In America" (2002).Photo courtesy of Hell's Kitchen Films.

Later that year, Hounsou played Mystery Man in the short film "Heroes" (2002).

Djimon Hounsou during the 2002 "The Four Feathers" premiere.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Hounsou's first film of 2003 was called "Biker Boyz," and he played Motherland.

Lawrence Fishburne, Lisa Bonet, Derek Luke, Kid Rock, and Djimon Hounsou in "Biker Boyz" (2003).Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Hounsou starred alongside Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie in "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" in 2003.

Djimon Hounsou played Kosa in "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" (2003).Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

The following year, Hounsou acted in the western action flick "Renegade" (2004).

Djimon Hounsou played Woodhead in "Renegade" (2004).Photo courtesy of A.J.O.Z. Films

Hounsou worked with Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, and Shia LaBeouf in "Constantine" (2005).

Djimon Hounsou played Midnite in "Constantine" (2005).Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Queen Latifah played Djimon Hounsou's love interest in "Beauty Shop" (2005).

Hounsou portrayed the character Joe in the comedy "Beauty Shop" (2005).Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor costarred with Hounsou in the dystopian thriller "The Island" (2005).

Djimon Hounsou played Albert Laurent in "The Island" (2005).Photo courtesy Dreamworks Pictures

Hounsou was nominated for his second best supporting actor Oscar for his role in 2006's "Blood Diamond."

Djimon Hounsou played Solomon Vandy in "Blood Diamond" (2006).Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Also in 2006, Hounsou acted in "Eragon."

Eragon (Ed Speleers) and Ajihad (Djimon Hounsou) in "Eragon" (2006).Photo courtesy of Fox 2000 Pictures

Hounsou's only film in 2008 was "Never Back Down."

Djimon Hounsou plays martial arts mentor Jean Roqua in "Never Back Down" (2008).Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment

In 2009, he worked with Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning in "Push."

Hounsou's character in "Push" (2009) was named Henry Carver.Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment

Hounsou worked with Oscar-winner Helen Mirren in "The Tempest" in 2010 (he would later work with her again in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" in 2023).

Djimon Hounsou played Caliban in 2010's "The Tempest.Photo courtesy of Touchstone Pictures

Hounsou teamed up with Kevin Bacon for the thriller "Elephant White" in 2011.

Djimon Hounsou played Curtie Church in the action film "Elephant White" (2011).Photo courtesy of Millennium Films

Hounsou's second film of 2011 was a war film with Diane Kruger called "Special Forces."

Djimon Hounsou played a journalist in "Special Forces" (2011).Photo courtesy of Easy Company

Hounsou entered the rom-com space with "Baggage Claim" (2013).

In "Baggage Claim" (2013), Djimon Hounsou plays Montana's (Paula Patton) ex-boyfriend, Quinton Jamison.Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

In 2014, Hounsou lent his voice to the film "How to Train Your Dragon 2."

Djimon Hounsou voices the villainous Drago in "How to Train Your Dragon 2" (2014).Photo courtesy of DreamWorks Animation

Hounsou portrayed Korath in the uber popular "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014).

Djimon Hounsou is Korath, one of the antagonists, in "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014).Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios

Hounsou acted alongside Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, and Kit Harington in "Seventh Son" (2014).

Hounsou played Rado in the fantasy film "Seventh Son" (2014).Photo courtesy of Beijing Skywheel Entertainment Co.

Djimon Hounsou joined the "Fast and Furious" franchise in the seventh film: "Furious 7" (2015).

Djimon Hounsou played Jakande in "Furious 7" (2015).Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

Hounsou took a stab at the horror genre in 2015's "The Vatican Tapes."

Djimon Hounsou played Vicar Imani in "The Vatican Tapes" (2015).Photo courtesy of Lionsgate

Hounsou worked with "The Walking Dead" star Norman Reedus in the futuristic film "Air" (2015).

Djimon Hounsou plays Cartwright in "Air" (2015).Photo courtesy of Automatik Entertainment

Hounsou played an integral role in "The Legend of Tarzan" (2016).

Djimon Hounsou plays Chief Mbonga in "The Legend of Tarzan" (2016).Photo courtesy of Village Roadshow Pictures

In 2017, Hounsou joined forces with Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law in "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword."

In "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword," Hounsou plays Bedivere.Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Hounsou costarred with fellow Oscar nominee Greg Kinnear in "Same Kind of Different as Me" (2017).

Djimon Hounsou plays a homeless man named Denver Moore in "Same Kind of Different as Me" (2017).Photo courtesy of Disruption Entertainment

Hounsou acted in the blockbuster "Aquaman" in 2018.

Djimon Hounsou voiced King Ricou, the leader of the Fishermen Kingdom, in "Aquaman" (2018).Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, and Anne Hathaway star in "Serenity" (2019).

Djimon Hounsou played Duke and Matthew McConaughey was Baker Dill in 2019's "Serenity."Photo courtesy of Blue Budgie Films Limited

Hounsou rejoined the MCU in "Captain Marvel" (2019).

Djimon Hounsou played Korath in "Captain Marvel" (2019).Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios

Hounsou took part in another superhero movie with "Shazam" (2019).

Djimon Hounsou as the Wizard in "Shazam" (2019).Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

In 2019, Hounsou acted in the "Charlie's Angels" remake: "Charlie's Angels."

Hounsou played Edgar Bosley in "Charlie's Angels" (2019).Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Hounsou took part in the 2020 horror flick "A Quiet Place Part II."

Djimon Hounsou was Man on Island in "A Quiet Place Part II" (2020).Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

In 2021, Hounsou acted in the third movie in "The Kingsman" series: "The King's Man."

Djimon Hounsou portrayed Shola in "The King's Man" (2021).Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Hounsou voiced a character in the animated film "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" (2022).

Djimon Hounsou voiced a cat named Sumo in "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank" (2022).Photo courtesy of Nickelodeon Movies

Hounsou made a cameo in "Black Adam" (2022).

Djimon Hounsou briefly reprised his role as Wizard in "Black Adam" (2022).Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Hounsou returned to the "Shazam" universe in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" (2023).

Djimon Hounsou played Wizard once again in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" (2023).Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema

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