Djimon Gaston Hounsou (born April 24, 1964) is a Beninese actor and model. As an actor, Hounsou has been nominated for two Academy Awards. Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin. He emigrated to Paris at the age of thirteen with his brother, Edmond, and moved to the U.S. in 1990.

One year before obtaining his college degree he dropped out of school to pursue acting. Since 2007, Hounsou has been dating model and CEO of the fashion label Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons. On 30 May 2009, Simmons gave birth to their son, Kenzo Lee Hounsou. Hounsou and Simmons were married in 2009 before Kenzo’s birth.