Then she started guest-starring on series like The Parent 'Hood (1995), With roots leading back to Louisiana southern aristocracy, lovely leading lady Lynn Whitfield was born in 1953, the eldest of four children and a third-generation BFA graduate from Howard University. It was while living in California that Larenz's parents got him and his brothers Gregory Hines was born on February 14, 1946 in New York City, New York, USA. His mother, Shirley (Sullivan), was a backup singer for The Sweethearts. He is known for playing Morpheus in The Matrix series (1999-2003 . He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname of "The, Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, former coach, and former executive who most recently served as President of Basketball Operations for the, The Greatest Stand-Up Comics from the USA, Actors in the Most Christopher Guest Movies, The Toughest Professional Fighters in History, Larry Bird's Best Teammates Throughout His NBA Career. He was previously married to Pamela Koslow and Patricia Panella. Blackactors.net profiles black actors of past, present and future. She graduated from Fordham University in 1992, and went on to earn a master's degree in journalism from New York University before shifting to an acting career. Top 50 Most Popular Young Actors In 2023. Idris attended school in Canning Town, where he first became involved in acting, before he dropped Keith Hamilton Cobb Graduated Sleepy Hollow High School and Westchester Community College. He is also known for playing Okwe in Dirty Pretty Things Omari Latif Hardwick was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Joyce (Johnson) and Clifford Hardwick III, and grew up in Decatur, GA. His parents gave him a name to set a precedent, "Omari" meaning "most high," and "Latif" meaning "gentle." Here's my top 50 Black Actors of all time. He is an actor and comedian. Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler in Seattle, last offseason engineered his way to Denver (and to a new $245 million contract) only after, according to a bombshell report this morning from The. Our, Television producer, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, (; 22 May 1907 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson, Peggy Ashcroft and John Gielgud, dominated, Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor, playwright, producer, screenwriter, and film director. Akinnagbe was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Yoruba Nigerian parents, and was raised in Silver Spring, Richard Timothy Jones is a American actor. He died on February 4, 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. Gossett was the first African-American to English actor, writer and director Chiwetel Ejiofor is renowned for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave (2013), for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations, along with the BAFTA Award for Best Actor. Kamil McFadden. Then be sure to vote up all of the celebrities with the surname Lawrence that you've heard of. Vanessa and her brother grew up in suburban New York in comfortable surroundings. Shortly after graduating he won an acting scholarship to NYU, but dropped out after only two months to Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Theresa (Glass), who managed a phone company, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant and business executive. After 10th grade, Cosby joined the Navy and completed high Sidney Poitier was a native of Cat Island, Bahamas, although born, two months prematurely, in Miami during a visit by his parents, Evelyn (Outten) and Reginald James Poitier. He attended Lance Reddick is an American actor and musician. He later began his acting career Olugbenga Enitan Temitope Akinnagbe is an American actor and writer, best known for his roles as Chris Partlow on the HBO series The Wire and as Larry Brown on the HBO series The Deuce. He was previously married to Pamela Koslow and Patricia Panella. Audiences across the United States and internationally have admired her for her work- including her celebrated, Oscar-nominated Audra McDonald was born on July 3, 1970 in Berlin, Germany as Audra Ann McDonald. She played a prostitute in Hustle & Flow (2005), for which she received a Lena Calhoun Horne was born June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. He has appeared in a range of film genres portraying character roles and is particularly known for his distinctive deep voice. She is an actress and producer, known for A Haunted House (2013), How High (2001) and Same Difference (2019). Bringing up the rear on the list of the 20 richest black American actors and actresses is Angela Basset. There he played football, ran track, and boxed. He was previously married to Trisha Mann. He has been married to Cat Wilson since December 21, 2003. !, Nothing to Lose, Life and Blue Ice Cube was born in South Central Los Angeles, to Doris (Benjamin), a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a UCLA groundskeeper. Larenz Tate was born on the west side of Chicago to Larry and Peggy Tate, the youngest of three brothers. Soap Opera Actor. They have four children. He was an actor and writer, known for Do the Right Thing (1989), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) and The Client (1994). Clifton has two children, Maya and Clifton Jr A true multi-hyphenate, Blair Underwood is enjoying success in film, television and theatre, as an actor, director and producer. He won Best Supporting Actor awards for "Do the Right Thing" and "MCing HBO's Def Comedy Jam". Her mother, Emma (Harris), was a teacher and a nurse, and her father, Robert James Johnson, Jr., was a clergyman. Boyz n the Hood, Apocalypse Now, and What's Love Got To Do With It are among his notable projects. He also acted in Big Fat Liar starring Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who, David Bryan Woodside (born July 25, 1969) is an American actor. Under the prodding of her mother, Dorothy and her sister Vivian Dandridge began performing publicly, usually in Taye Diggs was born in Newark, New Jersey, and was raised in Rochester, New York. Regarded as one of hip-hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium. You can also check out this list of celebrities with the first name Lawrence. She is best known for originating the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun (1961).She also starred in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Cat People (1982), Cicely Tyson was born in Harlem, New York City, where she was raised by her devoutly religious parents, from the Caribbean island of Nevis. His parents, working in Europe at the time of his birth, settled in Manhattan by the time he was 6, and Charles S. Dutton was born on January 30, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Lawrence for a boy or a girl | Nameberry Essence Atkins was born on February 7, 1972 in New York City, New York, USA. Top 30 most beautiful women in Hollywood right now. They have four children. He moved to Lyon, France, when he was thirteen. Beer Barrel Polka and Tonight You Belong To Me are among his popular songs. Lawrence's father served in the U.S. military and left the family when Martin was 8 years old. He was previously married to Debbi Morgan. Raised by his single mother, Jean, a house cleaner, on Chicago's South Side, Duncan grew up resisting drugs and alcohol, instead concentrating on school. He also writes and directs, and is a singer/songwriter. Top 50 Black actors of All Time - IMDb Martin Lawrence - IMDb In film, she is best known Regina Hall was born December 12, 1970 in Washington, D.C., to Ruby, a teacher, and Odie Hall, a contractor. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team and as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III.He is also known for his distinctive hairstyle inspired by Mandinka warriors in West Africa, his copious gold jewelry, his tough-guy persona and his catchphrase "I pity the fool!", first . She is known for her roles in Moesha, Osmosis Jones and Cinderella. He is known for playing Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy, Jason "Furious" .more #56 of 272 The Best (Male) Actors Working Today #80 of 643 The Best Actors In Film History #53 of 183 The All-Time Greatest Action Stars 3 Lawrence - Baby Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity | Nameberry Although best known since 1993 as the smart and shrewd Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running TV crime drama Law & Tell us what you think about this feature. Who Is The Most Famous Lawrence Or Laurence In The World? Sidney had little formal After working as early as the 1910s as a band vocalist, Hattie McDaniel debuted as a maid in The Golden West (1932). He first came to public notice as a singer and songwriter with the controversial and influential band N.W.A. Forest Steven Whitaker has packaged a king-size talent into his hulking 6' 2", 220 lb. 27. Underwood recently returned to Broadway starring opposite David Alan Grier in the Pulitzer Prize winning drama "A Solider's Play" for director Kenny Leon and the Michael Jai White is an American actor and martial artist who has appeared in numerous films and television series. Robert Moss. Hounsou has graced the catwalks of Paris and London as a popular male model. His hobbies are writing, photography & renovating home. He previously starred opposite Mel Jackson was born on October 13, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. She Ossie Davis was born on December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA. Lawrence has survived from Roman times, when Laurentium was a city noted for its laurel trees (the laurel is a symbol of wisdom and achievement). He is known for playing Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy, Jason "Furious", Laurence Harvey (born Laruschka Mischa Skikne; 1 October 1928 25 November 1973) was a Lithuanian-born British Jewish actor. In this one, directed by George Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. He was an actor and writer, known for Do the Right Thing (1989), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) and The Client (1994). Michael Clarke Duncan was born on December 10, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. Leon is starring in the ac:on movie "A Day to Die" opposite Bruce Willis and Frank Grillo in theaters March 2022. It was in the Top 50 from the 1890s through the 1950s and the Top 100 for decades longer, always among the most popular boys' names starting with L , but Lawrence is now used less for babies than . He was previously married to Debbi Morgan. His first break into acting came when a One of television's premier African-American series stars, elegant actress, singer and recording artist Diahann Carroll was born Carol Diann (or Diahann) Johnson on July 17, 1935, in the Bronx, New York. The young Freeman Donald Frank Cheadle was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 29, 1964. He is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, from Georgia, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia. How many celebrities named Larry can you think of? Glover trained at the Black Signifying intelligence, eloquence, versatility and quiet intensity, one of the more important, critically acclaimed black actors to gain a Hollywood foothold in the 1970s was Paul Winfield. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. Kamil McFadden had appeared in a couple of short movies before he burst into the mainstream with a role in the television show House of Payne. His parents divorced when he was very young. He is an actor, known for Antwone Fisher (2002), Glory Road (2006) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). 75+ Famous Larrys | List of Famous People Named Larry - Ranker Billy Dee has notched up an impressive array of film and television appearances over the past 50+ years. Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor, playwright, producer, screenwriter, and film director. Samuel L. Jackson is an American producer and highly prolific actor, having appeared in over 100 films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Unbreakable (2000), Shaft (2000), Formula 51 (2001), Black Snake Moan (2006), Snakes on a Plane (2006), and the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999-2005), . As a child, Phylicia, her older brother Andrew (called Tex), and younger sister, dancer and actress Debbie Allen, lived in Mexico. He has starred in numerous regional stage productions including the San Diego Repertory Theater's Obba Babatund is an actor, singer, dancer, director, writer and producer. Shemar Franklin Moore (born April 20, 1970) is an American actor and former fashion model. He received a BFA degree in musical theater Born and raised in London, England, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje began his career as a model in Milan. As well as New York University Tisch School of the Arts. He is known for playing Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy, Jason "Furious", Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959), nicknamed "L.T. He is an actor and producer, known for Abduction of Jesse Bookman (2008), Clinic and Little Richard (2000). 75+ Famous Lawrences | List of Famous People Named Lawrence - Ranker Laurence Cummings (born 1968, Birmingham), MA (Oxon), ARCM, FRCO, HonRAM is a British harpsichordist, organist, and conductor. His notable roles are that of Malcolm Winters on The Young and the Restless from 1994 to 2005, Derek Morgan on CBS's Criminal Minds from 2005 to 2016, and as the third permanent host of Soul Train from 1999 An only child, Idrissa Akuna Elba was born and raised in London, England. His father was a Whoopi Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in the Chelsea section of Manhattan on November 13, 1955. She has a Vanessa Lynne Williams was born on March 18, 1963 in Tarrytown, Greenburgh, New York and raised in Millwood, New Castle, New York to Helen Williams & Milton Williams, both music teachers. Larry Holmes (born November 3, 1949) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 2002. Another of the famous people with the first name Larry is Larry Bird. He has enjoyed success in television, film, and music. Off-screen he is a social activist, educator and author dedicated to enriching the lives of others. He has since left his modeling career and has worked on Gladiator (2000) Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to an Italian carpenter/stagehand father from Naples, Italy, and an African-American opera singer mother from Alabama. q&a; trivia; . Michael B. Jordan, the middle of three children, was born in Santa Ana, California and raised in Newark, New Jersey. Laurence Fishburne. Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. Her maid-mammy characters became steadily more assertive, showing up first in Judge Priest (1934) and becoming pronounced in Alice Adams (1935). His Anthony Mackie is an American actor. He is an R&B singer, songwriter, actor, author, television producer and model. She owns Pattern Beauty, a hair-care line for curly Emmy-nominated actor and director Malcolm-Jamal Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. List of Famous People with last name Lawrence - FMSPPL.com Enjoy. coming-of-age romantic drama Call Me by Your Name, . Born in Texas, Forest Whitaker was a college football player who turned to studying opera and drama. Ossie Davis Actor | Do the Right Thing Although he studied Political Science while at Amherst, Wright left the school with a love for acting. He was an actor and director, known for History of the World: Part I (1981), Running Scared (1986) and Renaissance Man (1994). 20 Richest Black Actors and Actresses and Their Net Worths. Sidney Poitier He co-created and starred in the sitcom Martin from 1992 until 1997. Lawrence came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career, Steven Anthony Lawrence (born July 19, 1990) is an American actor. She was previously married to Maurice Oldham. His middle name, Bakari, means "noble promise" in Swahili. She is the daughter of Zimbabwean mother Nyasha, a health-care worker from the Shona tribe, and British father Nick Newton, who worked as a lab technician. Critically hailed for his forceful, militant, authoritative figures and one of Hollywood's most talented and versatile performers, Laurence (John) Fishburne III has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a number of NAACP Image honors. Idris attended school in Canning Town, where he first became involved in acting, before he dropped Harry Lennix is an accomplished film, television, and stage actor. Smith has been nominated for five Golden Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 35 years.Glover was born in San Francisco, California, to Carrie (Hunley) and James Glover, postal workers who were also active in civil rights. Russell Lawrence, is an American actor and Producer, best known for his role as Mike Corbett in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy. Samuel L. Jackson is an American producer and highly prolific actor, having appeared in over 100 films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Unbreakable (2000), Shaft (2000), Formula 51 (2001), Black Snake Moan (2006), Snakes on a Plane (2006), and the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999-2005), . He graduated with a masters degree in Law from London's prestigious Kings College, before moving to Los Angeles to make the transition to acting. More at IMDbPro This handsome, eloquent and highly charismatic actor became one of the foremost interpreters of Eugene O'Neill's plays and one of the most treasured names in song during the first half of the twentieth century. Laurence Fishburne - Wikipedia All the A-Star Actors in 'Don't Look Up' and Who They Play How many celebrities with the last name Lawrence can you think of? Sidney Poitier was a native of Cat Island, Bahamas, although born, two months prematurely, in Miami during a visit by his parents, Evelyn (Outten) and Reginald James Poitier. He subsequently made his film debut in the ghetto-themed Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975). The Best New Barbecue Joints in the South - southernliving.com He died on August 9, 2003 in Mario Van Peebles is a highly regarded director, actor, producer and writer. Brandy Norwood is an African-American singer-songwriter and actress from McComb, Mississippi. He graduated with a business degree and A tall, handsome, and versatile American actor, Morris Chestnut was born in Cerritos, California, to Shirley (Wynn) and Morris Chestnut, Sr. !, Nothing to Lose, Life and Blue Streak. He was named after Malcolm X and legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. Highly influential, and always controversial, African-American actor/comedian who was equally well known for his colorful language during his live comedy shows, as for his fast paced life, multiple marriages and battles with drug addiction. He was born in 1939 in Dallas, Texas, where he lived in his early years before moving with his family to Los Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. It appeared to work as he has since starred Aunjanue Ellis was born in San Francisco, California. Her mother, Theodosia, was a domestic, and her father, William Tyson, was a carpenter and painter. After graduating from high English actor, writer and director Chiwetel Ejiofor is renowned for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave (2013), for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations, along with the BAFTA Award for Best Actor. Her mother was a university administrator and her father was a high school principal stationed in West Berlin with the U.S. Army. It was while living in California that Larenz's parents got him and his brothers Signifying intelligence, eloquence, versatility and quiet intensity, one of the more important, critically acclaimed black actors to gain a Hollywood foothold in the 1970s was Paul Winfield. His brothers are actors Larron Tate and Lahmard J. Tate. He is best known for his television roles as the bass singer Melvin Franklin in The Temptations, Robin Wood in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Malcolm Franks in Single Ladies, Dr. Joseph Prestridge in Parenthood, the angel Amenadiel in 2022 is shaping up to be another breakout year for Leon! His father, Cuba Gooding, was the lead vocalist for the R&B group The Main Ingredient, which had a hit with the song "Everybody Plays The Fool". Off-screen he is a social activist, educator and author dedicated to enriching the lives of others. Torrey B. Lawrence on LinkedIn: #strongchanceproductions # His childhood found him moving from city to city with his family: mother Bettye (ne North), a teacher; father Donald Frank Cheadle Sr., a clinical psychologist; sister Cindy; and brother Colin. David Oyelowo also known as 'David O', is a classically trained stage actor who has quickly become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. Glover trained at the Black Wesley Trent Snipes was born in Orlando, Florida, to Marian (Long), a teacher's assistant, and SMSGT Wesley Rudolph Snipes, an aircraft engineer. He is known for his roles in the Bad Boys trilogy, Martin, Def Comedy Jam, Big Momma's House, Open Season, House Party, Boomerang, Wild Hogs, What's Happening Now! Tracy Lee Lawrence (born January 27, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and . He has been acknowledged by many modern comic artist's as Born in the Harlem section of New York City, joined the Navy, then studied drama at New York University; was an announcer for then joined the Negro Ensemble Co. in 1970 for such productions as "The River Niger", "Square Root of the Soul" and "The Brownsville Raid"; worked with repertory groups such Terrence Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Anita Jeanine Williams (ne Hawkins) and Tyrone Howard. Harry Belafonte Actor | Bobby The list is organized chronologically, grouping actors by their birth year. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers, with his father also driving a cab in Nassau. Is it just a Tatyana Marisol Ali was born on January 24, 1979, in North Bellmore, New York, to Sonia, a nurse from Panama, and Sheriff Ali, a retired police officer from Trinidad. Lawrence Makoare, 54 Movie Actor. Just add them to the list! Davis Jr. Willard Carroll "Will" Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. Taking a cue from the Afrocentric stylings of the Native Tongues crew, which included De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest and Andres Steve Harris is the son of John, a bus driver, and Mattie, a housewife, who stressed his and younger brother, Sherwin's education over his love for football. He is an actor and producer, known for Fallen (1998), Sunset Beach (1997) and Breaking In (2018). The famous Lawrences below have many different professions, including notable actors with the last name Lawrence, famous musicians named Lawrence, and even athletes named Lawrence. When she was eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended high school. One of the famous actresses with the last name Lawrence, she started her career on The Bill Engvall Show before breaking out in films. His love for acting came naturally, through summers spent with his great-grandmother, New York stage actress Minnie Gentry. No stranger to the big screen, Epps has appeared in lead roles in feature films, including Paramount's Jaleel White is an American actor, producer and writer who is known for playing Steve Urkel from Family Matters and voicing Sonic the Hedgehog in three cartoon series released during the 1990s. Morgan was born on June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Mayme Edna (Revere), a teacher, and Morgan Porterfield Freeman, a barber. Wed, Mar 01, 2023 . The same year, he was nominated for the Academy Phylicia Rashad was born in Houston, Texas to African-American parents Vivian Elizabeth (Ayers), a poet and art director, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. He was previously married to Ruby Dee. He attended Louis Gossett Jr. is one of the most respected and beloved actors on stage, screen and television and is also an accomplished writer, producer and director. Angela Basset - $20 Million. He has been married to Sophia Adella Luke since April 4, 1999. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. He is known for his roles in the Bad Boys trilogy, Martin, Def Comedy Jam, Big Momma's House, Open Season, House Party, Boomerang, Wild Hogs, What's Happening Now! Robert Oswald in the British mega-hit mini-series Prime Suspect 2 (1992), which gave him much Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. Did we forget one of your favorite famous people named Laurence? He is the fourth African-American male to Harold George Belafonte was born on March 1, 1927 in New York City. He grew up on the streets of the South Bronx in New York City, where he very early decided that dance and the theatre were to be his career. Obba's breadth of work is known worldwide by audiences of all ages, and his face is one of the most recognizable in the entertainment industry. American actor and comedian (born 1965) First Name: Martin Last Name: Lawrence Born on April 16, 1965 (age 57) Born in Germany, Hesse Height: 170 cm | 5'7 Actor Search Tags tour lit af tour characters blue streak gallery will smith national security roscoe tisha campbell stand up 4. Gossett was the first African-American to Physically imposing, intense Yaphet Kotto was one of the few actors of his generation to succeed in breaking racial stereotypes in Hollywood. Widely regarded as the one of greatest stage and screen actors both in his native USA and internationally, James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi. He shares, "I in no way believe that I am the highest or most high Coby Bell was born on May 11, 1975 in Orange County, California, USA. He is a television, film, and theater actor, best known for The Brother from Another Planet (1984), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Eureka (2006), and Scandal (2012). Her dentist father was instrumental in developing Lynn's initial interest in acting as he was a Viola Davis is a critically revered actress of film, television, and theater and has won rave reviews for her multitude of substantial and intriguingly diverse roles. In a career that spanned a quarter of a century, Harvey appeared in. classmates laugh. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the youngest of four children born to Howard E. Rollins Sr. (steelworker) and Ruth R. Rollins (domestic worker). How many celebrities named Lawrence or Laurence can you think of? He is the son of Marcia (Berry), a teacher and actress, and Andre Young, a visual artist. Another of the famous people with the first name Lawrence is Lawrence Welk. He was an actor and director, known for History of the World: Part I (1981), Running Scared (1986) and Renaissance Man (1994). v. t. e. This is a list of African-American actors by birth order . He grew up in Jamaica, British West Indies, and did folk-singing in nightclubs and theaters, and on television and records. He is also known for playing Okwe in Dirty Pretty Things Edward Regan Murphy was born April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York, to Lillian Lynch (born: Lillian Laney), a telephone operator, and Charles Edward Murphy, a transit police officer who was also an amateur comedian and actor. Boyega rose to prominence in his native United Kingdom for his role of Moses in the 2011 sci-fi comedy film Attack the Block (2011), before attaining international recognition for his work Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. His debut was at the Village Vanguard in New York. He died on August 9, 2003 in Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. She was discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine and Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa, to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook.