- Came to Paris from Benin at the age of 13, couldn't find a job and ended up a vagrant, sleeping under bridges and rummaging in trash cans for food. Things changed for the better when fashion designer Thierry Mugler discovered him and made him a fashion model.
- Learned English by watching television.
- Name pronounced Jie-mon Hahn-soo.
- Eighth black male to receive an Oscar-nomination for acting. The seven others are: 1963 Sidney Poitier for Lilies of the Field--Best Actor; 1982 Louis Gossett, Jr. for An Officer and a Gentlemen--Best Supporting Actor; 1989 Denzel Washington for Glory--Best Supporting Actor; 1996 Cuba Gooding, Jr. for Jerry Maguire--Best Supporting Actor; 2001 Denzel Washington for Training Day--Best Actor; 2005 Jamie Foxx for Ray--Best Actor; 2005 Morgan Freeman for Million Dollar Baby--Best Supporting Actor; 2007 Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland--Best Actor.
- Was in Janet Jackson video "Love Will Never Do Without You" (1992).
- On ER (1994), he played Mobalage Ikabo, a refugee from Nigeria. His actual homeland of Benin shares its largest border with Nigeria.
- Has a son, Kenzo Lee Hounsou (born 30 May, 2009), with ex-fiancée Kimora Lee Simmons.
- Engaged to Kimora Lee Simmons from June 2008 to November 2012.
- Born on exactly the same date as Cedric the Entertainer.
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