Hollywood WTF? Academy Award nominated actor Djimon Hounsou says he's still "struggling to try to make a dollar."

[TheFuser]

If he's getting 300k, Sam is getting AT LEAST 100k of that. His Agent is taking 30k. Manager is getting 30k. Lawyer is getting $15k. Leaves him with 125k, generously. Doesn't include the publicist, union dues, etc. And a lot of them are in multiple unions. 125k (generously) doesn't go very far in LA. ESPECIALLY if you have a family.

 

[playahaitian]

From the sound of it he ain't have no shit to lose!

 

[REDLINE]

That's what he looks like after he gets paid and has to eat noodle for dinner.

Not noodles, noodle as in one!

 

[playahaitian]

That's what he looks like after he gets paid and has to eat noodle for dinner.

Not noodles, noodle as in one!

Too cold Red... too cold

I get the jokes trust me

But the overall response from the public is disappointing

real talk, people in 2025 REALLY don't understand how not everyone in movies and sports are RICH?

that's the height of willfully ignorant right there.

 

[REDLINE]

Too cold Red... too cold

I get the jokes trust me

But the overall response ftom the public is disappointing

but real talk, people in 2025 REALLY don't understand how not everyone in movies and sports are RICH?

that's the height of willfully ignorant right there.

As always, I wish people the best. I wish him the best and hoping that he gets in a position where he's comfortable and not stressed or worried about money.

Yes people generally do think that people that they see on tv and movies are rich, when many are and many aren't.

As far as the jokes, unfortunately jokes immediately pop in my head and I'm forced to say them. It's nothing personal against him or any situation. I can control saying it but I can't control immediately thinking it.

 

[Piff Henderson]

I hear u. But he not completely wrong tho. thats why its kind of surprising that he struggling. Cause he one of the few black actors that stay in big movies.

This is true but it always seems like his role is smaller in big films. He's never the leading man in any of the big budget films. Meanwhile he's always the lead in the straight-to-DVD stuff.

 

[REDLINE]

This is true but it always seems like his role is smaller in big films. He's never the leading man in any of the big budget films. Meanwhile he's always the lead in the straight-to-DVD stuff.

You're right, plus ain't nobody going to the movies to see Djimon!






See @playahaitian I can't help it

 

[playahaitian]

You're right, plus ain't nobody going to the movies to see Djimon!






See @playahaitian I can't help it

You always gonna be my brother.

Cold hearted joker muthafuka

 

[playahaitian]

You're right, plus ain't nobody going to the movies to see Djimon!






See @playahaitian I can't help it

Like I said I get the jokes

But I know for a fact most of the dudes clowning this great actor?

Got 300 credit scores living check to check

The overall general lack of empathy especially toward people who look like us and the completely insane unwavering support of corporations billionaires and sports owners is insane .

 

[REDLINE]

You always gonna be my brother.

Cold hearted joker muthafuka

 

[REDLINE]

Like I said I get the jokes

But I know for a fact most of the dudes clowning this great actor?

Got 300 credit scores living check to check

The overall general lack of empathy especially toward people who look like us and the completely insane unwavering support of corporations billionaires and sports owners is insane .

I agree

 

[Piff Henderson]

The problem is we rarely hear any veteran actors talk about this specifically. I remember listening to Sam Jackson on The Breakfast Club and he mentioned that only work he used to get was stuff that was turned down by Larence Fishburne or Denzel.

He made it sound like racism like this was in the past for the most part. This problem could be addressed easily if other veteran Black actors would be speak up about it.

 

[REDLINE]

Djimon Hounsou | Actor, Producer, Director

Known for: Blood Diamond, Guardians of the Galaxy, In America

www.imdb.com

I didn't see gaps in employment and he had three movies that came out last year.

 

[tebriel69]

I personally like the guy. Amistad put him on the map. Blood Diamond was great. He’s good in the DC films. Also, he was the one who voiced T’Challa in theanimated black panther film years ago. Dude is talented. It’s just another example of minorities not being given their just due. Taraji is another one who has been open about being shafted. I hope it changes for the better. I, for one enjoy his work and if his name is in a trailer I automatically give it some thought. A quiet place never would have gotten my views if not for him.

 

[Piff Henderson]

Djimon Hounsou | Actor, Producer, Director

Known for: Blood Diamond, Guardians of the Galaxy, In America

www.imdb.com

I didn't see gaps in employment and he had three movies that came out last year.

Do you think he's exaggerating his plight? Honestly, as long as he's been famous, I never heard him say anything about racism in Hollywood until now. Maybe I missed it but it seems like he's been silent for decades.

 

[Dr. Truth]

He’s bad managing his money. No way he ain’t a millionaire, even if a low millionaire. He’s living above his means like Nicolas Cage who is broke because he buys dumb shit. Most people don’t make a tenth of what he probably earns yet niggas talking about Cali is expensive. We got 50 million people here you think they all millionaires?!??

 

[REDLINE]

Do you think he's exaggerating his plight? Honestly, as long as he's been famous, I never heard him say anything about racism in Hollywood until now. Maybe I missed it but it seems like he's been silent for decades.

Nah I think that he's being open and honest. And in my opinion he's a working actor, not a star. We see him in movies but he's generally not the main character so he doesn't get main character kinda money.

And like you, I've rarely heard him say anything unless it was in a movie.

I know he's probably sitting around thinking "If I could've just landed the role of Superman"

See @playahaitian i can't stop

And yes, I do wish him the best and much success!

 

[keone]

Djimon Hounsou | Actor, Producer, Director

Known for: Blood Diamond, Guardians of the Galaxy, In America

www.imdb.com

I didn't see gaps in employment and he had three movies that came out last year.

Thats what Im saying. I have seen TV stars living the life. But to be honest the ones im talking about didnt live in cali. They were all down south. Maybe he should do the same thing.

Then again u can argue that tv people got a consistent check. But aint no way he should be fkd. Divorce must have got him.

 

[keone]

This is true but it always seems like his role is smaller in big films. He's never the leading man in any of the big budget films. Meanwhile he's always the lead in the straight-to-DVD stuff.

True. There is money in the dvd shit. Something just not adding up. He should me be making enough to be good.

 

[Piff Henderson]

True. There is money in the dvd shit. Something just not adding up. He should me be making enough to be good.

Right. I want to know what's really going on. Between Marvel and DC, he's probably getting more big budget work than he's ever received and he only decided to speak up about discrimination now.

 

[Piff Henderson]

Nah I think that he's being open and honest. And in my opinion he's a working actor, not a star. We see him in movies but he's generally not the main character so he doesn't get main character kinda money.

And like you, I've rarely heard him say anything unless it was in a movie.

I know he's probably sitting around thinking "If I could've just landed the role of Superman"

See @playahaitian i can't stop

And yes, I do wish him the best and much success!

Absolutely. He's a talented actor but I'm certain he really only got work initially because of his looks.

When he was younger, the dude had male model looks that were considered exotic and that's why you would see him in non-speaking roles like in Star Gate.

His career evolved beyond that, but he never became a leading man. He's basically a Black Harry Dean Stanton at this point. You'll see him everywhere but he'll never be the leading man.

 

[Dr. Truth]

Thats what Im saying. I have seen TV stars living the life. But to be honest the ones im talking about didnt live in cali. They were all down south. Maybe he should do the same thing.

Then again u can argue that tv people got a consistent check. But aint no way he should be fkd. Divorce must have got him.

He don’t have to live in Calabasas , Pacific Palisades, Bel Air etc. there’s plenty of affordable nice cribs all around LA. I’m not buying this he’s broke shit. You telling me he can’t afford a modest home in LA county?

 

[REDLINE]

Thats what Im saying. I have seen TV stars living the life. But to be honest the ones im talking about didnt live in cali. They were all down south. Maybe he should do the same thing.

Then again u can argue that tv people got a consistent check. But aint no way he should be fkd. Divorce must have got him.

Yeah man divorce, kids and just life will have you broke. No matter what job you have, but his living location and the divorce definitely has something to do with it.

 

[REDLINE]

Absolutely. He's a talented actor but I'm certain he really only got work initially because of his looks.

When he was younger, the dude had male model looks that were considered exotic and that's why you would see him in non-speaking roles like in Star Gate.

His career evolved beyond that, but he never became a leading man. He's basically a Black Harry Dean Stanton at this point. You'll see him everywhere but he'll never be the leading man.

Yeah you nailed it

 

[keone]

Absolutely. He's a talented actor but I'm certain he really only got work initially because of his looks.

When he was younger, the dude had male model looks that were considered exotic and that's why you would see him in non-speaking roles like in Star Gate.

His career evolved beyond that, but he never became a leading man. He's basically a Black Harry Dean Stanton at this point. You'll see him everywhere but he'll never be the leading man.

Then again this guy was struggling too. American gangster saved him he got 300k when denzel got paid 40 million.

So who knows man

 

[Piff Henderson]

Then again this guy was struggling too. American gangster saved him he got 300k when denzel got paid 40 million.

So who knows man

I'm not surprised that big ol' redneck was struggling initially. What would you cast him as outside of characters who wear jeans and drive Chevy pickups?

 

[keone]

I'm not surprised that big ol' redneck was struggling initially. What would cast him as outside of characters who wear jeans and drive Chevy pickups?

 

[playahaitian]

Yeah man divorce, kids and just life will have you broke. No matter what job you have, but his living location and the divorce definitely has something to do with it.

This is exactly what we were talking about earlier bro (so no shade to you)

Yall REALLY think doing a few movies means never having to work again?

Let's just start with basics...

How MUCH do you think he gets paid per movie?

Cause I'm pretty sure yall gonna be WAY off base

Again how can all of the board watch COUNTLESS documentaries and investigate reports and interviews about the reality of how money works in entertainment yet be surprised and judgemental?

Tarji been said this Tyrese Chadwick Michael B Sam Jackson Octavia Spenser Geoffrey Owen etc etc

This ain't new this ain't unique

These corporations are NOT just giving away money to actors especially non lead black ones.

This is interesting to me that our culture specifically chooses who they want to believe and blame no matter what.

But these white folks always get the benefit of the doubt.

 

[REDLINE]

This is exactly what we were talking about earlier bro (so no shade to you)

Yall REALLY think doing a few movies means never having to work again?

Let's just start with basics...

How MUCH do you think he gets paid per movie?

Cause I'm pretty sure yall gonna be WAY off base

Again how can all of the board watch COUNTLESS documentaries and investigate reports and interviews about the reality of how money works in entertainment yet be surprised and judgemental?

Tarji been said this Tyrese Chadwick Michael B Sam Jackson Octavia Spenser Geoffrey Owen etc etc

This ain't new this ain't unique

These corporations are NOT just giving away money to actors especially non lead black ones.

This is interesting to me that our culture specifically chooses who they want to believe and blame no matter what.

But these white folks always get the benefit of the doubt.

I'll tell you what wasn't talked about earlier and that's the perspective of the general public. You see the comments but don't know or feel their reasoning.

You're hearing comments from people with regular jobs and they feel, that he makes a couple of movies a year. Makes a couple hundred thousand dollars per movie and can't mange that and wants to complain to them?

 

[Piff Henderson]

I'll tell you what wasn't talked about earlier and that's the perspective of the general public. You see the comments but don't know or feel their reasoning.

You're hearing comments from people with regular jobs and they feel, that he makes a couple of movies a year. Makes a couple hundred thousand dollars per movie and can't mange that and wants to complain to them?

This. It's not personal to Djimon but the average joe who is struggling isn't trying to hear an Hollywood actor complain about how little he's getting paid.

And I'm not referring to CACs who were already turned off as soon as he mentioned systemic racism but even Black people who are struggling to make ends meet aren't trying to hear a successful actor complaining about his financial problems.

 

[REDLINE]

This. It's not personal to Djimon but the average joe who is struggling isn't trying to hear an Hollywood actor complain about how little he's getting paid.

And I'm not referring to CACs who were already turned off as soon as he mentioned systemic racism but even Black people who are struggling to make ends meet aren't trying to hear a successful actor complaining about his financial problems.

I agree 100% and like I said before, I wish him nothing but success and wealth.

But if we're gonna break things down to the ground level, then I'll start with the basics on how the general public feels.

 

[playahaitian]

I'll tell you what wasn't talked about earlier and that's the perspective of the general public. You see the comments but don't know or feel their reasoning.

You're hearing comments from people with regular jobs and they feel, that he makes a couple of movies a year. Makes a couple hundred thousand dollars per movie and can't mange that and wants to complain to them?

And they wrong.

Cause most ACTORS do not make that.

Or make it ONCE every few months.

And they KNOW that.

They ACTING like they don't.

And I mean Emmy worthy willfull ignorance

 

[Non-StopJFK2TAB]

And they wrong.

Cause most ACTORS do not make that.

Or make it ONCE every few months.

And they KNOW that.

They ACTING like they don't.

And I mean Emmy worthy willfull ignorance

Negroes working for hallow empty golden calves ain’t new. Some Mothafuckas like working for nothing towards nothing.

 

[blackbull1970]

He got to step his game up. If he can't ditch the accent like Idris can, Like the dude from snowfall can, like Collin Farrel can his roles are gonna be limited to African/immigrant characters. His range his is problem. There aren't a lot of roles for those characters especially starring roles.

Good observation with the accent.

He also needs to quit focusing on theatrical releases. Hollywood is not pumping out large quantities of big screen movies like they did 20+ years ago.

Only a handful of big name actors are pulling in 7 figures for big screen roles today.

He needs to start looking at the small screen. Lots of big name A-List actors are appearing in TV series and even doing commercials. 20 years ago actors thought their careers hit rock bottom if they left the movies and went to the small screen.

Ice-T went to doing movies first and is now on TV with “Law&Order:SVU”. I remember an interview he did saying Mariska Hargitay (who has top Executive Producer credit) hooked him up going full time on the series and helped negotiate his contract getting big checks. She has hooked up everyone on that series, even actors who only appear a few times or once.

Dude needs to get off his Ass and get his hustle on.