Jimmy Jean-Louis
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Jean-Louis is a Haiti
an actor and model best known for his role as The Haitian
on the NBC television series Heroes
. Born in Pétionville
, he moved to Paris at a young age to pursue a modeling
career. His early roles were in French musical theatre and television commercials. Eventually settling in Los Angeles in the late 1990s, he had small parts in The Bourne Identity
and Arliss
before breaking into larger parts in American television and film.
and Valentino
. Before finding success as a model, he was homeless at times in Paris. By the mid-'90s, he was gracing music videos by such stars as Mariah Carey
, Seal
, and George Michael
, and appearing in low-budget "independent" films in Los Angeles.
, a team consisting mostly of celebrities and former professionals. He is fluent in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Creole.
, Jean-Louis went to Haiti to search for his elderly parents in Haiti the day after a powerful earthquake struck the nation. Jean-Louis learned that a house he had grown up in collapsed, killing several of his relatives. He is the founder of Hollywood Unites for Haiti, a non-profit charitable aid organization whose original mission was to provide sports and cultural education to underprivileged youth on the island. The group mobilized for disaster relief after the magnitude-7 earthquake struck. Recently, Jean-Louis has taken part in a series of campaigns for Haitian aid, such as singing in the "We Are The World
" remake of the original
for Haiti in February 2010 which aired during the start of the Olympic Games
in Vancouver, Canada.
's movie Derailed
, which set the stage for subsequent roles with other Hollywood A-listers. He went on to have secondary roles in Tears of the Sun
, Hollywood Homicide
, Monster-in-Law
and The Game of Their Lives. He was cast as the romantic lead in the 2006 film Phat Girlz
starring opposite Monique Imes Jackson as her love interest. He achieved his most widespread fame, however, when cast in the recurring role of The Haitian
on the NBC
television series Heroes
, who is an associate of Noah Bennet
. In an interview on The Post Show
on G4
, Jimmy Jean-Louis stated that the Haitian was originally supposed to be from New Zealand, and that the character was going to be "The Kiwi", which is a colloquial term for the people of New Zealand. He also stated that he auditioned three times for the role of D.L. Hawkins, a part which he did not get.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an actor and model best known for his role as The Haitian
Haitian (Heroes)
The Haitian is a fictional character on the NBC television series Heroes, portrayed by Haitian actor Jimmy Jean-Louis. He is an associate of Noah Bennet. For the first three seasons of the show, he was only referred to on screen as "the Haitian." Even his associates at Primatech called him this...
on the NBC television series Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
. Born in Pétionville
Pétionville
Pétion-Ville is a commune and a suburb of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in the hills east and separate of the city itself on the northern hills of the Massif de la Selle. It was named after Alexandre Sabès Pétion , the Haitian general and president later recognized as one of the country's four founding...
, he moved to Paris at a young age to pursue a modeling
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
career. His early roles were in French musical theatre and television commercials. Eventually settling in Los Angeles in the late 1990s, he had small parts in The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Identity (2002 film)
The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American spy film loosely based on Robert Ludlum's novel of the same name. It stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac attempting to discover his true identity amidst a clandestine conspiracy within the Central Intelligence Agency . The film also stars Franka...
and Arliss
Arliss
-Criticism:This show, which ran for seven seasons, is a prime example of how HBO differs from traditional networks due to its nature as a network its viewers specifically pay to be able to watch. Arliss was cited by so many viewers as the sole reason that they paid for the network that its...
before breaking into larger parts in American television and film.
Early life
Jimmy was born in Pétionville, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti He lived there until the age of twelve, when he moved to Paris with his family to pursue a modeling career, after moving he experienced a culture shock because of the rural to city lifestyle change. He enrolled in business courses, but quickly realized that his heart lay in performance, and studied at the Academie International de Dance. His parents returned to Haiti, but Jimmy and his brother remained in Paris. Around a decade later in 1991, producers discovered Jean-Louis during one of his dancing stints in a French club, who were impressed. They tapped him to appear in a Coca-Cola advertisement, the success of which prompted the Jean-Louis to spend several years modeling across Europe. He was very successful in London, working for such notables as Gianfranco FerréGianfranco Ferrè
Gianfranco Ferré was a fashion designer also known as "the architect of fashion" for his background and his original attitude toward creating fashion design....
and Valentino
Valentino SpA
Valentino SpA is a clothing company founded in 1959 by Valentino Garavani. Nowadays it is a part of Valentino Fashion Group. New creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli will take Alessandra Facchinetti's seat as creative designer...
. Before finding success as a model, he was homeless at times in Paris. By the mid-'90s, he was gracing music videos by such stars as Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, Seal
Seal (musician)
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel , known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an...
, and George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
, and appearing in low-budget "independent" films in Los Angeles.
Personal life
Jimmy is married to his wife, Evelyn, and they have 3 children. He enjoys watching and playing soccer and is a member of an amateur soccer club Hollywood United F.C.Hollywood United F.C.
Hollywood United is an American amateur soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1988, the team plays in Region IV of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.-Origins:Hollywood United...
, a team consisting mostly of celebrities and former professionals. He is fluent in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Creole.
2010 Haiti earthquake efforts
After the 2010 Haiti earthquake2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, Jean-Louis went to Haiti to search for his elderly parents in Haiti the day after a powerful earthquake struck the nation. Jean-Louis learned that a house he had grown up in collapsed, killing several of his relatives. He is the founder of Hollywood Unites for Haiti, a non-profit charitable aid organization whose original mission was to provide sports and cultural education to underprivileged youth on the island. The group mobilized for disaster relief after the magnitude-7 earthquake struck. Recently, Jean-Louis has taken part in a series of campaigns for Haitian aid, such as singing in the "We Are The World
We Are the World 25 for Haiti
"We Are the World 25 for Haiti" is a charity single recorded by the supergroup Artists for Haiti in 2010. It is a remake of the 1985 hit song "We Are the World", which was written by American musicians Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and was recorded by USA for Africa to benefit famine relief in...
" remake of the original
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
for Haiti in February 2010 which aired during the start of the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in Vancouver, Canada.
Acting career
He has worked in musical theatre in Spain, spending three years with a musical theater "La Belle Epoque", before moving to Italy where created a successful career as an international model. In 1995, he appeared in several episodes of an erotic French TV program. Jimmy moved to Los Angeles where he began acting full-time in underground and independent films. This eventually led to him landing a role in Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
's movie Derailed
Derailed (2002 film)
Derailed is a 2002 action movie directed by Bob Misiorowski and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Tomas Arana.- Plot:NATO operative Jacques Kristoff is summoned into action—on his birthday, no less—to track down Galina Konstantin , who has stolen an extremely valuable and dangerous top-secret...
, which set the stage for subsequent roles with other Hollywood A-listers. He went on to have secondary roles in Tears of the Sun
Tears of the Sun
Tears of the Sun is a 2003 American war film, depicting a United States Navy SEAL team rescue mission amidst a civil war in the West African country of Nigeria. Lt. A.K. Waters commands the team sent to rescue U.S. citizen Dr. Lena Fiore Kendricks from the civil war en route to her jungle hospital...
, Hollywood Homicide
Hollywood Homicide
Hollywood Homicide is a 2003 American action comedy film starring Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett.The film also features Lena Olin, Lolita Davidovich, Martin Landau, Bruce Greenwood, Isaiah Washington, Keith David, Dwight Yoakam and Master P in supporting roles, with Eric Idle making a cameo...
, Monster-in-Law
Monster-in-Law
Monster-in-Law is a 2005 romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan and Wanda Sykes. It marks a return to cinema for Fonda, being her first film in 15 years after Stanley & Iris. The screenplay is written by Anya Kochoff...
and The Game of Their Lives. He was cast as the romantic lead in the 2006 film Phat Girlz
Phat Girlz
Phat Girlz is a 2006 comedy film released in North America on April 7, 2006. The DVD and its soundtrack was released on August 22, 2006.-Box office:...
starring opposite Monique Imes Jackson as her love interest. He achieved his most widespread fame, however, when cast in the recurring role of The Haitian
Haitian (Heroes)
The Haitian is a fictional character on the NBC television series Heroes, portrayed by Haitian actor Jimmy Jean-Louis. He is an associate of Noah Bennet. For the first three seasons of the show, he was only referred to on screen as "the Haitian." Even his associates at Primatech called him this...
on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television series Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
, who is an associate of Noah Bennet
Noah Bennet
Noah Bennet, also known as the man in horn-rimmed glasses or simply Mr. Bennet, is a fictional character from the NBC drama Heroes played by Jack Coleman. The role was initially recurring, but became regular as of the 11th episode...
. In an interview on The Post Show
The Post Show
The Post Show is an interactive television series on G4 Network related to the NBC series Heroes.-Overview:The Post Show is a live, half-hour wrap-up show which premiered Saturday, November 3, 2007 on G4...
on G4
G4 (TV channel)
G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
, Jimmy Jean-Louis stated that the Haitian was originally supposed to be from New Zealand, and that the character was going to be "The Kiwi", which is a colloquial term for the people of New Zealand. He also stated that he auditioned three times for the role of D.L. Hawkins, a part which he did not get.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Derailed Derailed (2002 film) Derailed is a 2002 action movie directed by Bob Misiorowski and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Tomas Arana.- Plot:NATO operative Jacques Kristoff is summoned into action—on his birthday, no less—to track down Galina Konstantin , who has stolen an extremely valuable and dangerous top-secret... |
Henry | |
| The Bourne Identity The Bourne Identity (2002 film) The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American spy film loosely based on Robert Ludlum's novel of the same name. It stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac attempting to discover his true identity amidst a clandestine conspiracy within the Central Intelligence Agency . The film also stars Franka... |
Wombosi bodyguard | (uncredited) | |
| 2003 | Tears of the Sun Tears of the Sun Tears of the Sun is a 2003 American war film, depicting a United States Navy SEAL team rescue mission amidst a civil war in the West African country of Nigeria. Lt. A.K. Waters commands the team sent to rescue U.S. citizen Dr. Lena Fiore Kendricks from the civil war en route to her jungle hospital... |
Gideon | |
| Hollywood Homicide Hollywood Homicide Hollywood Homicide is a 2003 American action comedy film starring Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett.The film also features Lena Olin, Lolita Davidovich, Martin Landau, Bruce Greenwood, Isaiah Washington, Keith David, Dwight Yoakam and Master P in supporting roles, with Eric Idle making a cameo... |
Gianfranco Ferre Clerk | ||
| This Girl's Life This Girl's Life This Girl's Life is a 2003 film written and directed by Ash. The story revolves around the life of Moon, a porn star . The movie also stars James Woods, Michael Rapaport, Rosario Dawson and Kip Pardue.-Plot:... |
Action Jackson | ||
| 2005 | Monster-in-Law Monster-in-Law Monster-in-Law is a 2005 romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan and Wanda Sykes. It marks a return to cinema for Fonda, being her first film in 15 years after Stanley & Iris. The screenplay is written by Anya Kochoff... |
Prince Amir | |
| The Game of Their Lives | Joe Gaetjens | ||
| 2006 | Phat Girlz Phat Girlz Phat Girlz is a 2006 comedy film released in North America on April 7, 2006. The DVD and its soundtrack was released on August 22, 2006.-Box office:... |
Dr. Tunde Jonathan | |
| Cousines | Ralph | Haitian film | |
| Le President a-t-il Le Sida | Dao | ||
| 2008 | Adventures of Power Adventures of Power Adventures of Power is an American feature film written and directed by Ari Gold, starring Ari Gold, Michael McKean, Jane Lynch, Shoshannah Stern, Chiu Chi Ling, and Adrian Grenier and featuring Steven Williams, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Annie Golden and Nick Kroll, with a cameo performance by Rush drummer... |
Aubelin | |
| Loaded Loaded (2008 film) Loaded is a 2008 American drama/crime film directed by Alan Pao.-Cast:*Jesse Metcalfe as Tristan Price*Corey Large as Sebastian*Monica Keena as Brooke*Nathalie Kelley as April*Chace Crawford as Hayden Price*Johnny Messner as Javon... |
Antonio | ||
| The Ball is Round | Jay Jay Mfede | Also known as Golden Goal! (USA) | |
| 2009 | Diary of a Tired Black Man Diary of a Tired Black Man - External links :Reviews* * * * *... |
James | |
| 2010 | Coursier | Loki | French film |
| 2010 | Sinking Sand | n/a | Ghanaian movie |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Emmanuelle's Secret | ||
| 1993 | Emmanuelle in Venice | ||
| 2001 | Arliss Arliss -Criticism:This show, which ran for seven seasons, is a prime example of how HBO differs from traditional networks due to its nature as a network its viewers specifically pay to be able to watch. Arliss was cited by so many viewers as the sole reason that they paid for the network that its... |
Caesar Montenez | 1 episode |
| 2003 | The District The District The District is a television police drama which aired on CBS from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s Police Department .-Premise:... |
Jean-Paul Bertrand | 1 episode |
| Fastlane Fastlane (TV series) Fastlane is an American action/crime drama series that was broadcast on Fox from 2002 to 2003. On August 14, 2005 G4 began rebroadcasting the complete series. After finishing its initial run on the network, Fastlane stopped airing on G4... |
Haitian #1 | 1 episode | |
| 2005 | Dr. Vegas Dr. Vegas Dr. Vegas is a television drama starring Rob Lowe and Joe Pantoliano that ran on CBS in 2004. It aired in Ireland on TG4, and on Challenge in the UK as part of its "Player" gambling strand. In Slovakia, Markíza began airing the show on February 20, 2008.... |
Xola | 1 episode |
| The Shield The Shield The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons... |
Ididsa Okoye | 1 episode | |
| 2007 | Heroes Unmasked Heroes Unmasked Heroes Unmasked is a behind-the-scenes documentary television series of the American television series Heroes, made by the BBC and narrated by Anthony Head in series 1-2, and in series 3 by former Heroes actor Santiago Cabrera... |
Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer... |
Himself | February 4, 2010 |
| The Mo'Nique Show The Mo'Nique Show The Mo'Nique Show is an American talk show hosted by comedienne actress Mo'Nique. Aired on BET, the series began October 5, 2009. She is the first African American woman to host her own late night show. The show's second and final season premiered on Monday, October 4, 2010.On July 18, 2011, BET... |
Himself | February 4, 2010 | |
| 2006–2009 | Heroes Heroes (TV series) Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the... |
The Haitian Haitian (Heroes) The Haitian is a fictional character on the NBC television series Heroes, portrayed by Haitian actor Jimmy Jean-Louis. He is an associate of Noah Bennet. For the first three seasons of the show, he was only referred to on screen as "the Haitian." Even his associates at Primatech called him this... |
Recurring role (32 episodes) |
External links
- Official home page
- Interview with Jimmy Jean-Louis from The Company Podcast
- Jean-Louis' non-profit charitable aid organization Hollywood Unites for Haiti