One of television’s sexiest and most magnetic actors, Jimmy Jean-Louis is best known for his portrayal of ‘The Haitian’ on the NBC series “Heroes,” an action drama which chronicles the lives of ordinary people, who discover they possess extraordinary abilities.
A proud Petion-Ville native, he spent most of his early childhood in the suburbs of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A country recently devastated by tragedy. Growing up, Jean-Louis, who has lived and worked in various countries such as Italy, England, Spain and South Africa as a model and dancer, recalls his childhood in Haiti as an extremely idyllic one.
“It was a great and a very happy experience. Even though we were restricted as far as water and electricity was concerned, it didn’t stop us from having fun and being kids. I think my childhood helped me in staying in touch with nature — staying in touch with basic needs and the simple things people take for granted,” he says.
[Humble Beginnings]
As a child, Jean-Louis dabbled in sports; particularly soccer. An immensely popular sport in most Caribbean Islands, Haiti has produced many talented star players over the years.
“I didn’t know what an actor was or that such a profession as a model existed and Haiti is a place that loved soccer, so back then I wanted to be a professional soccer player because that is one thing I can relate to. We did have a couple of good Haitian soccer players who went to the world cup,” says the actor. “My parents wanted me to finish my studies and be an engineer or a doctor. Those professions were important to them at the time so being a model and anything that had to do with arts was completely out of my league so I didn’t think about them.”
In 1991, Jean-Louis landed his first job in a Coca Cola commercial when he was spotted dancing in a club. A lucrative career in modeling followed. With international assignments for designers Gianfranco Ferre and Valentino, he traveled extensively to Greece, Brazil, Turkey, Europe, South Africa and India, absorbing the culture around him, but after several frustrated years in France, he moved to Spain to join a musical theatre before finally ending up in the United States.
A role in Jean Claude Van Damme’s “Derailed” in 2000, set the stage for subsequent roles with other Hollywood A-listers and he went on to shoot “Tears of the Sun” with Bruce Willis, “Hollywood Homicide” with Harrison Ford and “Monster-in-Law” with Jane Fonda. Jean-Louis also stared opposite comedian and actress Monique playing a
Nigerian doctor in the movie “Phat Girlz,” before becoming a household name as the aloof and mysterious ‘Haitian,’ who has the ability to erase the memories of anyone he wishes.”
“From the beginning, I didn’t have too much to say. It was a lot about the body movement and the look of the character. I used my background as a dancer to create a presence and character out of the very little I was given. I didn’t speak at all for the first few episodes and it’s pretty difficult to play a character who doesn’t say a word.”
Relying on his magnetic presence and poise, Jean-Louis, a talented and creative performer mesmerized audiences in the show which became a phenomenon and dramatically changed the course of his career.
“The success of the show allowed me to go to different markets in different parts of the world and be able to work easily as a result of the recognition. I did movies in France and Indonesia and a few projects in London. Playing a Haitian hero on television put some pressure on me as far as stepping up to the plate. Especially knowing the situation in Haiti, I had to speak up,” he says. “Haiti is an absolutely beautiful country with a lot of mountains, beautiful white sand and blue water, but very, very poor with not too much infrastructure.”
[Helping Haiti]
In 2008, Jean-Louis started up a non profit organization called Hollywood Unites for Haiti in an effort to help the citizens of his native country.
“Haiti was the first black republic to fight and win their independence and it’s something that changed the course of the world. I initially started Hollywood Unites for Haiti (http://www.hufh.org) to help the underprivileged kids in Haiti. A lot of what I do is towards the kids because obviously they are the future. So if you can’t take care of them, you know the future won’t be great. So that’s why I try to focus as much as I can on the kids.” Jean-Louis’ organization has been very instrumental in providing full sets of sports equipment to the national soccer team in addition to much needed supplies for several Haitian communities.
With supporters who include actors Josh Brolin, Diane Lane and director Paul Haggis, it’s a mission which has now clearly taken on a different direction due to the recent catastrophe. Just a few days after the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake, Jean-Louis flew to Haiti via Santo Domingo to reconnect with his family and at press time, the actor who lost numerous friends and relatives is still on the island working to raise awareness and much needed funds to help stabilize his native country.
Recently, Jean-Louis, who is also the Goodwill Ambassador for the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) received an honor for his many humanitarian accomplishments by the city of Miami. He was presented with a golden key to the city, during the Fifth Annual Haitian Independence Month Celebration.
“It’s a great honor and it’s not an easy thing to get,” he continues. “Because Miami has a lot of Haitians, from time to time they recognize some of the faces out there and that’s why they invited me, especially with the work that I do and the non profit organization.”
A huge accolade, it’s another accomplishment the selfless actor can add to already colorful and enriching resume. A warm hearted family man with a wife and two kids, Jean-Louis, despite his early struggles in the industry, especially in Europe, has no qualms in letting his kids pursue a similar career in entertainment.
“They are eight and seven and at the age where they could have done a few things and I have no problem with them entering the industry. They just have to discover it by themselves and really want to do it. I wouldn’t want to push them to do it but if they want to do it then why not? I am already in it so I can guide them,” he says.
Extremely athlete and extensively traveled, Jean-Louis plays soccer several times a week, abhors junk food and has a rudimental workout regime.
“Because I travel quite a bit, I always do something wherever I am. Either I will have a football game or do pushups and pulls up, but most of all I also eat very well,” says the actor who has artists Bello, Fela Kuti, James Brown, Sade and of course Bob Marley on heavy rotation on his Ipod. And unlike his character Rene on the NBC show, if he were to possess an extraordinary ability in real life, Jean-Louis would rather have the power to fly than the ability to erase memories.
“I think flying is a good one because of the sense of freedom that you must have when you fly, if you can fly, and also the power to help take care of the current situation in Haiti. Really becoming a hero by using those powers would be great.”
And his greatest fear?
“Ignorance. Because I have been lucky enough to have traveled, it would have been petrifying if I had to be in one room or city and not have the freedom to see what is going on in the world and learn and experience,” he says.
Traveling is certainly an experience and opportunity, which has allowed the actor innumerable ways to help others. Something he intends to continue doing as his native country suffers its worst in tragedy in years, a devastation he agrees will require a long term relief effort and rebuilding process.
“Haiti has suffered many set backs in its rich history and yet the Haitian people have never lost the character to face adversity with creativity, resilience, and community.
Sometimes just sending the message and doing a little bit could inspire a lot of other people to continue doing or to start doing as well,” says Jean-Louis. “I have a connection to my home country and whatever I can do for it to be better, I will do it, for I would love to see Haiti doing well so will try to do whatever I can to see that happen.”
To help Haiti visit http://www.hufh.org