Michel Gohou Biography: Height, Spouse, Age, Net Worth, Career, Children, Movies

Michel Gohou Doukrou is an acclaimed Ivorian actor, comedian, director, and producer, who became a household name across Francophone Africa for his uproarious portrayals of everyday anti-heroes grappling with urban chaos and family mishaps.

He first rose to fame in the 1990s through the satirical sketch troupe Les Guignols d’Abidjan, where he embodied the bumbling “Gohou” character—a nod to Ivorian slang for a naive rural bumpkin—that captured the absurdities of modern life.

Gohou’s multifaceted career spans hit series like Ma Famille and Gohou Michel, alongside films such as Black Snake: La légende du serpent noir and Kin la Belle, earning him the moniker “Africa’s Louis de Funès” for his impeccable comic timing and relatable charm.

Profile

• Full Name: Michel Gohou Doukrou
• Stage Name: Michel Gohou
• Born: December 10, 1963
• Age: 62 years old
• Birthplace: Gagnoa, Côte d’Ivoire
• Nationality: Ivorian
• Occupation: Actor, Comedian, Director, Producer
• Height: 1.65m
• Parents: Mr. Gohou and Mrs. Gohou
• Siblings: 5
• Spouse: Aline Péna (m. 2009)
• Children: 6
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Michel Gohou Doukrou was born on December 10, 1963, in Djatégnoa near Gagnoa, Côte d’Ivoire, to Mr. Gohou worked as a farmer and Mrs. Gohou.

He grew up as the fourth of six children in a modest household that instilled hard work and resilience, though a bout of bone tuberculosis in primary school halted his studies after fifth grade and left him with a lifelong limp he later turned into comedic gold.

Gohou joined his school’s theater group, where an end-of-year performance earned unexpected applause and ignited his passion, but formal education ended early as he hustled through odd jobs like coffee vending and cocoa field labor.

He is of Bété and Burkinabé heritage and practices Christianity as his religion.

Career

Michel Gohou Doukrou hustled through menial gigs in Gagnoa during the 1980s—selling food from a kiosk, managing a bar, and wiring houses as an apprentice electrician—before scraping together funds in 1986 to chase acting dreams in Abidjan, arriving with just two shirts and a pair of pants to crash with an older sister.

He landed repairman roles but joined local theater circles, where his folksy humor shone in sketches about rural-to-urban clashes.

A pivotal break came in 1993 when he linked with French director Daniel Cuxac and the Guignols d’Abidjan troupe, debuting the iconic Gohou persona in biting satires that mocked corruption and daily woes, quickly packing venues and launching his signature blend of physical comedy and dialect-driven wit.

Gohou’s breakthrough expanded in the 2000s with the Guignols’ television run, where episodes riffing on Ivorian politics and family feuds drew millions, followed by his 2007 creation of the Gohou Michel series—a solo showcase of escalating absurdities that solidified his stardom.

He branched into film with supporting turns in Faso Furie (2012) and directing/producing Laurent et Safi (2015), a family comedy that highlighted his knack for heartfelt hijinks.

The 2016 hit Bienvenue au Gondwana, opposite Omar Sy, brought international buzz, while Ma Famille positioned him as the hapless patriarch alongside Clémentine Papouet, racking up over 100 episodes and spawning spin-offs that dominated African airwaves.

Michel Gohou Doukrou headlines ongoing series like Les Vigiles and stages pan-African tours, including 2025 stops in Paris for live adaptations of his sketches that fuse tradition with timely jabs at social media follies.

He mentors young comedians through Abidjan workshops and advocates for cinema infrastructure, lamenting how old theaters morphed into churches.

Gohou’s credits, topping 20 projects, mirror Ivory Coast’s post-colonial pulse through laughter that disarms divides. His unyielding optimism and everyman appeal keep him central to the continent’s comedic canon.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: Unknown
• Facebook Handle: Michel Gohou
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Michel Gohou married Aline Péna on Valentine’s Day 2009 in a Cocody town hall ceremony attended by stars like Michel Bohiri.

Together they have six children though their names are not publicly known, including two eldest who have wed—his daughter to former coupé-décalé artist Venom le Cascadeur, now a Christian chanter, and his son in a traditional union—while shielding the younger ones from spotlights.

Filmography

• Faso Furie (2012)
• Laurent et Safi (2015)
• Bienvenue au Gondwana (2016)
• Black Snake: La légende du serpent noir (2019)
• Le Gendarme d’Abobo (2019)

Net Worth

Michel Gohou has an estimated net worth of $2 million. He garners wealth chiefly from producing hits like the Gohou Show and residuals from syndicated series across African networks. Film directing fees and live tour bookings bolster his portfolio.