Louis Gossett, Jr.

American actor

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Last Updated: May 16, 2025 • Article History

Quick Facts

Born:: May 27, 1936, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

Awards And Honors:: Emmy Award; Academy Award (1983); Academy Award (1983): Actor in a Supporting Role; Emmy Award (1977): Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series; Golden Globe Award (1992): Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television; Golden Globe Award (1983): Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Married To:: Christina Mangosing (1973–1975); Hattie Glascoe (1964–?); Cyndi James Gossett (1987–1992)

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "The Cuban" (2019); "The Laughing Policeman" (1973); "ER" (2009); "Travels with My Aunt" (1972); "Love, American Style" (1972); "Roots" (1977); "The Deep" (1977); "Boardwalk Empire" (2013); "The River Niger" (1976); "Stories USA" (2007); "The Lamp" (2011); "Managua" (1997); "The Perfect Game" (2009); "Dog Jack" (2010); "The Lazarus Syndrome" (1979); "Watchmen" (2019); "Foster Boy" (2019); "The Highwayman" (2000); "Resurrection Blvd." (2002); "The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century" (1996); "Undercover Grandpa" (2017); "The Principal" (1987); "Bonanza" (1971); "The Rookies" (1972); "Miracle in East Texas" (2019); "Pride of Lions" (2014); "Skin Game" (1971); "The Batman" (2007); "Cover-Up" (1991); "Caribe" (1975); "The Book of Negroes" (2015); "J.D.'s Revenge" (1976); "Backstairs at the White House" (1979); "Police Story" (1975–1976); "Supervized" (2019); "Half & Half" (2004); "A Good Man in Africa" (1994); "Canadian Film Fest Presented by Super Channel" (2020); "Come to the Garden" (2016); "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982); "Iron Eagle II" (1988); "Promised Land" (1997); "Longstreet" (1971); "Harry O" (1975); "Return to Lonesome Dove" (1993); "Jaws 3-D" (1983); "Finders Keepers" (1984); "Boiling Pot" (2015); "The Nurses" (1962); "McCloud" (1974); "The Powers of Matthew Star" (1982–1983); "Left Behind III: World at War" (2005); "Firewalker" (1986); "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" (1991–1992); "A Raisin in the Sun" (1961); "The Choirboys" (1977); "The Mod Squad" (1968–1972); "The Partridge Family" (1971); "Why Did I Get Married Too?" (2010); "Alias Smith and Jones" (1971); "Touched by an Angel" (1997); "Enemy Mine" (1985); "Breaking Brooklyn" (2018); "Daddy's Little Girls" (2007); "Good Times" (1974–1975); "Cowboy in Africa" (1967–1968); "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors" (1971); "Picket Fences" (1994); "The Undershepherd" (2012); "The Bill Cosby Show" (1970); "The Invaders" (1968); "Early Edition" (1997); "Ellen" (1997); "Psych" (2012); "Daktari" (1968); "A Fighting Man" (2014); "The Punisher" (1989); "The Bushbaby" (1969); "Family Guy" (2006); "Aces: Iron Eagle III" (1992); "Double Play" (2017); "Straight Up" (1988); "The Spoils Before Dying" (2015); "The Rockford Files" (1976–1977); "Sadat" (1983); "Visions" (1977); "Y2K" (1999); "Petrocelli" (1974–1975); "Delgo" (2008); "The Jeffersons" (1975); "Hap and Leonard" (2018); "The Grace Card" (2010); "All In" (2006); "East Side/West Side" (1964); "Iron Eagle IV" (1995); "Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law" (1973); "Toy Soldiers" (1991); "Insight" (1975); "Breaking at the Edge" (2013); "Little House on the Prairie" (1976); "Extant" (2014–2015); "Palmerstown, U.S.A." (1981); "Hawaii Five-0" (2018); "The Young Rebels" (1970–1971); "Iron Eagle" (1986); "Flashfire" (1994); "Smitty" (2012); "Cover" (2007); "The Landlord" (1970); "Hercules" (1998); "Gideon Oliver" (1989); "Monolith" (1993); "Madam Secretary" (2014); "The Six Million Dollar Man" (1975); "Diggstown" (1992); "American Experience" (1992); "King of the Dancehall" (2016); "Curse of the Starving Class" (1994); "American Playhouse" (1990); "The Least Among You" (2009); "Lucas Tanner" (1975); "The White Dawn" (1974); "The Good Fight" (2017); "The Big Story" (1957–1958); "It Rained All Night the Day I Left" (1980); "Legend of the Mummy" (1998); "Shannon's Rainbow" (2009); "The Dead Zone" (2003); "Stargate SG-1" (2005–2006)

Movies/Tv Shows (Directed):: "The Powers of Matthew Star" (1983)

Louis Gossett, Jr. (born May 27, 1936, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.—died March 28, 2024, Santa Monica, California) was an actor who made history as the first African American man to win an Academy Award for best supporting actor. He was recognized for his portrayal of tough-hearted drill sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982). Gossett also earned acclaim for his work in numerous other projects, including the TV miniseries Roots (1977).

Gossett grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He initially focused on sports when he was in high school, but an injury that temporarily prevented him from playing basketball led him toward theatre, and a teacher urged him to audition for the play in which he made his Broadway debut, Take a Giant Step (1953). His performance was well received, and he won the Donaldson Award for best newcomer of the year. After graduating from high school in 1954, he attended New York University on a basketball and drama scholarship. He continued to take acting jobs, appearing on Broadway in The Desk Set (1955–56) and in TV shows in guest roles. After college he was drafted by the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) but chose to fully dedicate himself to acting as a career.

Gossett was part of the original stage cast of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun (1959), and he made his movie debut in the 1961 film version. He continued to perform in Off-Broadway and Broadway plays as well as on television throughout the 1960s. Gossett’s second major movie performance was in the social comedy The Landlord (1970), directed by Hal Ashby. He costarred in the short-lived TV series The Young Rebels (1970–71), set during the American Revolution. After that he appeared in a series of minor films, the most notable of which was George Cukor’s Travels with My Aunt (1972). Gossett won an Emmy Award for his performance as Fiddler in the acclaimed television miniseries Roots (1977) and reprised the role in the 1988 TV movie Roots: The Gift.

Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema).

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Gossett’s Oscar for An Officer and a Gentleman—the first supporting actor Oscar to go to an African American man—failed to catapult him into stardom, but he remained a constant presence on television and continued to appear in films well into the 21st century. His later TV credits included the miniseries Return to Lonesome Dove (1993), the movie Lackawanna Blues (2005), and the limited series Watchmen (2019). On the big screen, he notably appeared in the musical The Color Purple (2023).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.