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Louis Gossett Jr. on screen and stage

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Gossett in 2017

Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (May 27, 1936 – March 29, 2024) was an American actor. He was a folk singer in the 1960s. He is best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman, winning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also won an Emmy Award for his role as Fiddler in the 1977 ABC television miniseries Roots.

Gossett has also starred in numerous other film productions including A Raisin in the Sun, The Landlord, Skin Game, Travels with My Aunt, The Laughing Policeman, The White Dawn, The Deep, Jaws 3-D, Wolfgang Petersen's Enemy Mine, The Principal, the Iron Eagle series, Toy Soldiers and The Punisher, in an acting career that spans over five decades.[1][2][3][4][5]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1961 A Raisin in the Sun George Murchison
1969 The Bushbaby Tembo
1970 The Landlord Copee
1971 Skin Game Jason O'Rourke
1972 Travels with My Aunt Zachary / 'Wordsworth'
1973 The Laughing Policeman Inspector James Larrimore
1974 The White Dawn Portagee
1976 The River Niger Dr. Dudley Stanton
J. D.'s Revenge Reverend Elija Bliss
1977 The Deep Henri Cloche
The Choirboys Calvin Motts [6]
1980 It Rained All Night the Day I Left Leo Garcia
1982 An Officer and a Gentleman Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley [7]
1983 Jaws 3-D Calvin Bouchard [8]
1984 Finders Keepers Century [9]
The Guardian John Mack
1985 Enemy Mine Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan [10]
1986 Iron Eagle Colonel Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair [11]
Firewalker Leo Porter [12]
1987 The Principal Jake Phillips [13]
1988 Iron Eagle II Colonel / Brigadier General Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair [14]
1989 The Punisher Detective Jake Berkowitz [15]
1991 Cover Up CIA Chief Lou Jackson [16]
Toy Soldiers Dean Parker [17]
1992 Aces: Iron Eagle III Brigadier General Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair [18]
Diggstown Roy 'Honey Roy' Palmer [19]
1993 Monolith Captain MacCandless
1994 Flashfire Ben Durand
Blue Chips Father Dawkins Uncredited
A Good Man in Africa Professor Sam Adekunle
Curse of the Starving Class Ellis
1995 Iron Eagle on the Attack Brigadier General Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair (Ret.)
1996 Managua Paul
1997 The Wall That Heals Narrator
Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy Corbeck
1999 Terminal Countdown Morgan
2000 The Highwayman Phil Bishop
2002 Deceived Colonel David Garrett
2005 Window Ralph Stanley Part of African American Short Films[20]
Left Behind: World at War President Gerald Fitzhugh
2006 All In Caps
Club Soda 'Doc'
2007 Daddy's Little Girls Willie
Cover Detective Hicks
2008 The Perfect Game Cool Papa Bell
Delgo Zahn Voice
2009 Dog Jack Grown Up Jed
Shannon's Rainbow Max Donovan
The Least Among You Samuel Benton
2010 Smitty Mr. Smith
Why Did I Get Married Too? Porter
2011 The Grace Card George Wright
A Fonder Heart Glen
The Lamp The Genie
2012 The Undershepherd Bishop Redford
2014 A Fighting Man 'Cubby'
The Dependables Lou Jones
2015 Boiling Pot Detective Haven
2017 Undercover Grandpa Mother
Double Play 'Coco'
Breaking Brooklyn Miles Bryant
2019 Foster Boy Judge
The Cuban Luis Garcia
Supervized Pendle
2021 Not to Forget Pastor John
2022 Three Months Benny
2023 Outlaw Johnny Black Reverend Tharrington Uncredited voice
The Color Purple Ol' Mister
2024 IF Lewis Voice, posthumous release; dedicated to his memory
TBA Soul to Keep Mr. G Post-production, posthumous release
Sln Elijah Post-production, posthumous release
Awaken the Reaper Dr. Benjamin Locke In production, posthumous release
Unplugged Amos Burton Voice, in production, posthumous release

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1958 The Big Story Jamie Goodwin Episode: "The Stubbornest Man"
1962 The Nurses William Taylor Episode: "The Prisoner"
1967–1968 Cowboy in Africa Fulah / Hemera Episode: "Fang and Claw"
Episode: "The Quiet Death"
1968 The Invaders Ollie Episode: "The Vise"
Daktari Mkono Episode: "Adam and Jenny"
Companions in Nightmare Lieutenant Adam McKay NBC television film
1968–1972 The Mod Squad 'Smitty' (1968)
Lloyd (1969)
Charley Jameson (1972)
Episode: "When Smitty Comes Marching Home" (1968)
Episode: "The Uptight Town" (1969)
Episode: "Can You Hear Me Out There?" (1972)
1970 The Bill Cosby Show 'Hurricane' Smith Episode: "The Return of Big Bad Bubba Bronson"
1970–1971 The Young Rebels Isak Poole 15 episodes
1971 Big Fish, Little Fish Jimmie Luton Television film
The Partridge Family Sam Episode: "Soul Club"
Bonanza Buck Walter Episode: "The Desperado"
Longstreet Sergeant Cory Episode: "The Way of the Intercepting Fist"
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Dr. Karnes Episode: "One Lonely Step"
Alias Smith and Jones Joe Sims Episode: "The Bounty Hunter"
Cade's County Unknown Episode: "The Alien Land"
1972 The Living End Doug Newman CBS television pilot
The Rookies Toby Jones Episode: "Covenant with Death"
Love, American Style Freddy Segment: "Love and the Christmas Punch..."
1973 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Unknown Episode: "An Often and Familiar Ghost"
The Fuzz Brothers Francis Fuzz ABC television pilot
1974 It's Good to Be Alive Sam Brockington CBS television film
Sidekicks Jason O'Rourke TV remake of Gossett's 1971 Skin Game
CBS television film
McCloud Dewey Justin Episode: "Shivaree on Delancy Street"
The New Land Simon York Episode: "The Word is: Dignity" (never aired)
1974–1975 Petrocelli District Attorney Kurt Olson Episode: "A Very Lonely Lady" and "A Fallen Idol"
Good Times Donald Knight / Uncle Wilbert Episode: "Thelma's Young Man"
Episode: "Michael's Big Fall"
1975 Insight The Man Episode: "The Man from Inner Space"
Lucas Tanner Bobby Koball Episode: "Bonus Baby"
Black Bart Bart 'Black Bart' CBS television film
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within Otis James NBC television film
Caribe David Wallace Episode: "The Assassin"
Harry O Cleon Jackson Episode: "Shades"
The Jeffersons Wendell Brown Episode: "George's Best Friend"
The Six Million Dollar Man O'Flaherty Episode: "Clark Templeton O'Flaherty"
1975–1976 Police Story Freddie / Virgil Barnes Episode: "The Cut Man Caper"
Episode: "50 Cents-First Half Hour, $1.75 All Day"
1976 Little House on the Prairie Henry Hill Episode: "The Long Road Home"
The Rebels Unknown
1976–1977 The Rockford Files Marcus 'Gabby' Hayes Episode: Foul on the First Play and Just Another Polish Wedding
1977 Little Ladies of the Night Russ Garfield ABC television film
Roots Fiddler ABC miniseries
Visions Rex Episode: "Freeman"
1978 The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots Himself Television special
To Kill a Cop Everett Walker Uncredited role; NBC television film
The Critical List Lem Harper NBC television film
1979 Backstairs at the White House Levi Mercer NBC miniseries
Lawman Without a Gun Tom Hayward NBC television film
The Lazarus Syndrome Dr. MacArthur St. Clair ABC television film
1980 Palmerstown, USA Fredrick Douglas Jackson Episode: Future City
1981 Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige Leroy 'Satchel' Paige ABC television film
1982 American Playhouse Unknown Episode: "Zora Is My Name!"
Benny's Place Benny Moore ABC television film
Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Louis Gossett Jr/George Thorogood & the Destroyers"
1982–1983 The Powers of Matthew Star Walter 'Walt' Shepherd / D'Hai 22 episodes
1983 Sadat Anwar al-Sadat Television miniseries
1984 The Guardian John Mack Television film
1987 A Gathering of Old Men Mathu CBS television film
The Father Clements Story Father Clements NBC television film
1988 Sam Found Out: A Triple Play Unknown ABC television film
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July John 'Big John' Creed Disney Channel television film
Roots: The Gift Fiddler ABC television film
Straight Up Cosmo 2 episodes
1989 Gideon Oliver Gideon Oliver 5 episodes
1990 El Diablo Van Leek HBO television film
Sudie and Simpson Simpson Television film
1991 The Josephine Baker Story Sidney Williams HBO television film
Carolina Skeletons James Bragg NBC television film
1991–1992 Captain Planet and the Planeteers Commander Clash Voice, 3 episodes
1992 Keeper of the City Detective James Dela Television film
1993 Story of a People Host Miniseries
Gridiron Gang Host Documentary film
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations Unknown NBC television film
Return to Lonesome Dove Isom Pickett Miniseries
1994 Picket Fences Rick Jennings Episode: "Terms of Estrangement"
Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice Ray Alexander NBC television film
1995 A Father for Charlie Walter Osgood CBS television film
Zooman Rueben Tate Television movie
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder Ray Alexander Television movie
1996 Captive Heart: The James Mink Story James Mink Television movie
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story Bob Kersee Television film
Inside Questioner Television film
1997 Touched by an Angel Anderson Walker Episode: "Amazing Grace"
To Dance with Olivia Daniel Stewart CBS television film
In His Father's Shoes Frank Crosby / Richard Showtime television film
Early Edition Jim Matthews Episode: "The Medal"
Ellen Sergeant Timko Episode: "G.I. Ellen"
1998 Inspectors Inspector Frank Hughes Showtime television film
1999 Love Songs Reuben Segment: "A Love Song for Dad"
Strange Justice Vernon Jordan Showtime television film
2000 Dr. Lucille David Mulera Television film
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence Inspector Frank Hughes Showtime television film
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story Lou Hastings CBS television film
2001 For Love of Olivia Daniel Stewart CBS television film
2002 Opening Ceremony Salt Lake Paralympic Winter Games Narrator Television special
What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway Dr. Barnes UPN television film
Resurrection Blvd. Ezekiel 'Zeke' Grant Episode: "En Un Momento" and "Esperando Lagrimas"
2003 The Dead Zone Pastor David Lewis Episode: "Zion"
Jasper, Texas R.C. Horn Television movie
Momentum Raymond Addison SCI FI television film
2004 Half & Half Ray Willis 2 episodes
2005 Solar Attack President Ryan Gordon Direct-to-DVD release
Lackawanna Blues Ol'lem Taylor HBO television film
2005–2006 Stargate SG-1 Gerak 5 episodes
2006 Family Guy Drill Sergeant Voice, episode: "Saving Private Brian"
2007 The Batman Lucius Fox Voice, 3 episodes
2009 ER Leo Malcolm Episode: "The Family Man"
2012 Psych Lloyd Episode: "Heeeeere's Lassie"
2013 Boardwalk Empire Oscar Boneau Episode: "Havre de Grace"
2014 Madam Secretary Father Laurent Vasseur Episode: "The Call"
2014–2015 Extant Quinn Recurring; 4 episodes
2015 The Book of Negroes Daddy Moses 2 episodes
The Spoils Before Dying Duke Webster Episode: "The Trip Trap"
2017 The Good Fight Carl Reddick Episode: "Reddick v Boseman"
2018 Hap and Leonard Bacon 6 episodes
Hawaii Five-0 Percy Grover Sr. Episode: "Lele pū nā manu like" (Hawaiian for: "Birds of a Feather...")
2019 Watchmen Will Reeves / Hooded Justice 7 episodes
2022–2023 Kingdom Business Jeremiah 2 episodes

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2004 Half-Life 2 Vortigaunts Voice [21]
2006 Half-Life 2: Episode One

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1953 Take a Giant Step Spencer Scott Lyceum Theatre, Broadway debut
1955 The Desk Set Kenny Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway
1959 A Raisin in the Sun George Murchinson Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway
1963 Tambourines to Glory Big-Eyed Buddy Lomax Little Theatre, Broadway
1964 Golden Boy Frank Majestic Theatre, Broadway
1965 The Zulu and the Zayda Paulus Cort Theatre, Broadway
1966 My Sweet Charlie Charles Roberts Longacre Theatre, Broadway
1968 Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights Willie Nurse John Golden Theatre, Broadway
1971 Murderous Angels Patricia Lumumba Playhouse Theatre
2002 Chicago Billy Flynn Ambassador Theatre
2006 Dvorak's New World: Chamber Music Plus Narrator Venue [22][23]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Marble, Steve (March 29, 2024). "Louis Gossett Jr., 'An Officer and a Gentleman' star who broke barriers in Hollywood, dies". Los Angeles Times – via Yahoo!.
  2. ^ Dagan, Carmel (March 29, 2024). "Louis Gossett Jr., 'An Officer and a Gentleman' Oscar Winner, Dies at 87". Variety – via MSN.com.
  3. ^ Harris, Beth; Kennedy, Mark; Hall, Kristin (March 29, 2024). "ENTERTAINMENT: Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies". Associated Press News.
  4. ^ Franklin, Garth (March 29, 2024). "Louis Gossett Jr. Dies At 87". Dark Horizons.
  5. ^ Barnes, Mike; Byrge, Duane (March 29, 2024). "Louis Gossett Jr., Star of 'An Officer and a Gentleman' and 'Roots,' Dies at 87". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  7. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  8. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  9. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  10. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  12. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  13. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  14. ^ "Iron Eagle II". www.tcm.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  15. ^ Jolliffe, Tom (2020-09-01). "The Best Marvel Movie You Haven't Seen: The Punisher". Flickering Myth. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  16. ^ "Cover-Up". www.tcm.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  19. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  20. ^ "African American Short Films". TVGuide.com.
  21. ^ Wilde, Tyler (29 March 2024). "Actor Louis Gossett Jr, who voiced Half-Life 2's vortigaunts, has died". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Dvorak's New World". CMP South West. 3 December 2006. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  23. ^ Reel, James (30 November 2006). "Burleigh's Greatest Hits". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 26 November 2018.