Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (born May 27, 1936) is an American actor. Born in

Coney Island, Brooklyn Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach to its east, Lower New York Bay to the s ...

, New York City, He had his stage debut at the age of 17, in a school production of '' You Can't Take It with You.'' Shortly after he successfully auditioned for the

Broadway play Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''Th ...

'' Take a Giant Step.'' Gossett would go on acting on stage. One of these plays was '' A Raisin in the Sun'' in 1959, and in 1961 he made his debut on screen in its

film adaptation A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dial ...

. From thereon, Gossett added to his resume many roles in films and television, as well as releasing music. In 1977, Gossett gained wide recognition for his role of Fiddler in the popular

miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...

Roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusing ...

''. For which he won "Outstanding lead actor for a single appearance in a drama or comedy series" at the

Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

. Gossett continued acting in high profile films and television. In 1982, for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in ''

An Officer and a Gentleman Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman (or conduct unbecoming for short) is an offense that is subject to court martial in the armed forces of some nations. Use in the United Kingdom The phrase was used as a charge in courts martial of t ...

'', he won the

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role while worki ...

, and became the first black actor to win in this category. At the Emmy Awards, Gossett continued to receive recognition with acting nominations for ''The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots'' (1978), ''

Palmerstown, U.S.A. ''Palmerstown, U.S.A.'' (shortened to ''Palmerstown'' in March 1981) is a Drama (film and television), television drama series that aired on CBS from March 20, 1980 to June 9, 1981. It was created by Norman Lear and Alex Haley, whose childhood was ...

'' (1981), ''

Sadat Sadat ( ar, سادات) is a suffix, which is given to families believed to be descendants of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. In Iran, after the revolution, it is mandatory to mention "Seyed" or "Sadat" in the names of or whose descent from Muham ...

'' (1983), ''A Gathering of Old Men'' (1987), '' Touched by an Angel'' (1997), and ''Watchmen'' (2019). He won and was nominated at other ceremonies including the

Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

, Black Reel Awards, NAACP Image Awards, etc. Gossett is also well known for his role as Colonel Chappy Sinclair in the '' Iron Eagle'' film series (1986-1995). Since his beginnings, Gossett appeared in a wide range of project. Film projects include Hal Ashby's ''

The Landlord ''The Landlord'' is a 1970 American comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby, adapted by Bill Gunn from the 1966 novel by Kristin Hunter. The film stars Beau Bridges in the lead role of a privileged and ignorant white man who selfishly becomes ...

'' (1970),

Paul Bogart Paul Bogart (né Bogoff; November 13, 1919 – April 15, 2012) was an American television director and producer. Bogart directed episodes of the television series Way Out'' in 1961, ''Coronet Blue'' in 1967, ''Get Smart'', '' The Dumplings'' ...

's '' Skin Game'' (1971),

George Cukor George Dewey Cukor (; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO when David O. Selznick, the studio's Head of ...

's ''

Travels with My Aunt ''Travels with My Aunt'' (1969) is a novel written by English author Graham Greene. The novel follows the travels of Henry Pulling, a retired bank manager, and his eccentric Aunt Augusta as they find their way across Europe, and eventually ev ...

'' (1972),

Stuart Rosenberg Stuart Rosenberg (August 11, 1927 – March 15, 2007) was an American film and television director whose motion pictures include '' Cool Hand Luke'' (1967), ''Voyage of the Damned'' (1976), ''The Amityville Horror'' (1979), and ''The Pope of Gree ...

's '' The Laughing Policeman'' (1974),

Philip Kaufman Philip Kaufman (born October 23, 1936) is an American film director and screenwriter who has directed fifteen films over a career spanning more than six decades. He has been described as a "maverick" and an "iconoclast," notable for his versati ...

's '' The White Dawn'' (1974),

Peter Yates Peter James Yates (24 July 1929 – 9 January 2011) was an English film director and producer. Biography Early life Yates was born in Aldershot, Hampshire. The son of an army officer, he attended Charterhouse School as a boy, graduated from ...

's '' The Deep'' (1977), Wolfgang Petersen's '' Enemy Mine'' (1985), Christopher Cain's '' The Principal'' (1987), Mark Goldblatt's ''

The Punisher The Punisher (Francis "Frank" Castle, born Castiglione) is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. The Punisher made ...

'' (1989),

Daniel Petrie Daniel Mannix Petrie (November 26, 1920 – August 22, 2004) was a Canadian film director, film, television director, television, and stage director who worked in Canada, Hollywood, and the United Kingdom; known for directing grounded human dram ...

's ''

Toy Soldiers A toy soldier is a miniature figurine that represents a soldier. The term applies to depictions of uniformed military personnel from all eras, and includes knights, cowboys, American Indians, pirates, samurai, and other subjects that involve c ...

'' (1991), etc. As well as television appearance in ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on U ...

'' (1971), '' The Jeffersons'' (1975), '' American Playhouse'' (1990), '' Stargate SG-1'' (2005), ''

Boardwalk Empire ''Boardwalk Empire'' is an American period crime drama television series created by Terence Winter and broadcast on the premium cable channel HBO. The series is set chiefly in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s and ...

'' (2013), ''The Book of Negroes'' (2015), etc. He also acted in video-games, commercials, and continued to work on stage.

Early life and education

Gossett was born in

, New York City, to Hellen Rebecca (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Wray), a nurse, and Louis Gossett Sr., a porter. He is an alumnus of

Mark Twain Intermediate School 239 The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is the department of the government of New York City that manages the city's public school system. The City School District of the City of New York (or the New York City Public Schools) is t ...

and Abraham Lincoln High School. His stage debut came at the age of 17, in a school production of '' You Can't Take It with You'' when a sports injury resulted in the decision to take an acting class. Polio had already delayed his graduation. His high school teacher had encouraged him to audition for a Broadway part, resulting in his selection for a starring role on Broadway in 1953 from among 200 other actors well before he entered NYU. After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1954, he attended

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...

, declining an athletic scholarship. Standing tall, he was offered the opportunity to play varsity basketball during his college years at NYU; he declined the basketball offer to concentrate on theater.

Career

1953 to 1977: music career and early roles to breakthrough

In 1953, Gossett acted in the Broadway play '' Take a Giant Step.'' He replaced Bill Gunn as Spencer Scott. The play was selected by ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' drama critics as one of the 10 best shows of the year. He was 17, and still a student at Abraham Lincoln High School, with no formal drama training. 1955, Gossett acted in the Broadway play The Desk Set. In 1959, continuing his

Broadway theatre Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''Th ...

career, Gossett played the role of George Murchison in '' A Raisin in the Sun.'' During the early 1960s, Gossett was considered to be a talented folk musician. He was also well known. His singing career was helped along with appearing at the Folk City venue in New York. In 1961, Gossett had his cinematic debut with the play's film adaptation of ''A Raisin in the Sun''. Also in 1961, Gossett appeared in the original cast of

Jean Genet Jean Genet (; – ) was a French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. In his early life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but he later became a writer and playwright. His major works include the novels ''The Thief's ...

's '' The Blacks'', the longest running off-Broadway play of the decade, running for 1,408 performances. The original cast also featured

James Earl Jones James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor. He has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances in film, television, and theater, and "one of the greatest actors in America ...

Roscoe Lee Browne Roscoe Lee Browne (May 2, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American actor and director. He resisted playing stereotypically black roles, instead performing in several productions with New York City's Shakespeare Festival Theater, Leland Hayward's ...

, Cicely Tyson,

Godfrey Cambridge Godfrey MacArthur Cambridge (February 26, 1933 – November 29, 1976) was an American stand-up comic and actor. Alongside Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory, and Nipsey Russell, he was acclaimed by ''Time'' in 1965 as "one of the country's foremost celeb ...

Maya Angelou Maya Angelou ( ; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and ...

and

Charles Gordone Charles Edward Gordone (October 12, 1925 – November 16, 1995) was an American playwright, actor, director, and educator. He was the first African American to win the annual Pulitzer Prize for Drama and he devoted much of his professional life ...

. In 1963, Gossett acted in the Broadway play ''Tambourines to Glory.'' In 1964, Gossett acted tin the Broadway play ''Golden Boy''. Signed to Powertree Records, Gossett's single, "Hooka' Dooka'", "Green Green" bw "Goodmornin' Captain" was released in early 1964. Later in May, "Red Rosy Bush" bw "

See See Rider "See See Rider", also known as "C.C. Rider", "See See Rider Blues" or "Easy Rider", is a popular American 12-bar blues song that became a standard in several genres. Gertrude "Ma" Rainey was the first to record it on October 16, 1924, at Param ...

" was released. In 1965, Gossett appeared in the musical play ''

The Zulu and the Zayda ''The Zulu and the Zayda'' is a musical play by Howard Da Silva and Felix Leon, with music and lyrics by Harold Rome (his last musical score), and directed by Dore Schary. It was based on a story by Dan Jacobson. Described as a comedy with mu ...

'' on Broadway as Paulus with music and lyrics by

Harold J. Rome Harold may refer to: People * Harold (given name), including a list of persons and fictional characters with the name * Harold (surname), surname in the English language * András Arató, known in meme culture as "Hide the Pain Harold" Arts a ...

. A December, 1965 review of ''The Zulu'', original cast recording that was released on Columbia Records noted Menasha Skulnik and Gossett's vocal performance of "It's Good to Be Alive. In 1966, Gossett acted in the Broadway play ''My Sweet Charlie.'' Gossett wrote the antiwar folk song "Handsome Johnny" with

Richie Havens Richard Pierce Havens (January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013) was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music encompassed elements of folk, soul (both of which he frequently covered), and rhythm and blues. He had a rhythmic guitar style ...

; Havens recorded the song in 1966. In 1967, the song "

Handsome Johnny ''Mixed Bag'' is the debut studio album by Richie Havens and was released in 1966. Although it was Havens' first album release, Douglas Records later issued two unauthorized albums of material that had been recorded prior to the ''Mixed Bag'' ...

" was released appearing on

's album ''

Mixed Bag ''Mixed Bag'' is the debut studio album by Richie Havens and was released in 1966. Although it was Havens' first album release, Douglas Records later issued two unauthorized albums of material that had been recorded prior to the ''Mixed Bag'' ...

,'' which he co-composed with Havens . Havens performed it on the Johnny Carson Show which resulted in a standing ovation that lasted through two commercial breaks. By September, 1967, his single "

Where Have All the Flowers Gone "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" is a modern folk music, folk-style song. Inspired lyrically by the traditional Cossacks, Cossack folk song "Koloda-Duda", Pete Seeger borrowed an Irish melody and the first three verses in 1955 and published it ...

" bw "Just a Girl" was released on Warner Brothers 7078. It was a ''Cash Box'' Newcomer Pick and received a good review with the reviewer calling it ''"Easy-paced blues working and a mighty fine smooth vocal join forces in putting across a tempting r&b reading of the folk standard."'' In 1968, Gossett acted in the play ''Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights''. In the spring of 1969, Gossett was listed among the actors who could not be determined or uncredited in

's ''WUSA''. In 1970, his album ''From Me to You'' was released on B.T. Puppy Records BTPS-1013. It contained some of his own compositions. That same year, he acted in the film ''

'' directed by Hal Ashby. In 1971, Gossett acted in

's '' Skin Game''. That year Gossett, was cast in a film adaptation of the novel ''

Finding Maubee ''Finding Maubee'' is a 1971 detective novel by Albert H. Z. Carr set in a fictional Caribbean island called St. Caro.''The Mighty Quinn'' in 1989 with another cast. Also that year he acted in the play ''Murderous Angels''. On February 7, Gossett acted in ''The Desperado'' a ''

'' episode. In 1972, Gossett acted in

's ''Travels with My Aunt''. That he was announced to act in a starring role in Brian De Palma's ''Sisters'', but had to withdraw due to scheduling conflict, and to play a gang leader in Barry Shear's '' Across 110th Street'', but he is not in the finished product. In 1973, Gossett acted in

's ''The Laughing Policeman''. In 1974, Gossett acted in

's '' The White Dawn''. On November 22, 1975, Gossett acted in ''George's best friend'' and episode of '' The Jeffersons''. In 1976, Gossett acted in films, this includes Arthur Marks's ''

J. D.'s Revenge ''J. D.'s Revenge'' is a blaxploitation horror film released in 1976. It starred Glynn Turman and Lou Gossett. The main character becomes an unwilling host for the restless spirit of J.D. Walker, a hustler killed 30 years earlier when he was wro ...

'', and

Krishna Shah Krishna Shah (10 May 1938 – 13 October 2013) was an Indian-American/Gujarati people, Gujarati film and theatre director, screenwriter, playwright, producer, and Filmmaking#Production, production/Film distribution, distribution executive. Shah ...

's ''The River Niger''. In 1977, Gossett played the role of Fiddler in the television miniseries ''

'' based on

Alex Haley Alexander Murray Palmer Haley (August 11, 1921 – February 10, 1992) was an American writer and the author of the 1976 book '' Roots: The Saga of an American Family.'' ABC adapted the book as a television miniseries of the same name and a ...

's book ''

Roots: The Saga of an American Family ''Roots: The Saga of an American Family'' is a 1976 novel written by Alex Haley. It tells the story of Kunta Kinte, an 18th-century African, captured as an adolescent, sold into slavery in Africa, and transported to North America; it follows h ...

''. The miniseries played for eight evening in a row and had a rating of 44.9 and an audience share of 66, which was the highest of its time. The show also broke conventions where a black actors would play the slave heroes against white villains and popularized the night to night miniseries format. The reviews were a rave, and it received numerous accolades. At the

it received a total of 43 wins and nomination, in the category "Outstanding lead actor for a single appearance in a drama or comedy series" Gossett won. That year in films, Gossett acted

Robert Aldrich Robert Burgess Aldrich (August 9, 1918 – December 5, 1983) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. His notable credits include '' Vera Cruz'' (1954), ''Kiss Me Deadly'' (1955), ''The Big Knife'' (1955), '' Autumn L ...

's ''The Choirboys'', and

's ''The Deep''.

1978 to 1997: subsequent success

On March 2, 1978, the television special ''The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots'' premiered. Actor Ben Vereen showcases key elements of his life thought dance and music. Gossett was among the guest stars. At the Emmy Awards, Gossett was nominated for "Outstanding continuing or single performance by a supporting actor in variety or music". On April 10, the two part television program ''To Kill a Cop'' premiered. In it Gossett is paired with

Joe Don Baker Joe Don Baker (born February 12, 1936) is an American character actor and a life member of the Actors Studio. He established himself as an action star with supporting roles as a mysterious cowboy drifter in ''Guns of the Magnificent Seven'' (196 ...

as police detective. On the 28th of January, 1979, the mini-series '' Backstairs at the White House'' premiered. It is an adaption of the book '' My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House,'' about

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. ...

maids who served there during several presidencies. Gossett plays a maid who is 37 years of age when the series starts and 88 when it ends. He said ''I took the role because of the chance to age". At the Emmy Awards, Gossett was nominated for "Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or a special". In 1981, Gossett was a guest star in an episode of the television series ''

''. For his performance Gossett was nominated at the Emmy Awards for "Outstanding lead actor in a drama series". In 1982, Gossett was also starring in the science fiction series, '' The Powers of Matthew Star'' which lasted until 1983. That same year ''

'', His role as drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film ''An Officer and a Gentleman'' won him an

. He was the first black male to win an Oscar in a supporting role, the second black male to win for acting, and the third black actor to win overall. Additionally, Gossett won "Best supporting actor" at the

, and "Outstanding actor in a motion picture" NAACP Image Awards. In 1983, he played the title role in ''

'', a two part miniseries which chronicled the life and assassination of former Egypt president

Anwar Sadat Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat, (25 December 1918 – 6 October 1981) was an Egyptian politician and military officer who served as the third president of Egypt, from 15 October 1970 until his assassination by fundamentalist army officers on 6 ...

. For his performance Gossett was nominated at the Emmy Awards for "Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or a special", and at the Golden Globes Awards he was nominated for "Best Actor in limited series, anthology series or television motion picture". That same year, Gossett acted in Joe Alves's '' Jaws 3-D.'' In 1984 Gossett acted in Richard Lester's ''Finders Keepers''. In 1985, Gossett co-starred with Dennis Quaid in Wolfgang Petersen's '' Enemy Mine''. On January 17, 1986,

Sidney J. Furie Sidney Joseph Furie (born February 28, 1933) is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his extensive work in both British and American cinema between the 1960s and early 1980s. Like his contemporaries Norman Jewison ...

's '' Iron Eagle'' was released, an aviation adventure film were Gossett stars Colonel Chappy Sinclair. It earned $24,159,872 at the U.S. box office. Although the movie was not a major success at the cinema, it generated $11 million in home video sales, enough to justify a sequel. Also that year, Gossett co-stared with

Chuck Norris Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist and actor. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championshi ...

in J. Lee Thompson's ''Firewalker''. In 1987, Gossett acted in Volker Schlöndorff's ''A Gathering of Old Men''. While it was screened in the

Un Certain Regard (, meaning 'a certain glance') is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's official selection. It is run at the Debussy, parallel to the competition for the . This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob. The section presents 20 films w ...

section at the

1987 Cannes Film Festival The 40th Cannes Film Festival was held from 7 to 19 May 1987 in film, 1987. The Palme d'Or went to the ''Under the Sun of Satan (film), Sous le soleil de Satan'' by Maurice Pialat, a choice which was considered "highly controversial" and the prize ...

, it was released as television film in the US. For his performance Gossett was nominated at the Emmy Awards for "Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or a special". Also that year he acted in Christopher Cain's '' The Principal''. LouisGossettJr

In 1988, Gossett reunited with director Sidney J. Furie for ''

Iron Eagle II ''Iron Eagle II'' (also titled ''Iron Eagle II: The Battle Beyond the Flag'') is a 1988 action film directed by Sidney J. Furie and written by Furie and Kevin Alyn Elders. It is the first sequel to the 1986 film '' Iron Eagle'', with Louis Gosse ...

''. It made $10,497,324 at the U.S. box office. In 1989, Gossett co-starred in the

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

adaptation In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...

,'' with Dolph Lundgren in the title role. The film was directed by Mark Goldblatt, with a screenplay by Boaz Yakin. ''The Punisher'' was filmed in Sydney, Australia and also featured

Jeroen Krabbé Jeroen Aart Krabbé (; born 5 December 1944) is a Dutch actor and film director with a successful career in both Dutch and English-language films. He is best known to international audiences for his leading roles in the Paul Verhoeven films ''So ...

Kim Miyori Kim Miyori (born Cheryl Utsunomiya; January 4, 1951) is an American actress, best known for the role of Dr. Wendy Armstrong, a beleaguered resident, on the first two seasons (1982–1984) of the medical drama '' St. Elsewhere''. Miyori was born ...

, and Barry Otto. On February 14, 1990, Gossett acted in ''Zora is my name!'' an episode of '' American Playhouse''. In 1991, Gossett acted in

Manny Coto Manuel Hector "Manny" Coto (born June 10, 1961) is an American writer, director and producer of films and television programs. Coto was the executive producer and showrunner of ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' in its final season, and executive produc ...

's ''Cover Up,'' and

's ''Toy Soldiers''. On March 16,

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...

premiered the television film ''

The Josephine Baker Story ''The Josephine Baker Story'' is an American television film that first aired on HBO on March 16, 1991. It stars Lynn Whitfield as Josephine Baker, who was an international African-American star, who was especially successful in Europe. The film w ...

''. For his acting at the Golden Globes Awards, in the television category, Gossett won "Best supporting actor". In 1992, provided additional narration for

Bill Miles William Miles (April 18, 1931 - May 12, 2013) was an American filmmaker. Born in Harlem, New York, he used his deep knowledge and experience of that iconic neighborhood to produce films that tell unique and often inspiring stories of Harlem's hi ...

and

Nina Rosenblum Nina Rosenblum (born September 20, 1950) is an American documentary film and television producer and director and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Directors Guild of America. Italian Fotoleggendo magazine said Rosen ...

's documentary film '' The Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II''. Gossett returned to the role of Chappy in '' Aces: Iron Eagle III'' directed by John Glen, and acted in Michael Ritchie's '' Diggstown''. In 1994, Gossett acted in Bruce Beresford's ''

A Good Man in Africa ''A Good Man in Africa'' is a 1994 comedy-drama film, based on William Boyd's 1981 novel ''A Good Man in Africa'' and directed by Bruce Beresford. The film starred Colin Friels, Sean Connery, John Lithgow, Joanne Whalley, Diana Rigg and Louis Go ...

''. In 1995, Gossett returned to the role of Chappy and reunited with director Sidney J. Furie for ''Iron Eagle IV''. In 1996, Gossett acted in the Broadway play ''Chicago''. That year he acted in Arthur Penn's film ''Inside'' which was screened at Cannes before being released as a television film, where he also served as an executive producer. For his effort Gossett received CableACE Award nomination for "Best actor in a movie or mini-series. In 1997, Gossett presented '' When Animals Attack! 4'', a one-hour special on

Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve sp ...

. On television, he had a guest role in the'' Touched by an Angel'' episode ''Amazing Grace: Part 1.'' For his performance he was nominated for "Outstanding guest actor in a drama series".

1998 to present day: following roles and current works

In 1998, Gossett acted '' Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy''. In 2004, Gossett voiced the

Vortigaunt Vortigaunts or Alien Slaves are a fictional extra-dimensional species in the Half-Life (series), ''Half-Life'' series of video games by Valve Corporation, Valve. In ''Half-Life (video game), Half-Life'' and its three expansions, Vortigaunts are ...

s in the video game '' Half-Life 2.'' In the 2005 film '' Left Behind: World at War,'' he played the role of the

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

''.'' That year on television, he played Free Jaffa Leader

Gerak Over its decade of existence, science fiction TV series ''Stargate SG-1'' developed an extensive and detailed backdrop of diverse characters. Many of the characters are members of alien species discovered while exploring the galaxy through the ...

in several episodes of Season 9 of the sci-fi television series '' Stargate SG-1.'' In 2007, he acted in Tyler Perry's

Daddy's Little Girls ''Daddy's Little Girls'' is a 2007 American film written and directed by Tyler Perry and produced by Perry and Reuben Cannon. The film stars Idris Elba, Gabrielle Union, Louis Gossett Jr., and Tracee Ellis Ross. It tells the story of a lawyer who ...

. That year, he provided the voice of

Lucius Fox Lucius Fox is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Bruce Wayne / Batman. He is Bruce Wayne's business manager at Wayne Enterprises who runs the business interests that s ...

in ''

The Batman Batman is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman or The Batman may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media Characters * Batman (Terry McGinnis) * Batman (Thomas Wayne) * Batman (Earth-Two) * Bat ...

'' animated series.' In 2008, he filmed the "Keep It Real" series of commercials for the

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

n lager

Windhoek Windhoek (, , ) is the capital and largest city of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level, almost exactly at the country's geographical centre. The population of Windhoek in 20 ...

. In 2009, Gossett also lent his voice talents in the Thomas Nelson audio Bible production known as ''The Word of Promise''. In this dramatized audio, Gossett played the character of

John the Apostle John the Apostle ( grc, Ἰωάννης; la, Ioannes ; Ge'ez: ዮሐንስ;) or Saint John the Beloved was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Generally listed as the youngest apostle, he was the son of Zebedee a ...

. The project also featured a large ensemble of well known Hollywood actors including

Jim Caviezel James Patrick Caviezel Jr. (; born September 26, 1968) is an American film and television actor who played Jesus Christ in ''The Passion of the Christ'' (2004) and starred as John Reese on the CBS series ''Person of Interest'' (2011–2016). He ...

, John Rhys-Davies, Jon Voight, Gary Sinise,

Jason Alexander Jay Scott Greenspan (born September 23, 1959), known professionally as Jason Alexander, is an American actor, comedian, host and director. An Emmy and Tony winner, he is best known for his role as George Costanza in the television series '' Se ...

Christopher McDonald Christopher McDonald (born February 15, 1955) is an American film, television, theatre and voice actor. McDonald is best known for playing the villainous professional golfer Shooter McGavin in the 1996 comedy ''Happy Gilmore''. Other notable ...

, Marisa Tomei and John Schneider. In 2011, Gossett acted in film ''

The Grace Card ''The Grace Card'' is a 2010 Christian drama film directed by David G. Evans. The film stars Louis Gossett Jr., Michael Higgenbottom and Michael Joiner. It was released on February 25, 2011, to 363 theaters, grossing $1 million in its opening wee ...

''. In 2013, Gossett starred in the controversial drama ''

Boiling Pot ''Boiling Pot'' is a 2015 American drama film directed by Omar Ashmawey and starring Louis Gossett Jr., Danielle Fishel, and Keith David. Premise On an American college campus, ideas that have been long neglected emerge as racial tension grows be ...

'', which is based on true events of racism that occurred on college campuses across the US during the 2008 Presidential election. The film, written and directed by the Ashmawey brothers under AshmaweyFilms, also stars Danielle Fishel, Keith David,

M. Emmet Walsh Michael Emmet Walsh (born March 22, 1935) is an American actor who has appeared in over 200 films and television series, including small but important supporting roles in dozens of major studio features of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in ''Bl ...

, and John Heard. Gossett plays a detective attempting to decipher a murder case that was fueled by racism, all while putting aside his own prejudices. ''Boiling Pot'' was released in 2014. Gossett returned to television in the CBS All Access series, ''

The Good Fight ''The Good Fight'' is an American legal drama produced for CBS's streaming service CBS All Access (later Paramount+). It is the platform's first original scripted series. The series, created by Robert King, Michelle King, and Phil Alden Robin ...

'', guest starring as founding partner Carl Reddick of Diane Lockhart's new firm. He narrated an audiobook based on '' Twelve Years a Slave''. Also that year, he acted in ''Havre de grace'' an episode of ''

''. In 2015, Gossett acted in the miniseries ''The Book of Negroes''. In 2019, Gossett acted in the series ''Watchmen''. At the Emmy Awards, he was nominated for "Outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie", and at the Black Reel Awards he received a nomination for "Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series". On July 18, 2016, Gossett cohosted as a guest programmer on

Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie channel, movie-oriented pay television, pay-TV television network, network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasti ...

' primetime lineup. Allowed to choose four movies to air, he selected ''

Blackboard Jungle ''Blackboard Jungle'' is a 1955 American social drama film about an English teacher in an interracial inner-city school, based on the 1954 novel ''The Blackboard Jungle'' by Evan Hunter and adapted for the screen and directed by Richard Brooks. I ...

,'' ''

Lifeboat Lifeboat may refer to: Rescue vessels * Lifeboat (shipboard), a small craft aboard a ship to allow for emergency escape * Lifeboat (rescue), a boat designed for sea rescues * Airborne lifeboat, an air-dropped boat used to save downed airmen A ...

,'' '' Touch of Evil'' and '' The Night of the Hunter.'' In 2021, Gossett appears in the film Not To Forget (2021), which aims to raise awareness and funds for the fight against Alzheimer’s. The movie, directed by Valerio Zanoli, stars

Karen Grassle Karen Grassle ( ; born February 25, 1942) is an American actress, known for her role as Caroline Ingalls in the NBC television drama series ''Little House on the Prairie''. Early life Karen Grassle was born in Berkeley, California to Frae Ella ...

and 5 Academy Award winners: Louis Gossett Jr., Cloris Leachman,

Tatum O’Neal Tatum Beatrice O'Neal (born November 5, 1963) is an American actress. She is the List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees, youngest person ever to win an Academy Awards, Academy Award, winning at age 10 for her performance ...

George Chakiris George Chakiris (born September 16, 1932) is an American actor. He is best known for his appearance in the 1961 film version of ''West Side Story'' as Bernardo Nunez, the leader of the Sharks gang, for which he won both the Academy Award for Bes ...

, and

Olympia Dukakis Olympia Dukakis (June 20, 1931 – May 1, 2021) was an American actress. She performed in more than 130 stage productions, more than 60 films and in 50 television series. Best known as a screen actress, she started her career in theater. Not lon ...

. In 2022, Gossett was cast in a supporting role for the upcoming American horror film, ''Awaken the Reaper''. The film also features performances by Lance Henriksen and

Robin Curtis Robin Curtis (born in New York Mills, New York) is an American actress. She is best known for replacing Kirstie Alley in the role of Vulcan Lieutenant Saavik in the films '' Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'' and '' Star Trek IV: The Voyage ...

. Awaken the Reaper is directed by

Justin Paul Justin Paul (born January 3, 1985) is an American theater and television composer and lyricist best known for his works ''The Greatest Showman'', ''La La Land'' and ''Dear Evan Hansen'', all of which he co-wrote with his songwriting partner, Ben ...

and

Dave Campfield Dave Campfield is an American film director, Film producer, producer, screenwriter and actor. His productions include the comedy-horror film series Caesar and Otto (2009-2015). Several of his films are considered cult films. Life Campfield is t ...

. The film is produced by Fourth Horizon Cinema, Impact Media Studios and Design Weapons.

Personal life

Gossett has been married three times and fathered one son and adopted one son. His first marriage was to Hattie Glascoe; it was annulled. His second, to Christina Mangosing, took place on August 21, 1973. Their son Satie was born in 1974. Gossett and Mangosing divorced in 1975. His third marriage, to '' Star Search'' champion Cyndi James-Reese, took place on December 25, 1987. They adopted a son, Sharron (born 1977). Gossett and James-Reese divorced in 1992. Louis is the first cousin of actor

Robert Gossett Robert Gossett (born March 3, 1954) is an American actor. Gossett is the first cousin of actor Louis Gossett Jr. and is best known for his role of Commander Russell Taylor on the TNT crime drama, ''The Closer'' and on its successor series '' Maj ...

who starred on TNT's ''

The Closer ''The Closer'' is an Television in the United States, American television police procedural starring Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Los Angeles Police Department Chief of police#United States, deputy chief. A CIA-trained interrogator o ...

''. Gossett states that in 1966 he was handcuffed to a tree for three hours by the police in Beverly Hills. On February 9, 2010, Gossett announced that he had

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that sur ...

. He added the disease was caught in its early stages, and he expected to make a full recovery. In late December 2020, Gossett was hospitalized in Georgia with

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

Filmography

Partial accolades

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

Black Reel Awards

CableACE Award

References

External links

* * * * * *
Image of Richard Pryor and Lou Gossett backstage, 1978.

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections,

Charles E. Young Research Library The Charles E. Young Research Library is one of the largest libraries on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Westwood, Los Angeles, California. It initially opened in 1964, and a second phase of construction was completed ...

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Gossett, Louis 1936 births 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) alumni African-American male actors African-American television producers American male film actors American male television actors American male voice actors Audiobook narrators Television producers from New York City Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winners Daytime Emmy Award winners Emmy Award winners Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (television) winners Living people Male actors from New York City New York University alumni People from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn Film producers from New York (state) 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people B.T. Puppy Records artists Warner Records artists African-American guitarists 20th-century African-American male singers 21st-century African-American male singers African-American male singer-songwriters American folk singers