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 ...
, 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
''Take a Giant Step'' is a 1959 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Philip Leacock.
The plot concerns a black teenager living in a predominantly white environment and having trouble coping as he reaches an age at which the realities of ...
.'' Gossett would go on acting on stage. One of these plays was ''
A Raisin in the Sun
''A Raisin in the Sun'' is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred") by Langston Hughes. The story tells of a black family's experiences in south Chi ...
'' 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'', he won the
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, 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.'' (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
''Touched by an Angel'' is an American fantasy drama television series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994, and ran for 211 episodes over nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and executive produced ...
'' (1997), and
''Watchmen'' (2019). He won and was nominated at other ceremonies including the
Golden Globe Awards,
Black Reel Awards
The Black Reel Awards, or BRAs, is an annual American awards ceremony hosted by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF) to recognize excellence of African Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the Afr ...
,
NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Similar to ...
, etc. Gossett is also well known for his role as Colonel Chappy Sinclair in the ''
Iron Eagle
''Iron Eagle'' is a 1986 action film directed by Sidney J. Furie who co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Alyn Elders, and starring Jason Gedrick and Louis Gossett Jr.Mann, Roderick"Sidney Furie leads the cheer for 'Iron Eagle'."''Los Angeles Ti ...
'' film series (1986-1995).
Since his beginnings, Gossett appeared in a wide range of project. Film projects include
Hal Ashby
William Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was an American film director and editor associated with the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking.
Before his career as a director Ashby edited films for Norman Jewison, notably ''The R ...
'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's ''
Skin Game
''Skin Game'' is a 1971 American independent comedy western directed by Paul Bogart and Gordon Douglas, and starring James Garner and Lou Gossett. The supporting cast features Susan Clark, Edward Asner, Andrew Duggan, Parley Baer and R ...
'' (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 ...
'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'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
''The White Dawn'' is a 1974 Canadian-American drama film directed by Philip Kaufman and starring Warren Oates, Timothy Bottoms, and Louis Gossett Jr. It portrays the conflict between aboriginal peoples' traditional way of life and Europeans' e ...
'' (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
Wolfgang Petersen (14 March 1941 – 12 August 2022) was a German film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for the World War II submarine warfare film '' Das Boot'' (1981). His other films include '' The ...
's ''
Enemy Mine'' (1985),
Christopher Cain
Christopher Cain (born October 29, 1943) is an American director, screenwriter, and producer.
Cain was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1969, he married Sharon Thomas, and adopted her two sons, Roger and Dean. The couple's daughter Krisin ...
's ''
The Principal
''The Principal'' is a 1987 crime thriller action film starring Jim Belushi, Louis Gossett Jr. and Rae Dawn Chong. Written by Frank Deese and directed by Christopher Cain, it was filmed in Oakland, California, and at Northgate High School in ...
'' (1987),
Mark Goldblatt
Mark Goldblatt is an Academy Award nominated American film editor and film director and president emeritus of the American Cinema Editors.
Brooklyn born Goldblatt studied at the University of Wisconsin and London Film School, where his instru ...
'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 ...
'' (1991), etc. As well as television appearance in ''
Bonanza'' (1971), ''
The Jeffersons
''The Jeffersons'' is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. ''The Jeffersons'' is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history, ...
'' (1975), ''
American Playhouse
''American Playhouse'' is an American anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
Overview
It premiered on January 12, 1982, with ''The Shady Hill Kidnapping'', written and narrated by John Cheever an ...
'' (1990), ''
Stargate SG-1
''Stargate SG-1'' (often stylized in all caps, or abbreviated ''SG-1'') is a military science fiction Adventure fiction, adventure television series within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate, ''Stargate'' franchise. The show, created by Brad Wrigh ...
'' (2005), ''
Boardwalk Empire'' (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
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 ...
, 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
''Take a Giant Step'' is a 1959 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Philip Leacock.
The plot concerns a black teenager living in a predominantly white environment and having trouble coping as he reaches an age at which the realities of ...
.'' 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
''A Raisin in the Sun'' is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred") by Langston Hughes. The story tells of a black family's experiences in south Chi ...
.''
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' ...
,
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Louise Tyson (December 19, 1924January 28, 2021) was an American actress. In a career which spanned more than seven decades in film, television and theatre, she became known for her portrayal of strong African-American women. Tyson recei ...
,
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 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 lif ...
.
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 Pa ...
" was released.
In 1965, Gossett appeared in the musical play ''
The Zulu and the Zayda'' on Broadway as Paulus with music and lyrics by
Harold J. Rome. 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" was released appearing on
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 ...
'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-style song. Inspired lyrically by the traditional Cossack folk song "Koloda-Duda", Pete Seeger borrowed an Irish melody and the first three verses in 1955 and published it in ''Sing Out!'' maga ...
" 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
Stuart Rosenberg'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 ''
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 ...
'' directed by
Hal Ashby
William Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was an American film director and editor associated with the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking.
Before his career as a director Ashby edited films for Norman Jewison, notably ''The R ...
.
In 1971, Gossett acted in
Paul Bogart's ''
Skin Game
''Skin Game'' is a 1971 American independent comedy western directed by Paul Bogart and Gordon Douglas, and starring James Garner and Lou Gossett. The supporting cast features Susan Clark, Edward Asner, Andrew Duggan, Parley Baer and R ...
''. That year Gossett, was cast in a film adaptation of the novel ''
Finding Maubee'', however the project went dormant, and was released as
''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 ''
Bonanza'' episode.
In 1972, Gossett acted in
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 ...
's
''Travels with My Aunt''. That he was announced to act in a starring role in
Brian De Palma
Brian Russell De Palma (born September 11, 1940) is an American film director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 50 years, he is best known for his work in the suspense, crime and psychological thriller genres. De Palma was a leading ...
's
''Sisters'', but had to withdraw due to scheduling conflict, and to play a gang leader in
Barry Shear
Barry Shear (March 23, 1923 in New York City – June 13, 1979 in Los Angeles) was an American film and television director and producer.
Career
Television career
Shear began directing for television in the 1950s for the DuMont Television Net ...
's ''
Across 110th Street
''Across 110th Street'' is a 1972 American action-crime film directed by Barry Shear and starring Yaphet Kotto, Anthony Quinn, Anthony Franciosa and Paul Benjamin. The film is set in Harlem, New York and takes its name from 110th Street, the ...
'', but he is not in the finished product.
In 1973, Gossett acted in
Stuart Rosenberg's
''The Laughing Policeman''.
In 1974, Gossett acted in
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
''The White Dawn'' is a 1974 Canadian-American drama film directed by Philip Kaufman and starring Warren Oates, Timothy Bottoms, and Louis Gossett Jr. It portrays the conflict between aboriginal peoples' traditional way of life and Europeans' e ...
''.
On November 22, 1975, Gossett acted in ''George's best friend'' and episode of ''
The Jeffersons
''The Jeffersons'' is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. ''The Jeffersons'' is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history, ...
''.
In 1976, Gossett acted in films, this includes
Arthur Marks
Arthur Ronald Marks (August 2, 1927 – November 13, 2019) was an American film and television director, writer, producer and distributor best known for his work in the blaxploitation genre, directing films such as ''Bonnie's Kids'', ''Detroit 90 ...
's ''
J. D.'s Revenge'', 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 ''
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 ...
'' based on
Alex Haley's book ''
Roots: The Saga of an American Family''. 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
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 ...
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's
''The Choirboys'', and
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''.
1978 to 1997: subsequent success
On March 2, 1978, the television special ''The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots'' premiered. Actor
Ben Vereen
Benjamin Augustus Vereen (born October 10, 1946) is an American actor, dancer and singer. Vereen gained prominence for his performances in the original Broadway productions of the musicals '' Jesus Christ Superstar'', for which he received a T ...
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'' (19 ...
as police detective.
On the 28th of January, 1979, the mini-series ''
Backstairs at the White House
''Backstairs at the White House'' is a 1979 NBC television miniseries based on the 1961 book ''My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House'' by Lillian Rogers Parks (with Frances Spatz Leighton). The series, produced by Ed Friendly Productions, ...
'' premiered. It is an adaption of the book ''
My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House
''My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House'' is a 1961 autobiographical novel by Lillian Rogers Parks written with Frances Spatz Leighton. The title of the memoir was based on Parks' recollections of thirty years as a seamstress in the Whit ...
,'' 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 ''
Palmerstown, U.S.A.''. 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
''The Powers of Matthew Star'' is an American sci-fi television series that aired on NBC on Friday evenings from September 17, 1982 until April 8, 1983. It starred Peter Barton as the title character, the alien prince Matthew "E'Hawke" Star of ...
'' which lasted until 1983.
That same year ''
An Officer and a Gentleman'', His role as drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film ''An Officer and a Gentleman'' won him an
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. 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
Golden Globe Awards,
and "Outstanding actor in a motion picture"
NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Similar to ...
.
In 1983, he played the title role in ''
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 ...
'', 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
Joseph Manuel Alves (born May 21, 1936) is an American film production designer, perhaps best known for his work on ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' and the first three films of the ''Jaws'' franchise. He directed the third installment ''Ja ...
's ''
Jaws 3-D
''Jaws 3-D'' (titled ''Jaws III'' in its 2-D form) is a 1983 American thriller film directed by Joe Alves and starring Dennis Quaid, Bess Armstrong, Lea Thompson and Louis Gossett Jr. It is the second sequel to Steven Spielberg's '' Jaws'' and t ...
.''
In 1984 Gossett acted in
Richard Lester
Richard Lester Liebman (born January 19, 1932) is an American retired film director based in the United Kingdom.
He is best known for directing the Beatles' films '' A Hard Day's Night'' (1964) and '' Help!'' (1965), and the superhero films ' ...
's
''Finders Keepers''.
In 1985, Gossett co-starred with
Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor known for a wide variety of dramatic and comedic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the late 1970s, some of his notable credits include '' Breaking Away'' (1979), '' The ...
in
Wolfgang Petersen
Wolfgang Petersen (14 March 1941 – 12 August 2022) was a German film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for the World War II submarine warfare film '' Das Boot'' (1981). His other films include '' The ...
's ''
Enemy Mine''.
On January 17, 1986,
Sidney J. Furie's ''
Iron Eagle
''Iron Eagle'' is a 1986 action film directed by Sidney J. Furie who co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Alyn Elders, and starring Jason Gedrick and Louis Gossett Jr.Mann, Roderick"Sidney Furie leads the cheer for 'Iron Eagle'."''Los Angeles Ti ...
'' 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
John Lee Thompson (1 August 1914 – 30 August 2002) was a British film director, active in London and Hollywood, best known for award-winning films such as ''Woman in a Dressing Gown'', ''Ice Cold in Alex'' and '' The Guns of Navarone'' along w ...
's
''Firewalker''.
In 1987, Gossett acted in
Volker Schlöndorff
Volker Schlöndorff (; born 31 March 1939 Friday) is a German film director, screenwriter and producer who has worked in Germany, France and the United States. He was a prominent member of the New German Cinema of the late 1960s and early 1970s, ...
'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,
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
Christopher Cain (born October 29, 1943) is an American director, screenwriter, and producer.
Cain was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1969, he married Sharon Thomas, and adopted her two sons, Roger and Dean. The couple's daughter Krisin ...
's ''
The Principal
''The Principal'' is a 1987 crime thriller action film starring Jim Belushi, Louis Gossett Jr. and Rae Dawn Chong. Written by Frank Deese and directed by Christopher Cain, it was filmed in Oakland, California, and at Northgate High School in ...
''.
![LouisGossettJr](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/LouisGossettJr..jpg)
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 ...
''
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 ...
,'' with
Dolph Lundgren
Hans Lundgren (, ; born 3 November 1957), better known as Dolph Lundgren, is a Swedish actor, filmmaker and martial artist. His breakthrough came in 1985, when he starred in '' Rocky IV'' as the imposing Soviet boxer Ivan Drago. Since then, Lu ...
in the title role. The film was directed by
Mark Goldblatt
Mark Goldblatt is an Academy Award nominated American film editor and film director and president emeritus of the American Cinema Editors.
Brooklyn born Goldblatt studied at the University of Wisconsin and London Film School, where his instru ...
, with a screenplay by
Boaz Yakin
Boaz Yakin ( he, בועז יכין, born June 20, 1966) is an Israeli-American screenwriter, film director, and producer based in New York City. He has written screenplays to films like ''The Rookie'', ''Fresh'', ''A Price Above Rubies'', '' ...
. ''The Punisher'' was filmed in Sydney, Australia and also featured
Jeroen Krabbé,
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
Barry Otto (born 1941) is an Australian actor, primarily of cinema, and an amateur artist.
Early life
Barry Otto was born in Brisbane in 1941, the son of a butcher. He trained as an artist but switched to acting.
Career
Otto received an AACTA ...
.
On February 14, 1990, Gossett acted in ''Zora is my name!'' an episode of ''
American Playhouse
''American Playhouse'' is an American anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
Overview
It premiered on January 12, 1982, with ''The Shady Hill Kidnapping'', written and narrated by John Cheever an ...
''.
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 produ ...
's ''Cover Up,'' and
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''. 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 ...
''. 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 h ...
and
Nina Rosenblum'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
''Diggstown'' (known as ''Midnight Sting'' in the UK), is a 1992 American sports comedy-drama film directed by Michael Ritchie and written by Steven McKay, based on the 1978 novel ''The Diggstown Ringers'' by Leonard Wise. It stars James Woods ...
''.
In 1994, Gossett acted in
Bruce Beresford
Bruce Beresford (; born 16 August 1940) is an Australian film director who has made more than 30 feature films over a 50-year career, both locally and internationally in the United States.
Beresford's notable films he has directed include '' B ...
'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 Gos ...
''.
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
Arthur Hiller Penn (September 27, 1922 – September 28, 2010)
was an American director and producer of film, television and theater. Closely associated with the American New Wave, Penn directed critically acclaimed films throughout the 19 ...
'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
The CableACE Award (earlier known as the ACE Awards; ACE was an acronym for "Award for Cable Excellence") is a defunct award that was given by what was then the National Cable Television Association from 1978 to 1997 to honor excellence in Am ...
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
''Touched by an Angel'' is an American fantasy drama television series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994, and ran for 211 episodes over nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and executive produced ...
'' 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
''Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy'', or simply ''Bram Stoker's The Mummy'', is a 1998 American fantasy horror film based on Bram Stoker's 1903 novel ''The Jewel of Seven Stars''. Directed by Jeffrey Obrow, it features an ensemble cast that inc ...
''.
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
''Half-Life 2'' is a 2004 first-person shooter game developed by Valve Corporation, Valve. It was published by Valve through its distribution service Steam (service), Steam. Like the original ''Half-Life (video game), Half-Life'' (1998), ''Half- ...
.''
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 S ...
in several episodes of Season 9 of the sci-fi television series ''
Stargate SG-1
''Stargate SG-1'' (often stylized in all caps, or abbreviated ''SG-1'') is a military science fiction Adventure fiction, adventure television series within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate, ''Stargate'' franchise. The show, created by Brad Wrigh ...
.''
In 2007, he acted in
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr., September 13, 1969) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and playwright. He is the creator and performer of the Madea character, a tough elderly woman. Perry's films vary in style from orthodox filmmak ...
'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 in ''The Batman (TV series), The Batman'' animated series.'
In 2008, he filmed the "Keep It Real" series of commercials for the Namibian lager Windhoek.
In 2009, Gossett also lent his voice talents in the Thomas Nelson (publisher), Thomas Nelson audio Bible production known as ''The Word of Promise''. In this dramatized audio, Gossett played the character of John the Apostle. The project also featured a large ensemble of well known Hollywood actors including Jim Caviezel, John Rhys-Davies, Jon Voight, Gary Sinise, Jason Alexander, Christopher McDonald, Marisa Tomei and John Schneider (screen actor), John Schneider.
In 2011, Gossett acted in film ''The Grace Card''.
In 2013, Gossett starred in the controversial drama ''Boiling Pot'', 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, and John Heard (actor), 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'', 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 ''
Boardwalk Empire''.
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
The Black Reel Awards, or BRAs, is an annual American awards ceremony hosted by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF) to recognize excellence of African Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the Afr ...
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' primetime lineup. Allowed to choose four movies to air, he selected ''Blackboard Jungle,'' ''Lifeboat (1944 film), Lifeboat,'' ''Touch of Evil'' and ''The Night of the Hunter (film), 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 and 5 Academy Award winners: Louis Gossett Jr., Cloris Leachman, Tatum O'Neal, Tatum O’Neal, George Chakiris, and Olympia Dukakis.
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. Awaken the Reaper is directed by Justin Paul (artist), Justin Paul and Dave Campfield. The film is produced by Fourth Horizon Cinema, Impact Media Studios and Design Weapons.
Personal life
![Louis Gossett Jr](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Louis_Gossett_Jr.jpg)
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 who starred on TNT's ''The Closer''.
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. 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 (U.S. state), Georgia with COVID-19.
Filmography
Partial accolades
Academy Awards
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
Black Reel Awards
The Black Reel Awards, or BRAs, is an annual American awards ceremony hosted by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF) to recognize excellence of African Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the Afr ...
CableACE Award
The CableACE Award (earlier known as the ACE Awards; ACE was an acronym for "Award for Cable Excellence") is a defunct award that was given by what was then the National Cable Television Association from 1978 to 1997 to honor excellence in Am ...
References
External links
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Image of Richard Pryor and Lou Gossett backstage, 1978.Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
{{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