| Louis Gossett, Jr. | |
|---|---|
Movie Theme Awards |
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| Born | Louis Gossett, Jr. May 27, 1936 Brooklyn, New York, United States Of America |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1936–present |
| Spouse | Unknown (1967–1968; annulled) Unknown (1973–1975) Unknown (1987–1992) |
Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. (born May 27, 1936) is an American actor best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman and Fiddler in the 1970s television miniseries Roots. Gossett has also starred in numerous film productions including The Deep, Jaws 3-D (as SeaWorld manager Calvin Bouchard), Wolfgang Peterson's Enemy Mine, the Iron Eagle series, Toy Soldiers and The Punisher. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards in an acting career that spans over five decades.[1]
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Gossett, Jr. was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, to Hellen Rebecca (née Wray), a nurse, and Louis Gossett, Sr., a porter.[2] 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.
After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1954, he attended New York University, declining an athletic scholarship.[3] Standing 6'4" (1.93 m), he was offered the opportunity to play varsity basketball during his college years at NYU, which he declined to concentrate on theater. His high school teacher had encouraged him to audition for a Broadway part, which resulted in his selection for a starring role on Broadway in 1953 from among 200 other actors well before he entered NYU.
Gossett made Broadway history in 1953 when he appeared as a star in Take a Giant Step, which was selected by The New York Times 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.
Gossett stepped into the world of cinema in the Sidney Poitier vehicle A Raisin in the Sun in 1961. His role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman (opposite Richard Gere) showcased his talent and won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was the first African-American male to win an Oscar in a supporting role, the second black male to win for acting, and the third African-American actor to win overall. His win ended a 19-year Oscar drought for African-Americans, the second longest in the Academy's history since Hattie McDaniel's 1939 win for her supporting role in Gone with the Wind.
In 1986, Gossett starred in another role as a military man in the film Iron Eagle. It was followed by three sequels.
Gossett's Broadway theatre credits include A Raisin in the Sun (1959), Golden Boy (1964), and Chicago (2002).
He also has performed in other media, including television productions. His Emmy Award-winning role of Fiddler in the 1977 groundbreaking television miniseries Roots first brought Gossett to the audience's attention. In 1983, he was cast in the title role in Sadat, a miniseries which chronicled the life and assassination of Anwar Sadat. While filming An Officer and a Gentleman, Gossett was also starring in the 1982–1983 science fiction series, The Powers of Matthew Star. He plays the role of fictional U.S. President Gerald Fitzhugh in the movie Left Behind: World at War.
Gossett is the voice of the Vortigaunts in the video game Half-Life 2 (but he did not reprise the role in Half-Life 2: Episode Two) and is the Free Jaffa Leader Gerak in Season 9 of the sci-fi television series Stargate SG-1. He provides the voice of Lucius Fox in The Batman animated series. He recorded several commercials for a Nashville-based diabetic company, AmMed Direct, LLC. In 2008 he filmed the "Keep It Real" series of commercials for the Namibian lager Windhoek.[4]
In 1997, Gossett presented When Animals Attack! 4, a one hour special on Fox. Gossett also co-wrote the antiwar folk song "Handsome Johnny" with Richie Havens.
Gossett portrayed John in the Word of Promise audio bible.
In 2007, Gossett, Jr., was the honored guest and keynote speaker for the alumni hall of fame gala benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, St. Petersburg, Florida. Gossett has appeared every year supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He is an alumnus himself and has continued to work for and with the organization.
Gossett, Jr., also serves on an honorary board for The National World War I Museum in Kansas City.
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.[5].
Louis is cousin to TV actor Robert Gossett who stars on TNT's The Closer.[6]
On February 9, 2010, Gossett announced that he is suffering from prostate cancer. He added the disease was caught in its early stages, and expects to make a full recovery.[7]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | A Raisin in the Sun | George Murchison | |
| 1969 | The Bushbaby | Tembo | |
| 1970 | Leo the Last | Roscoe | |
| 1970 | The Landlord | Copee | |
| 1971 | Skin Game | Jason O'Rourke | |
| 1972 | Travels with My Aunt | Zachary/'Wordsworth' | |
| 1973 | The Fuzz Brothers | Francis Fuzz | |
| 1973 | The Laughing Policeman | Insp. James Larrimore SFPD | |
| 1974 | The White Dawn | Portagee | |
| 1976 | The River Niger | Dr. Dudley Stanton | |
| 1976 | J. D.'s Revenge | Rev. Elija Bliss | |
| 1977 | The Deep | Henri Cloche | |
| 1977 | The Choirboys | Calvin Motts | |
| 1980 | It Rained All Night the Day I Left | Leo Garcia | |
| 1982 | An Officer and a Gentleman | Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture |
| 1983 | Jaws 3-D | Calvin Bouchard | Nominated — Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor |
| 1984 | Finders Keepers | Century | |
| 1985 | Enemy Mine | Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan | Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actor |
| 1986 | Iron Eagle | Chappy Sinclair | |
| 1986 | Firewalker | Leo Porter | |
| 1987 | The Principal | Jake Phillips | |
| 1988 | Iron Eagle II | Chappy Sinclair | |
| 1989 | The Punisher | Jake Berkowitz | |
| 1991 | Cover Up | Lou Jackson | |
| 1991 | Toy Soldiers | Dean Parker | |
| 1992 | Aces: Iron Eagle III | Chappy Sinclair | |
| 1992 | Diggstown | 'Honey' Roy Palmer | |
| 1993 | Monolith | Capt. MacCandless | |
| 1993 | Flashfire | Ben Durand | |
| 1994 | Blue Chips | Father Dawkins | |
| 1994 | A Good Man in Africa | Prof. Sam Adekunle | |
| 1994 | Curse of the Starving Class | Ellis | |
| 1995 | Iron Eagle on the Attack | Chappy Sinclair | |
| 1996 | Managua | Paul | |
| 1997 | The Wall That Heals | Narrator | |
| 1997 | Legend of the Mummy | Corbeck | |
| 1999 | Y2K | Morgan | |
| 2000 | The Highwayman | Phil Bishop | |
| 2002 | Deceived | Col. David Garrett | Direct-to-video release |
| 2005 | Window | Ralph Stanley | |
| 2005 | Left Behind: World at War | President Gerald Fitzhugh | |
| 2006 | All In | Caps | |
| 2006 | Club Soda | Doc | |
| 2007 | Daddy's Little Girls | Willie | |
| 2007 | Cover | Det. Hicks | |
| 2008 | The B.A.M.N. Squad | TBA | awaiting release |
| 2008 | The Perfect Game | Cool Papa Bell | awaiting release |
| 2008 | Delgo | Zahn | voice only |
| 2009 | Dog Jack | Grown up Jed | |
| 2009 | Shannon's Rainbow | Max | |
| 2009 | The Least Among You | Samuel Benton | |
| 2010 | Smitty | Mr. Smith | |
| 2010 | Why Did I Get Married Too? | Porter | |
| 2011 | The Grace Card | George Wright | |
| 2011 | A Fonder Heart | Glen |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | The Big Story | Jamie Goodwin | Episode: "The Stubbornest Man" |
| 1962 | The Nurses | William Taylor | Episode: "The Prisoner" |
| 1967–68 | Cowboy in Africa | Fulah Hemera |
Episode: "Fang and Claw" Episode: "The Quiet Death" |
| 1968 | The Invaders | Ollie | Episode: "The Vise" |
| 1968 | Daktari | Mkono | Episode: "Adam and Jenny" |
| 1968 | Companions in Nightmare | Lt. Adam McKay | NBC television film |
| 1968 | The Mod Squad | Sgt William Smith (Smithy) | Episode: "When Smitty Comes Marching Home" |
| 1970 | The Bill Cosby Show | Hurricane Smith | Episode: "The Return of Big Bad Bubba Bronson" |
| 1970–71 | The Young Rebels | Isak Poole | |
| 1971 | Big Fish, Little Fish | ||
| 1971 | The Partridge Family | Sam | Episode: "Soul Club" |
| 1971 | Bonanza | Buck Walter | Episode: "The Desperado" |
| 1971 | Longstreet | Sergeant Cory | Episode: "The Way of the Intercepting Fist" |
| 1971 | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Dr. Karnes | Episode: "One Lonely Step" |
| 1971 | Alias Smith and Jones | Joe Sims | Episode: "The Bounty Hunter" |
| 1971 | Cade's County | Episode: "The Alien Land" | |
| 1972 | Insight | Episode: "The Man from Inner Space" | |
| 1972 | The Living End | Doug Newman | CBS television pilot |
| 1972 | The Rookies | Toby Jones | Episode: "Covenant with Death" |
| 1972 | Love, American Style | Segment: "Love and the Christmas Punch..." | |
| 1968–1969 1972 |
The Mod Squad | Smitty Lloyd Charley Jameson |
Episode: "When Smitty Comes Marching Home" Episode: "The Uptight Town" Episode: "Can You Hear Me Out There?" |
| 1973 | Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law | Episode: "An Often and Familiar Ghost" | |
| 1974 | It's Good to Be Alive | Sam Brockington | CBS television film |
| 1974 | Sidekicks | Jason O'Rourke | TV remake of Gossett's 1971 Skin Game CBS television film |
| 1974 | The White Dawn | Portagee | ABC television film |
| 1974 | McCloud | Dewey Justin | Episode: Shivaree on Delancy Street |
| 1974–75 | Petrocelli | D.A. Kurt Olson | Episode: "A Very Lonely Lady" and "A Fallen Idol" |
| 1974–75 | Good Times | Donald Knight Uncle Wilbert |
Episode: "Thelma's Young Man" Episode: "Michael's Big Fall" |
| 1975 | Lucas Tanner | Bobby Koball | Episode: "Bonus Baby" |
| 1975 | Black Bart | Black Bart | CBS television film |
| 1975 | Delancey Street: The Crisis Within | Otis James | NBC television film |
| 1975 | Caribe | David Wallace | Episode: "The Assassin" |
| 1975 | Harry O | Cleon Jackson | Episode: "Shades" |
| 1975 | The Jeffersons | Wendell Brown | Episode: "George's Best Friend" |
| 1975 | The Six Million Dollar Man | O'Flaherty | Episode: "Clark Templeton O'Flaherty" |
| 1975–76 | Police Story | Freddie Virgil Barnes |
Episode: "The Cut Man Caper" Episode: "50 Cents-First Half Hour, $1.75 All Day" |
| 1976 | Little House on the Prairie | Henry Hill | Episode: "The Long Road Home" |
| 1976–77 | The Rockford Files | Marcus 'Gabby' Hayes | Episode: "Foul on the First Play" and "Just Another Polish Wedding" |
| 1977 | Little Ladies of the Night | Russ Garfield | ABC television film |
| 1977 | Roots | Fiddler | ABC miniseries Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series TV Land Award |
| 1977 | Visions | Rex | Episode: "Freeman" |
| 1978 | The Lazarus Syndrome | Dr. MacArthur St. Clair | ABC television film |
| 1978 | The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | |
| 1978 | To Kill a Cop | Everett Walker | Uncredited Role NBC television film |
| 1978 | The Critical List | Lem Harper | NBC television film |
| 1979 | Backstairs at the White House | Levi Mercer | NBC miniseries Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special |
| 1979 | Lawman Without a Gun | Tom Hayward | NBC television film |
| 1979 | The Lazarus Syndrome | Dr. MacArthur St. Clair | |
| 1980 | Palmerstown, USA | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | |
| 1981 | Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige | Leroy 'Satchel' Paige | ABC television film |
| 1982 | American Playhouse | Episode: "Zora Is My Name!" | |
| 1982 | Benny's Place | Benny Moore | ABC television film |
| 1982 | Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode: Louis Gossett Jr/George Thorogood & The Destroyers |
| 1982–83 | The Powers of Matthew Star | Walter 'Walt' Shepherd/D'Hai | |
| 1983 | Sadat | Anwar al-Sadat | Television film Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1984 | The Guardian | John Mack | Nominated — CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Movie or Miniseries HBO television film |
| 1987 | A Gathering of Old Men | Mathu | CBS television film Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1987 | The Father Clements Story | Father Clements | NBC television film |
| 1988 | Sam Found Out: A Triple Play | ABC television film | |
| 1988 | Goodbye, Miss 4th of July | Big John Creed | Disney Channel television film |
| 1988 | Roots: The Gift | Fiddler | ABC television film |
| 1989 | Gideon Oliver | Gideon Oliver | |
| 1990 | El Diablo | Van Leek | HBO television film |
| 1990 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Commander Clash | Voice Role |
| 1990 | Sudie and Simpson | Simpson | Television film |
| 1991 | The Josephine Baker Story | Sidney Williams | HBO television film Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1991 | Carolina Skeletons | James Bragg | NBC television film |
| 1991 | Keeper of the City | Det. James Dela | Television film |
| 1993 | Story of a People | Host | Miniseries |
| 1993 | Father & Son: Dangerous Relations | NBC television film | |
| 1993 | Return to Lonesome Dove | Isom Pickett | Miniseries |
| 1994 | Picket Fences | Rick Jennings | Episode: "Terms of Estrangement" |
| 1994 | Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice | Ray Alexander | NBC television film |
| 1995 | A Father for Charlie | Walter Osgood | |
| 1995 | Zooman | Rueben Tate | |
| 1995 | Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder | Ray Alexander | |
| 1996 | Captive Heart: The James Mink Story | James Mink | Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Television film |
| 1996 | Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story | Bob Kersee | Television film |
| 1996 | Inside | Questioner | Television film |
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel | Anderson Walker | Episode: "Amazing Grace" NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series |
| 1997 | To Dance with Olivia | Daniel Stewart | CBS television film |
| 1997 | In His Father's Shoes | Frank Crosby/Richard | Showtime television film Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special Nominated —CableACE Award for Best Children's Special - 7 and Older Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special |
| 1997 | Early Edition | Jim Matthews | Episode: "The Medal" |
| 1997 | Ellen | Sgt. Timko | Episode: "G.I. Ellen" |
| 1998 | The Inspectors | Inspector Frank Hughes | Showtime television film |
| 1999 | Love Songs | Reuben | Segment: "A Love Song for Dad"; Showtime television film Black Reel Award for Best Director: T.V. Movie/Cable Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Actor: T.V. Movie/Cable |
| 1999 | Strange Justice | Vernon Jordan | Showtime television film |
| 2000 | Dr. Lucille | David Mulera | Television film |
| 2000 | The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence | Inspector Frank Hughes | Showtime television film |
| 2000 | The Color of Love: Jacey's Story | Lou Hastings | CBS television film Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2001 | For Love of Olivia | Daniel Stewart | CBS television film |
| 2002 | Opening Ceremony Salt Lake Paralympic Winter Games | Narrator | Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Special |
| 2002 | What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway | Dr. Barnes | UPN television film |
| 2002 | Resurrection Blvd. | Ezekiel 'Zeke' Grant | Episode: "En Un Momento" and "Esperando Lagrimas" |
| 2003 | The Dead Zone | Pastor David Lewis | Episode: "Zion" |
| 2003 | Jasper, Texas | R.C. Horn | Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Showtime television film |
| 2003 | Momentum | Raymond Addison | SCI FI television film |
| 2004 | Half & Half | Ray Willis | Episode: "The Big Lover, My Brother Episode" and "The Big Thanks for Nothing Episode" |
| 2005 | Solar Attack | President Ryan Gordon | Direct-to-DVD Release |
| 2005 | Lackawanna Blues | Ol'lem Taylor | HBO television film |
| 2005–06 | Stargate SG-1 | Gerak | |
| 2006 | Family Guy | Sergeant Angryman | Voice Role Episode: Saving Private Brian |
| 2007 | The Batman | Lucius Fox | Voice Role |
| 2009 | ER | Leo Malcolm | Episode: "The Family Man" |
2006 Dvorak's New World: Chamber Music Plus. Louis Gossett, Jr., narrator, with Aubrey Allicock (Baritone), Sanda Schuldmann (piano), and Harry Clark (writer).[8][9]