Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Known for: Acting

Born: May 27, 1936

Died: March 29, 2024

Louis Gossett Jr. (May 27, 1936 – March 29, 2024) was an American film and television actor, best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" and as Fiddler in the television miniseries "Roots". He won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards in an acting career that spanned over five decades.

Known for

Iron Eagle III
Iron Eagle III
1992
Momentum
Momentum
2003
Iron Eagle
Iron Eagle
1986
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence
2000
Iron Eagle II
Iron Eagle II
1988
Iron Eagle on the Attack
Iron Eagle on the Attack
1995
Left Behind: World at War
Left Behind: World at War
2005
Y2K
Y2K
1999
Managua
Managua
1996
A Gathering of Old Men
A Gathering of Old Men
1987
Gridiron Gang
Gridiron Gang
1992
The Lazarus Syndrome
The Lazarus Syndrome
1979
Carolina Skeletons
Carolina Skeletons
1991
Black Bart
Black Bart
1975
Sudie and Simpson
Sudie and Simpson
1990
In His Father's Shoes
In His Father's Shoes
1997
Legend of the Mummy
Legend of the Mummy
1998
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
1993
A Father for Charlie
A Father for Charlie
1995
Sidekicks
Sidekicks
1974
The Father Clements Story
The Father Clements Story
1987
The Inspectors
The Inspectors
1998
For Love of Olivia
For Love of Olivia
2001
Miracle at Gate 213
Miracle at Gate 213
2013
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July
1988
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
1996
To Dance with Olivia
To Dance with Olivia
1997
Straight Up
1988
Lawman Without a Gun
Lawman Without a Gun
1979
Zora is My Name!
Zora is My Name!
1990
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
1994
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
1995
Keeper of the City
Keeper of the City
1991
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
1981
Zooman
Zooman
1995
Benny's Place
Benny's Place
1982
The Reason
The Reason
2020
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die
1983
The Wall That Heals
The Wall That Heals
1998
Freeman
Freeman
1977
The Principal
The Principal
1987
Skin Game
Skin Game
1971
Enemy Mine
Enemy Mine
1985
The Punisher
The Punisher
1989
Firewalker
Firewalker
1986
Solar Attack
Solar Attack
2006
J.D.'s Revenge
J.D.'s Revenge
1976
The Choirboys
The Choirboys
1977
Diggstown
Diggstown
1992
El Diablo
El Diablo
1990
Cover-Up
Cover-Up
1991
Roots: The Gift
Roots: The Gift
1988
Little Ladies of the Night
Little Ladies of the Night
1977
It's Good to Be Alive
It's Good to Be Alive
1974
Flashfire
Flashfire
1994
The Bushbaby
The Bushbaby
1969
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story
1996
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
2000
The Guardian
The Guardian
1984
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play
1988
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
1980
Boiling Pot
Boiling Pot
2015
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II
1992
The Gang Activists
2019
The Cuban
The Cuban
2020
A Love Story of Today
A Love Story of Today
2008
A Special Kind of Love
A Special Kind of Love
2008
Crimes of Violence
 
Not to Forget
Not to Forget
2021
To Kill a Cop
To Kill a Cop
1978
An Officer and a Gentleman
An Officer and a Gentleman
1982
Finders Keepers
Finders Keepers
1984
Travels with My Aunt
Travels with My Aunt
1972
The White Dawn
The White Dawn
1974
The Laughing Policeman
The Laughing Policeman
1973
Daddy's Little Girls
Daddy's Little Girls
2007
The Least Among You
2009
Miracle in East Texas
Miracle in East Texas
2020
All In
All In
2006
The River Niger
The River Niger
1976
Smitty
Smitty
2012
Deceived
Deceived
2002
I Forgive
I Forgive
2021
The Dependables
The Dependables
2014
Inside
Inside
1996
Undercover Grandpa
Undercover Grandpa
2017
Supervized
Supervized
2019
Jasper, Texas
Jasper, Texas
2003
Love Songs
Love Songs
1999
Foster Boy
Foster Boy
2019
Forget to Remember
 
Dr. Lucille
Dr. Lucille
2001
The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots
1978
The Deep
The Deep
1977
Jaws 3-D
Jaws 3-D
1983
The Josephine Baker Story
The Josephine Baker Story
1991
Monolith
Monolith
1993
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within
1975
A Fighting Man
A Fighting Man
2014
Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing
1995
King of the Dancehall
King of the Dancehall
2017
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin
2016
The Grace Card
The Grace Card
2011
Sin
Sin
2025
Cover
Cover
2007
Three Months
Three Months
2022
Lackawanna Blues
Lackawanna Blues
2005
Sidney
Sidney
2022
Double Play
Double Play
2017
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
2016
Breaking Brooklyn
Breaking Brooklyn
2018
Strange Justice
Strange Justice
1999
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away
2002
The Landlord
The Landlord
1970
Club Soda
Club Soda
2006
Curse of the Starving Class
Curse of the Starving Class
1994
A Good Man in Africa
A Good Man in Africa
1994
The Highwayman
The Highwayman
2000
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
2017
The Black List: Volume One
The Black List: Volume One
2008
A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun
1961
Dog Jack
Dog Jack
2011
IF
IF
2024
Toy Soldiers
Toy Soldiers
1991
Delgo
Delgo
2008
Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth
2008
The Undershepherd
The Undershepherd
2012
Companions in Nightmare
Companions in Nightmare
1968
Unplugged
Unplugged
 
The New Girl
1960
Why Did I Get Married Too?
Why Did I Get Married Too?
2010
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
1998
The Color Purple
The Color Purple
2023
Stories USA
Stories USA
2007
I Love Liberty
I Love Liberty
1982
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2009
Breaking at the Edge
Breaking at the Edge
2013
The Perfect Game
The Perfect Game
2009
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
Amazing Racer
Amazing Racer
2009
Hal
Hal
2019
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
2007
Blue Chips
Blue Chips
1994
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
1990
Good Times
Good Times
1974
The Rookies
The Rookies
1972
Half & Half
Half & Half
2002
Family Guy
Family Guy
1999
The Dead Zone
The Dead Zone
2002
Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
1974
The Batman
The Batman
2004
Early Edition
Early Edition
1996
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
1975
Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones
1971
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show
1969
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
1997
Return to Lonesome Dove
Return to Lonesome Dove
1993
Backstairs at the White House
Backstairs at the White House
1979
ER
ER
1994
Gideon Oliver
1989
Police Story
Police Story
1973
McCloud
McCloud
1970
The Young Rebels
The Young Rebels
1970
The Powers of Matthew Star
The Powers of Matthew Star
1982
Roots
Roots
1977
Palmerstown, U.S.A.
Palmerstown, U.S.A.
1980
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
1973
The Oscars
The Oscars
1953
The Lazarus Syndrome
The Lazarus Syndrome
1979
Black in the 80s
Black in the 80s
2005
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
1975
Psych
Psych
2006
Extant
Extant
2014
Hawaii Five-0
Hawaii Five-0
2010
The Book of Negroes
The Book of Negroes
2015
The Spoils Before Dying
The Spoils Before Dying
2015
The Good Fight
The Good Fight
2017
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man
1974
Sadat
1983
Bonanza
Bonanza
1959
Promised Land
Promised Land
1996
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
1974
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Celebrity Ghost Stories
2009
Hercules
Hercules
1998
American Experience
American Experience
1988
Petrocelli
Petrocelli
1974
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family
1970
Love, American Style
Love, American Style
1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1969
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad
1968
Cowboy in Africa
Cowboy in Africa
1967
Daktari
Daktari
1966
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
The Invaders
The Invaders
1967
The Critical List
The Critical List
1978
Please Turn the Page
1977
Ellen
Ellen
1994
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
1994
Watchmen
Watchmen
2019
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
1944
Harry O
Harry O
1974
Madam Secretary
Madam Secretary
2014
Picket Fences
Picket Fences
1992
To Kill a Cop
To Kill a Cop
1978
Outlaw Johnny Black
Outlaw Johnny Black
2023