Louis Gossett Jr.
May 27, 1936 (88 years old) in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Louis Gossett Jr. (born 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 has won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards in an acting career that spans over five decades.
Known For
Credits
- 2024 ยทIFas Lewis (voice)
- 2023 ยทThe Color Purpleas Ol' Mister
- 2023 ยทOutlaw Johnny Blackas Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)
- 2022 ยทSidneyas Self
- 2022 ยทThree Monthsas Benny
- 2021 ยทNot to Forgetas Pastor John
- 2021 ยทI Forgiveas God (voice)
- 2020 ยทThe Reasonas Pastor Jim
- 2020 ยทThe Cubanas Luis Garcia
- 2020 ยทMiracle in East Texasas Irving Tanner Jr.
- 2019 ยทWatchmenas Old Man / Will Reeves
- 2019 ยทFoster Boyas Judge George Taylor
- 2019 ยทSupervizedas Pendle
- 2019 ยทThe Gang Activistsas Self
- 2019 ยทHalas Self
- 2018 ยทBreaking Brooklynas Miles Bryant
- 2017 ยทLorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heartas Self
- 2017 ยทUndercover Grandpaas Mother
- 2017 ยทThe Good Fightas Carl Reddick
- 2017 ยทDouble Playas Coco
- 2017 ยทKing of the Dancehallas The Bishop
- 2016 ยทMaya Angelou: And Still I Riseas Self
- 2016 ยทA.C. Green: Iron Virginas Himself
- 2015 ยทBoiling Potas Detective Haven
- 2015 ยทThe Spoils Before Dyingas Duke Webster
- 2015 ยทThe Book of Negroesas Daddy Moses
- 2014 ยทMadam Secretaryas Father Laurent Vasseur
- 2014 ยทExtantas Quinn
- 2014 ยทThe Dependablesas Lou Jones
- 2014 ยทA Fighting Manas Cubby
- 2014 ยทAnd the Oscar Goes To...as Self (archive footage)
- 2013 ยทMiracle at Gate 213as Roy Peddington
- 2012 ยทSmittyas Mr. Smith
- 2012 ยทThe Undershepherdas Bishop Redford
- 2011 ยทDog Jackas Grown up Jed
- 2011 ยทThe Grace Cardas George Wright
- 2010 ยทHawaii Five-0as Lou's father
- 2010 ยทWhy Did I Get Married Too?as Porter
- 2009 ยทThe Perfect Gameas Cool Papa Bell
- 2009 ยทCelebrity Ghost Storiesas Self
- 2009 ยทThe Least Among Youas Samuel Benton
- 2009 ยทWhy We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedyas Self
- 2008 ยทDelgoas King Zahn (voice)
- 2008 ยทStanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truthas Self
- 2008 ยทA Love Story of Todayas Self
- 2008 ยทA Special Kind of Loveas Self
- 2008 ยทThe Black List: Volume Oneas Himself
- 2007 ยทStories USAas Doc (segment "Club Soda")
- 2007 ยทCoveras Detective Hicks
- 2007 ยทDaddy's Little Girlsas Willie
- 2007 ยทThe 50 Greatest Television Dramasas Self
- 2006 ยทClub Sodaas Doc
- 2006 ยทPsychas Lloyd Marr
- 2006 ยทSolar Attackas President Ryan Gordon
- 2006 ยทAll Inas Caps
- 2005 ยทLeft Behind: World at Waras President Geral Fitzhugh
- 2005 ยทLackawanna Bluesas Ol'lem Taylor
- 2005 ยทBlack in the 80sas
- 2004 ยทThe Batmanas Lucius Fox (voice)
- 2004 ยทThe 50 Worst Movies Ever Madeas Rev. Elija Bliss (archive footage)
- 2003 ยทJasper, Texasas R.C. Horn
- 2003 ยทMomentumas Raymond Addison
- 2002 ยทHalf & Halfas Ray Willis
- 2002 ยทThe Dead Zoneas Pastor David Lewis
- 2002 ยทWhat About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Awayas Dr. Barnes
- 2002 ยทDeceivedas Col. David Garrett
- 2001 ยทFor Love of Oliviaas Daniel Stewart
- 2000 ยทThe Color of Love: Jacey's Storyas Lou Hastings
- 2000 ยทThe Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidenceas Frank
- 2000 ยทThe Highwaymanas Phil Bishop
- 1999 ยทStrange Justiceas Vernon Jordan
- 1999 ยทY2Kas Morgan
- 1999 ยทLove Songsas Reuben
- 1999 ยทFamily Guyas Drill Sargent (voice)
- 1998 ยทThe Inspectorsas Inspector Frank Hughes
- 1998 ยทHerculesas Chiron (voice)
- 1998 ยทLegend of the Mummyas Corbeck
- 1998 ยทSmall Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywoodas Self
- 1997 ยทStargate SG-1as Gerak
- 1997 ยทIn His Father's Shoesas Frank Crosby / Richard
- 1997 ยทTo Dance with Oliviaas Daniel Stewart
- 1996 ยทEarly Editionas
- 1996 ยทPromised Landas Anderson Walker
- 1996 ยทInsideas Questioner
- 1996 ยทRun for the Dream: The Gail Devers Storyas Bob Kersee
- 1996 ยทCaptive Heart: The James Mink Storyas James Mink
- 1996 ยทManaguaas Paul
- 1995 ยทIron Eagle on the Attackas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
- 1995 ยทThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Moviesas Self
- 1995 ยทRay Alexander: A Menu for Murderas Ray Alexander
- 1995 ยทZoomanas Rueben Tate
- 1995 ยทA Father for Charlieas Walter Osgood
- 1995 ยทKings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxingas Narrator
- 1994 ยทTouched by an Angelas Anderson Walker
- 1994 ยทERas Leo Malcolm
- 1994 ยทFlashfireas Ben Durand
- 1994 ยทCurse of the Starving Classas Ellis
- 1994 ยทA Good Man in Africaas Prof. Sam Adekunle
- 1994 ยทRay Alexander: A Taste For Justiceas Ray Alexander
- 1994 ยทEllenas Sgt. Timko
- 1994 ยทBlue Chipsas Father Dawkins (uncredited)
- 1993 ยทReturn to Lonesome Doveas Isom Pickett
- 1993 ยทMonolithas Capt. MacCandless
- 1993 ยทFather & Son: Dangerous Relationsas
- 1992 ยทLiberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War IIas Reader
- 1992 ยทDiggstownas "Honey" Roy Palmer
- 1992 ยทIron Eagle IIIas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
- 1991 ยทKeeper of the Cityas Det. James Dela
- 1991 ยทCarolina Skeletonsas James Bragg
- 1991 ยทToy Soldiersas Dean Parker
- 1991 ยทThe Josephine Baker Storyas Sidney Williams
- 1991 ยทCover-Upas Lou Jackson
- 1990 ยทCaptain Planet and the Planeteersas Commander Clash (voice)
- 1990 ยทSudie and Simpsonas Simpson
- 1990 ยทEl Diabloas Van Leek
- 1990 ยทZora is My Name!as
- 1989 ยทThe Punisheras Jake Berkowitz
- 1989 ยทๆฉ็ฝ่ as Jake Berkowitz
- 1989 ยทGideon Oliveras
- 1988 ยทRoots: The Giftas Fiddler
- 1988 ยทGoodbye, Miss 4th of Julyas Big John Creed
- 1988 ยทIron Eagle IIas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
- 1988 ยทAmerican Experienceas Self - Narrator
- 1988 ยทSam Found Out: A Triple Playas Sam
- 1987 ยทThe Father Clements Storyas
- 1987 ยทThe Principalas Jake Phillips
- 1987 ยทA Gathering of Old Menas Mathu
- 1986 ยทFirewalkeras Leo Porter
- 1986 ยทIron Eagleas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
- 1985 ยทEnemy Mineas Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
- 1984 ยทThe Guardianas John Mack
- 1984 ยทFinders Keepersas Century
- 1983 ยทSadatas Anwar al-Sadat
- 1983 ยทJaws 3-Das Calvin Bouchard
- 1983 ยทThe Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Dieas narrator
- 1982 ยทThe Powers of Matthew Staras Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)
- 1982 ยทAn Officer and a Gentlemanas Sergeant Emil Foley
- 1982 ยทBenny's Placeas Benny Moore
- 1982 ยทI Love Libertyas Self
- 1981 ยทDon't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paigeas Leroy 'Satchel' Paige
- 1980 ยทIt Rained All Night the Day I Leftas Leo Garcia
- 1980 ยทPalmerstown, U.S.A.as
- 1979 ยทThe Lazarus Syndromeas MacArthur St. Clair
- 1979 ยทLawman Without a Gunas Tom Hayward
- 1979 ยทBackstairs at the White Houseas Levi Mercer, Houseman
- 1978 ยทThe Critical Listas Lem Harper
- 1978 ยทTo Kill a Copas Everett Walker
- 1978 ยทThe Lazarus Syndromeas Dr. MacArthur St. Clair
- 1977 ยทFreemanas Rex
- 1977 ยทThe Choirboysas Calvin Motts
- 1977 ยทThe Deepas Henri Cloche
- 1977 ยทBitte umblรคtternas Self
- 1977 ยทRootsas Fiddler
- 1977 ยทLittle Ladies of the Nightas Russ Garfield
- 1976 ยทJ.D.'s Revengeas Rev. Elija Bliss
- 1976 ยทThe River Nigeras Dr. Dudley Stanton
- 1975 ยทSaturday Night Liveas Self - Host
- 1975 ยทDelancey Street: The Crisis Withinas Otis James
- 1975 ยทThe Jeffersonsas
- 1975 ยทBlack Bartas Black Bart
- 1974 ยทThe Rockford Filesas Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien
- 1974 ยทThe Rockford Filesas Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes
- 1974 ยทHarry Oas Cleon Jackson
- 1974 ยทLittle House on the Prairieas
- 1974 ยทPetrocellias District Attorney Kurt Olson
- 1974 ยทPetrocellias Kurt Olson, DA
- 1974 ยทThe White Dawnas Portagee
- 1974 ยทIt's Good to Be Aliveas Sam Brockington
- 1972 ยทTravels with My Auntas Wordsworth
- Future ยทEverbrook (The Home)as
- 1969 ยทThe Bushbabyas Tembo
- 1960 ยทThe New Girlas Mary's Brother
- Future ยทForget to Rememberas
- 1974 ยทSidekicksas Jason O'Rourke
- 1974 ยทGood Timesas
- 1974 ยทThe Six Million Dollar Manas O'Flaherty
- 1973 ยทThe Laughing Policemanas Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
- 1973 ยทThe American Film Institute Salute to ...as Self
- 1973 ยทPolice Storyas
- 1972 ยทThe Rookiesas
- 1971 ยทSkin Gameas Jason O'Rourke
- 1971 ยทOwen Marshall: Counselor at Lawas Lt. Carl Fellows
- 1971 ยทAlias Smith and Jonesas
- 1970 ยทThe Partridge Familyas Sam Simon
- 1970 ยทThe Young Rebelsas
- 1970 ยทThe Landlordas Copee Johnson
- 1970 ยทMcCloudas
- 1969 ยทLove, American Styleas Freddy
- 1969 ยทThe Bill Cosby Showas Hurricane Smith
- 1969 ยทThe Bold Ones: The New Doctorsas Dr. Karnes
- 1968 ยทCompanions in Nightmareas Lt. Adam McKay
- 1968 ยทThe Mod Squadas Smitty
- 1968 ยทThe Mod Squadas Charley Jameson
- 1968 ยทThe Mod Squadas Lloyd
- 1967 ยทCowboy in Africaas Joseph Hemera
- 1967 ยทCowboy in Africaas Fulah
- 1967 ยทThe Invadersas Ollie
- 1966 ยทDaktarias Mkono
- 1962 ยทThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self
- 1962 ยทThe Merv Griffin Showas Self
- 1961 ยทThe Mike Douglas Showas Self
- 1961 ยทA Raisin in the Sunas George Murchison
- 1959 ยทBonanzaas Buck Walter
- 1953 ยทThe Oscarsas Self
- 1948 ยทThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self
- 1944 ยทGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Winner
- 1944 ยทGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Audience Member
- 1944 ยทGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Presenter
- 1944 ยทGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Host
- 1944 ยทGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Nominee / Presenter
- Future ยทCrimes of Violenceas Self - Host
- Future ยทGridiron Gangas Host
- Future ยทStraight Upas Cosmo