Louis Gossett Jr.
- Born
- May 27, 1936
- Died
- March 29, 2024 (87 years old)
- Place of birth
- Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Biography
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
Filmography
- —Crimes of ViolenceCrimes of ViolenceFilm · Self - Host
- —Forget to RememberForget to RememberFilm
- —UnpluggedFilm · Amos Burton (voice)
- 2025SinFilm · Elijah
- 2024IFFilm · Lewis (voice)★ 6.9
- 2023The Color PurpleFilm · Ol' Mister★ 7.0
- 2023Outlaw Johnny BlackFilm · Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)★ 5.3
- 2022SidneyFilm · Self★ 6.9
- 2022Three MonthsFilm · Benny★ 7.1
- 2022African Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus GarveyFilm · Self
- 2021Not to ForgetFilm · Pastor John
- 2021I ForgiveFilm · God (voice)
- 2020The ReasonFilm · Pastor Jim
- 2020The CubanFilm · Luis Garcia
- 2020Miracle in East TexasFilm · Irving Tanner Jr.
- 2019WatchmenSeries · Old Man / Will Reeves★ 7.6
- 2019Foster BoyFilm · Judge George Taylor★ 6.7
- 2019SupervizedFilm · Pendle★ 5.2
- 2019The Gang ActivistsThe Gang ActivistsFilm · Self
- 2019HalFilm · Self
- 2018Breaking BrooklynFilm · Miles Bryant
- 2017Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling HeartFilm · Self
- 2017Undercover GrandpaFilm · Mother★ 5.7
- 2017The Good FightSeries · Carl Reddick★ 7.5
- 2017Double PlayFilm · Coco
- 2017King of the DancehallFilm · The Bishop
- 2016Maya Angelou: And Still I RiseFilm · Self
- 2016A.C. Green: Iron VirginFilm · Himself
- 2015Boiling PotFilm · Detective Haven
- 2015The Spoils Before DyingSeries · Duke Webster
- 2015The Book of NegroesSeries · Daddy Moses★ 6.6
- 2014Madam SecretarySeries · Laurent Vasseur★ 7.0
- 2014ExtantSeries · Quinn★ 6.3
- 2014The DependablesFilm · Lou Jones
- 2014A Fighting ManFilm · Cubby★ 5.5
- 2013Miracle at Gate 213Film · Roy Peddington
- 2013Breaking at the EdgeFilm · Floyd★ 4.7
- 2012SmittyFilm · Mr. Smith★ 5.9
- 2012The UndershepherdFilm · Bishop Redford
- 2011Dog JackFilm · Grown up Jed
- 2011The Grace CardFilm · George Wright★ 7.2
- 2010Hawaii Five-0Series · Lou's father★ 7.7
- 2010Why Did I Get Married Too?Film · Porter★ 6.6
- 2009The Perfect GameFilm · Cool Papa Bell★ 7.3
- 2009Amazing RacerFilm · Max Donovan★ 5.9
- 2009The Least Among YouThe Least Among YouFilm · Samuel Benton
- 2009Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black ComedyFilm · Self
- 2008DelgoFilm · King Zahn (voice)★ 4.6
- 2008Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for TruthStanley Kramer: A Man's Search for TruthFilm · Self
- 2008A Special Kind of LoveFilm · Self
- 2008A Love Story of TodayFilm · Self
- 2008The Black List: Volume OneFilm · Self
- 2007Stories USAFilm · Doc (segment "Club Soda")
- 2007CoverFilm · Detective Hicks
- 2007Daddy's Little GirlsFilm · Willie★ 6.9
- 2007The 50 Greatest Television DramasFilm · Self
- 2006Club SodaFilm · Doc
- 2006PsychSeries · Lloyd Marr★ 7.9
- 2006Solar AttackFilm · President Ryan Gordon★ 5.2
- 2006All InFilm · Caps
- 2005Left Behind: World at WarFilm · President Geral Fitzhugh★ 4.2
- 2005Lackawanna BluesFilm · Ol'lem Taylor★ 5.9
- 2004The BatmanSeries · Lucius Fox (voice)★ 8.0
- 2003Jasper, TexasFilm · R.C. Horn
- 2003MomentumFilm · Raymond Addison
- 2002Half & HalfSeries · Ray Willis★ 8.3
- 2002The Dead ZoneSeries · Pastor David Lewis★ 7.3
- 2002What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-AwayFilm · Dr. Barnes
- 2002DeceivedFilm · Col. David Garrett
- 2001For Love of OliviaFilm · Daniel Stewart
- 2001Dr. LucilleFilm
- 2000The Color of Love: Jacey's StoryFilm · Lou Hastings
- 2000The Inspectors 2: A Shred of EvidenceFilm · Frank
- 2000The HighwaymanFilm · Phil Bishop
- 1999Strange JusticeFilm · Vernon Jordan
- 1999Y2KFilm · Morgan
- 1999Love SongsFilm · Reuben
- 1999Family GuySeries · Drill Sargent (voice)★ 7.4
- 1998The InspectorsFilm · Inspector Frank Hughes
- 1998HerculesSeries · Chiron (voice)★ 6.8
- 1998The Wall That HealsFilm · Self - Host
- 1998Legend of the MummyFilm · Corbeck★ 4.2
- 1998Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in HollywoodFilm · Self
- 1997Stargate SG-1Series · Gerak★ 8.3
- 1997In His Father's ShoesFilm · Frank Crosby / Richard
- 1997To Dance with OliviaFilm · Daniel Stewart
- 1996Early EditionSeries · Jim Matthews★ 7.4
- 1996Promised LandSeries · Anderson Walker
- 1996InsideFilm · Questioner
- 1996Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers StoryRun for the Dream: The Gail Devers StoryFilm · Bob Kersee
- 1996Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryFilm · James Mink
- 1996ManaguaFilm · Paul
- 1995Iron Eagle on the AttackFilm · Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair★ 3.9
- 1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American MoviesFilm · Self
- 1995Ray Alexander: A Menu for MurderFilm · Ray Alexander
- 1995ZoomanFilm · Rueben Tate
- 1995A Father for CharlieFilm · Walter Osgood
- 1995Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight BoxingKings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight BoxingFilm · Narrator
- 1994Touched by an AngelSeries · Anderson Walker★ 7.2
- 1994ERSeries · Leo Malcolm★ 7.8
- 1994FlashfireFilm · Ben Durand
- 1994Curse of the Starving ClassFilm · Ellis
- 1994A Good Man in AfricaFilm · Prof. Sam Adekunle★ 4.9
- 1994Ray Alexander: A Taste For JusticeFilm · Ray Alexander
- 1994EllenSeries · Sgt. Timko★ 6.2
- 1994Blue ChipsFilm · Father Dawkins (uncredited)★ 6.1
- 1993Return to Lonesome DoveSeries · Isom Pickett★ 7.0
- 1993MonolithFilm · Capt. MacCandless★ 4.6
- 1993Father & Son: Dangerous RelationsFilm · Leonard Clay
- 1992Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War IILiberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War IIFilm · Reader (voice)
- 1992Picket FencesSeries · Rick Jennings★ 7.4
- 1992Gridiron GangFilm · Host
- 1992DiggstownFilm · "Honey" Roy Palmer★ 6.3
- 1992Iron Eagle IIIFilm · Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair★ 4.1
- 1991Keeper of the CityFilm · Det. James Dela
- 1991A Party For Richard PryorA Party For Richard PryorFilm · Self
- 1991Carolina SkeletonsFilm · James Bragg
- 1991Toy SoldiersFilm · Dean Parker★ 6.5
- 1991The Josephine Baker StoryFilm · Sidney Williams★ 6.0
- 1991Cover-UpFilm · Lou Jackson★ 4.0
- 1990Captain Planet and the PlaneteersSeries · Commander Clash (voice)★ 6.9
- 1990Sudie and SimpsonFilm · Simpson
- 1990El DiabloFilm · Van Leek★ 5.6
- 1990Zora is My Name!Film
- 1989The PunisherFilm · Jake Berkowitz★ 5.8
- 1989Gideon OliverGideon OliverSeries
- 1988Roots: The GiftFilm · Fiddler
- 1988Goodbye, Miss 4th of JulyFilm · Big John Creed
- 1988Iron Eagle IIFilm · Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair★ 4.5
- 1988Sam Found Out: A Triple PlayFilm · Sam
- 1988Straight UpStraight UpFilm · Cosmo
- 1987The Father Clements StoryFilm
- 1987The PrincipalFilm · Jake Phillips★ 6.4
- 1987Happy 100th Birthday, HollywoodFilm · Self
- 1987A Gathering of Old MenFilm · Mathu
- 1986FirewalkerFilm · Leo Porter★ 5.3
- 1986Iron EagleFilm · Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair★ 5.6
- 1985Enemy MineFilm · Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan★ 7.0
- 1984The GuardianFilm · John Mack
- 1984Finders KeepersFilm · Century★ 5.5
- 1983SadatSadatSeries · Anwar al-Sadat
- 1983Jaws 3-DFilm · Calvin Bouchard★ 4.5
- 1983The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't DieFilm · narrator
- 1982The Powers of Matthew StarSeries · Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)
- 1982An Officer and a GentlemanFilm · Sergeant Emil Foley★ 7.0
- 1982Benny's PlaceFilm · Benny Moore
- 1982I Love LibertyFilm · Self
- 1982American PlayhouseSeries
- 1981Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" PaigeFilm · Leroy 'Satchel' Paige
- 1980It Rained All Night the Day I LeftFilm · Leo Garcia
- 1980Palmerstown, U.S.A.Series
- 1979The Lazarus SyndromeFilm · Dr. MacArthur St. Clair
- 1979The Lazarus SyndromeSeries · MacArthur St. Clair
- 1979Lawman Without a GunFilm · Tom Hayward
- 1979Backstairs at the White HouseSeries · Levi Mercer, Houseman
- 1978The Critical ListSeries · Lem Harper
- 1978To Kill a CopFilm · Everett Walker
- 1978To Kill a CopSeries · Everett Walker
- 1978The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His RootsThe Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His RootsFilm · Self
- 1977FreemanFilm · Rex
- 1977The ChoirboysFilm · Calvin Motts★ 5.4
- 1977The DeepFilm · Henri Cloche★ 6.1
- 1977RootsSeries · Fiddler★ 7.4
- 1977Little Ladies of the NightFilm · Russ Garfield
- 1976J.D.'s RevengeFilm · Rev. Elija Bliss★ 5.9
- 1976The River NigerFilm · Dr. Dudley Stanton
- 1975Delancey Street: The Crisis WithinFilm · Otis James
- 1975The JeffersonsSeries★ 7.3
- 1975Black BartFilm · Black Bart
- 1974The Rockford FilesSeries · Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien, Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes★ 7.6
- 1974Harry OSeries · Cleon Jackson
- 1974Little House on the PrairieSeries · Henry Hill★ 8.0
- 1974PetrocelliSeries · Kurt Olson, DA, District Attorney Kurt Olson★ 7.2
- 1974The White DawnFilm · Portagee★ 6.6
- 1974SidekicksFilm · Jason O'Rourke
- 1974It's Good to Be AliveFilm · Sam Brockington
- 1974Good TimesSeries★ 8.0
- 1974The Six Million Dollar ManSeries · O'Flaherty★ 7.3
- 1973The Laughing PolicemanFilm · Insp. James Larrimore SFPD★ 6.2
- 1973Police StorySeries★ 7.0
- 1972Travels with My AuntFilm · Wordsworth★ 6.0
- 1972The RookiesSeries★ 6.9
- 1971Skin GameFilm · Jason O'Rourke★ 6.6
- 1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at LawSeries · Lt. Carl Fellows
- 1971Alias Smith and JonesSeries★ 7.0
- 1970The Partridge FamilySeries · Sam Simon★ 6.8
- 1970The Young RebelsSeries
- 1970The LandlordFilm · Copee Johnson★ 6.0
- 1970McCloudSeries★ 7.2
- 1969Love, American StyleSeries · Freddy★ 6.2
- 1969The Bill Cosby ShowSeries · Hurricane Smith
- 1969The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsSeries · Dr. Karnes
- 1969The BushbabyFilm · Tembo
- 1968Companions in NightmareFilm · Lt. Adam McKay
- 1968The Mod SquadSeries · Smitty, Lloyd, Charley Jameson★ 6.1
- 1967Cowboy in AfricaSeries · Fulah, Joseph Hemera
- 1967The InvadersSeries · Ollie★ 6.8
- 1966DaktariSeries · Mkono★ 7.3
- 1961A Raisin in the SunFilm · George Murchison★ 7.7
- 1960The New GirlThe New GirlFilm · Mary's Brother
- 1959BonanzaSeries · Buck Walter★ 7.5
