Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

225

Gender

Male

Birthday

1936-05-27

Day of Death

2024-03-29 (88 years old)

Place of Birth

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Also Known As

Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr.

Louis Gossett, Jr.

Louis Cameron Gossett Jr.

Lou Gossett

ルイス・ゴセット・ジュニア

لوئیس گوست، جونیور

Louis Gossett Jr.

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

Acting

Iron Eagle III

1992

Iron Eagle III

as

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Freeman

1977

Freeman

as

Rex

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

2007

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

as

Self

The Principal

1987

The Principal

as

Jake Phillips

An Officer and a Gentleman

1982

An Officer and a Gentleman

as

Sergeant Emil Foley

Toy Soldiers

1991

Toy Soldiers

as

Dean Parker

Momentum

2003

Momentum

as

Raymond Addison

The Deep

1977

The Deep

as

Henri Cloche

Iron Eagle

1986

Iron Eagle

as

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Delgo

2008

Delgo

as

King Zahn (voice)

Finders Keepers

1984

Finders Keepers

as

Century

Skin Game

1971

Skin Game

as

Jason O'Rourke

Travels with My Aunt

1972

Travels with My Aunt

as

Wordsworth

The White Dawn

1974

The White Dawn

as

Portagee

The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

2000

The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

as

Frank

Iron Eagle II

1988

Iron Eagle II

as

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Enemy Mine

1985

Enemy Mine

as

Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

The Punisher

1989

The Punisher

as

Jake Berkowitz

Firewalker

1986

Firewalker

as

Leo Porter

The New Girl

1960

The New Girl

as

Mary's Brother

Solar Attack

2006

Solar Attack

as

President Ryan Gordon

Iron Eagle on the Attack

1995

Iron Eagle on the Attack

as

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Why Did I Get Married Too?

2010

Why Did I Get Married Too?

as

Porter

I Love Liberty

1982

I Love Liberty

as

Self

The Laughing Policeman

1973

The Laughing Policeman

as

Insp. James Larrimore SFPD

A Raisin in the Sun

1961

A Raisin in the Sun

as

George Murchison

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

2009

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

as

Self

J.D.'s Revenge

1976

J.D.'s Revenge

as

Rev. Elija Bliss

Daddy's Little Girls

2007

Daddy's Little Girls

as

Willie

Left Behind: World at War

2005

Left Behind: World at War

as

President Geral Fitzhugh

The Landlord

1970

The Landlord

as

Copee Johnson

Y2K

1999

Y2K

as

Morgan

Club Soda

2006

Club Soda

as

Doc

Jaws 3-D

1983

Jaws 3-D

as

Calvin Bouchard

The Least Among You

2009

The Least Among You

as

Samuel Benton

Miracle in East Texas

2020

Miracle in East Texas

as

Irving Tanner Jr.

The Choirboys

1977

The Choirboys

as

Calvin Motts

All In

2006

All In

as

Caps

Diggstown

1992

Diggstown

as

"Honey" Roy Palmer

Dog Jack

2011

Dog Jack

as

Grown up Jed

El Diablo

1990

El Diablo

as

Van Leek

Cover

2007

Cover

as

Detective Hicks

Three Months

2022

Three Months

as

Benny

Managua

1996

Managua

as

Paul

The Perfect Game

2009

The Perfect Game

as

Cool Papa Bell

The River Niger

1976

The River Niger

as

Dr. Dudley Stanton

A Gathering of Old Men

1987

A Gathering of Old Men

as

Mathu

Smitty

2012

Smitty

as

Mr. Smith

Cover-Up

1991

Cover-Up

as

Lou Jackson

The Josephine Baker Story

1991

The Josephine Baker Story

as

Sidney Williams

Roots: The Gift

1988

Roots: The Gift

as

Fiddler

Gridiron Gang

Gridiron Gang

as

Host

Deceived

2002

Deceived

as

Col. David Garrett

Monolith

1993

Monolith

as

Capt. MacCandless

The Color Purple

2023

The Color Purple

as

Ol' Mister

The Lazarus Syndrome

1979

The Lazarus Syndrome

as

Dr. MacArthur St. Clair

Little Ladies of the Night

1977

Little Ladies of the Night

as

Russ Garfield

Carolina Skeletons

1991

Carolina Skeletons

as

James Bragg

Black Bart

1975

Black Bart

as

Black Bart

It's Good to Be Alive

1974

It's Good to Be Alive

as

Sam Brockington

Sudie and Simpson

1990

Sudie and Simpson

as

Simpson

Lackawanna Blues

2005

Lackawanna Blues

as

Ol'lem Taylor

In His Father's Shoes

1997

In His Father's Shoes

as

Frank Crosby / Richard

Legend of the Mummy

1998

Legend of the Mummy

as

Corbeck

Flashfire

1994

Flashfire

as

Ben Durand

The Bushbaby

1969

The Bushbaby

as

Tembo

2024

IF

as

Lewis (voice)

Curse of the Starving Class

1994

Curse of the Starving Class

as

Ellis

Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

1996

Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

as

Bob Kersee

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

1993

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

as

Leonard Clay

A Father for Charlie

1995

A Father for Charlie

as

Walter Osgood

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

2000

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

as

Lou Hastings

Sidekicks

1974

Sidekicks

as

Jason O'Rourke

The Guardian

1984

The Guardian

as

John Mack

I Forgive

2021

I Forgive

as

God (voice)

The Father Clements Story

1987

The Father Clements Story

as

The Inspectors

1998

The Inspectors

as

Inspector Frank Hughes

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

1995

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

as

Self

The Dependables

2014

The Dependables

as

Lou Jones

Sidney

2022

Sidney

as

Self

Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

1988

Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

as

Sam

Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

1975

Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

as

Otis James

Blue Chips

1994

Blue Chips

as

Father Dawkins (uncredited)

Inside

1996

Inside

as

Questioner

For Love of Olivia

2001

For Love of Olivia

as

Daniel Stewart

Miracle at Gate 213

2013

Miracle at Gate 213

as

Roy Peddington

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

1980

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

as

Leo Garcia

2008

Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth

as

Self

A Good Man in Africa

1994

A Good Man in Africa

as

Prof. Sam Adekunle

Outlaw Johnny Black

2023

Outlaw Johnny Black

as

Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

1988

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

as

Big John Creed

Boiling Pot

2015

Boiling Pot

as

Detective Haven

Companions in Nightmare

1968

Companions in Nightmare

as

Lt. Adam McKay

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

1996

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

as

James Mink

Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

1992

Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

as

Reader

A Fighting Man

2014

A Fighting Man

as

Cubby

To Dance with Olivia

1997

To Dance with Olivia

as

Daniel Stewart

Straight Up

Straight Up

as

Cosmo

Double Play

2017

Double Play

as

Coco

The Highwayman

2000

The Highwayman

as

Phil Bishop

Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

1995

Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

as

Narrator

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

2016

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

as

Self

Lawman Without a Gun

1979

Lawman Without a Gun

as

Tom Hayward

Undercover Grandpa

2017

Undercover Grandpa

as

Mother

Breaking Brooklyn

2018

Breaking Brooklyn

as

Miles Bryant

Zora is My Name!

1990

Zora is My Name!

as

King of the Dancehall

2017

King of the Dancehall

as

The Bishop

Hal

2019

Hal

as

Self

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

2017

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

as

Self

The Black List: Volume One

2008

The Black List: Volume One

as

Self

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1994

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

as

Ray Alexander

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

1995

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

as

Ray Alexander

Keeper of the City

1991

Keeper of the City

as

Det. James Dela

Strange Justice

1999

Strange Justice

as

Vernon Jordan

What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

2002

What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

as

Dr. Barnes

Supervized

2019

Supervized

as

Pendle

A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

2016

A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

as

Himself

Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige

1981

Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige

as

Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

The Gang Activists

2019

The Gang Activists

as

Self

Zooman

1995

Zooman

as

Rueben Tate

The Cuban

2020

The Cuban

as

Luis Garcia

Jasper, Texas

2003

Jasper, Texas

as

R.C. Horn

Love Songs

1999

Love Songs

as

Reuben

Benny's Place

1982

Benny's Place

as

Benny Moore

The Grace Card

2011

The Grace Card

as

George Wright

Foster Boy

2019

Foster Boy

as

Judge George Taylor

The Reason

2020

The Reason

as

Pastor Jim

A Love Story of Today

2008

A Love Story of Today

as

Self

A Special Kind of Love

2008

A Special Kind of Love

as

Self

The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die

1983

The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die

as

narrator

Stories USA

2007

Stories USA

as

Doc (segment "Club Soda")

Crimes of Violence

Crimes of Violence

as

Self - Host

Forget to Remember

Forget to Remember

as

Not to Forget

2021

Not to Forget

as

Pastor John

To Kill a Cop

1978

To Kill a Cop

as

Everett Walker

The Undershepherd

2012

The Undershepherd

as

Bishop Redford

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

1998

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

as

Self

Amazing Racer

2009

Amazing Racer

as

Max Donovan

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

1987

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

as

Self

Dr. Lucille

2001

Dr. Lucille

as

The Wall That Heals

1998

The Wall That Heals

as

Self - Host

Sin

2025

Sin

as

Elijah

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

as

Commander Clash (voice)

Good Times

Good Times

as

The Rookies

The Rookies

as

Half & Half

Half & Half

as

Ray Willis

Family Guy

Family Guy

as

Drill Sargent (voice)

The Dead Zone

The Dead Zone

as

Pastor David Lewis

Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

as

Henry Hill

The Batman

The Batman

as

Lucius Fox (voice)

Early Edition

Early Edition

as

Jim Matthews

The Jeffersons

The Jeffersons

as

Alias Smith and Jones

Alias Smith and Jones

as

The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show

as

Self

The Bill Cosby Show

The Bill Cosby Show

as

Hurricane Smith

Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1

as

Gerak

Return to Lonesome Dove

Return to Lonesome Dove

as

Isom Pickett

Backstairs at the White House

Backstairs at the White House

as

Levi Mercer, Houseman

ER

as

Leo Malcolm

Gideon Oliver

Gideon Oliver

as

Police Story

Police Story

as

McCloud

McCloud

as

The Young Rebels

The Young Rebels

as

The Powers of Matthew Star

The Powers of Matthew Star

as

Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)

Roots

Roots

as

Fiddler

Palmerstown, U.S.A.

Palmerstown, U.S.A.

as

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

as

Self

The Oscars

The Oscars

as

Self

The Lazarus Syndrome

The Lazarus Syndrome

as

MacArthur St. Clair

Black in the 80s

Black in the 80s

as

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

as

Self - Host

Psych

Psych

as

Lloyd Marr

Extant

Extant

as

Quinn

Hawaii Five-0

Hawaii Five-0

as

Lou's father

The Book of Negroes

The Book of Negroes

as

Daddy Moses

The Spoils Before Dying

The Spoils Before Dying

as

Duke Webster

The Good Fight

The Good Fight

as

Carl Reddick

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

as

Self

The Six Million Dollar Man

The Six Million Dollar Man

as

O'Flaherty

Sadat

Sadat

as

Anwar al-Sadat

Bonanza

Bonanza

as

Buck Walter

Promised Land

Promised Land

as

Anderson Walker

The Rockford Files

The Rockford Files

as

Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien

The Rockford Files

The Rockford Files

as

Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes

Celebrity Ghost Stories

Celebrity Ghost Stories

as

Self

Hercules

Hercules

as

Chiron (voice)

American Experience

American Experience

as

Self - Narrator

Petrocelli

Petrocelli

as

District Attorney Kurt Olson

The Partridge Family

The Partridge Family

as

Sam Simon

Love, American Style

Love, American Style

as

Freddy

Petrocelli

Petrocelli

as

Kurt Olson, DA

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

as

Lt. Carl Fellows

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

as

Dr. Karnes

Cowboy in Africa

Cowboy in Africa

as

Joseph Hemera

Cowboy in Africa

Cowboy in Africa

as

Fulah

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

as

Smitty

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

as

Self

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as

Self

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

as

Charley Jameson

Daktari

Daktari

as

Mkono

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

as

Lloyd

The Invaders

The Invaders

as

Ollie

The Critical List

The Critical List

as

Lem Harper

Please Turn the Page

Please Turn the Page

as

Self

Ellen

Ellen

as

Sgt. Timko

Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

as

Anderson Walker

Watchmen

Watchmen

as

Old Man / Will Reeves

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Nominee

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Audience Member

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Presenter

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Host

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Nominee / Presenter

Harry O

Harry O

as

Cleon Jackson

Madam Secretary

Madam Secretary

as

Laurent Vasseur

Picket Fences

Picket Fences

as

Rick Jennings

Production

Inside

1996

Inside

as

In His Father's Shoes

1997

In His Father's Shoes

as

For Love of Olivia

2001

For Love of Olivia

as

To Dance with Olivia

1997

To Dance with Olivia

as

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

2000

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

as

A Father for Charlie

1995

A Father for Charlie

as

For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots

For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots

as

Crew

2024

IF

as

Directing

Love Songs

1999

Love Songs

as

The Powers of Matthew Star

The Powers of Matthew Star

as