Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr., known from the films “Roots” and “An Officer and a Gentleman”, dies at the age of 87

Louis Gossett Jr., an Oscar and Emmy winner who played a variety of characters in a profession spanning over fifty years, died on Thursday at the age of 87.

The legendary actor has appeared in over 50 films and a whole bunch of television shows, earning respect and popularity of roles reminiscent of Fiddler in the TV miniseries “Roots” and Sgt. Emil Foley in “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

A native of New York, Gossett was born on May 27, 1936, to Hellen Rebecca Gossett, a nurse, and Louis Gossett, Sr., a porter. His Coney Island neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York was home to other notable artists, including Gustav Blum. Harvey Keitel, Neil Simon and Arthur Miller.

Acting got here early, nevertheless it was not Gossett’s primary interest. He attended Abraham Lincoln High School, where he first focused on basketball. An injury that kept him out of the game prompted him to join acting classes. At age 17, he made his debut in the school play “You Can’t Take It With You,” and his performance was so inspiring that his teacher persuaded him to audition for a Broadway play. He did it, landed a role in “Take a Giant Step” (1953) and won the Donaldson Award for best newcomer of the yr.

After graduating from highschool, he decided to attend New York University, which offered him a scholarship in basketball and theater. While at school, he took part in other acting gigs, appearing in “The Desk Set” (1955) with award-winning actress Shirley Booth. After graduating from college in 1958, he was invited to the New York Knicks’ rookie camp. He decided to stay committed to his acting profession and studied at The Actors Studio under John Sticks and Peggy Fury.

In 1961, Gossett played a key role in the Broadway production and then film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun. He also appeared in the original solid of Jean Genet’s “The Blacks.” It became the longest-running off-Broadway play of the decade. His castmates included James Earl Jones, Roscoe Lee Browne, Cicely Tyson, Godfrey Cambridge, Maya Angelou and Charles Gordone. He then appeared in “Golden Boy” (1964) and later in “Chicago” (2002).

On screen, Gossett’s profession also blossomed. His credits include: “The Landlord” (1970), “Good Times” 1976), “Don’t Look Back: The Story of Leroy “Satchel” Paige” (1981), “Enemy Mine” (1985), “The Prince” (1987), the Iron Eagle film series (1986-1995), The Josephine Baker Story (1991), Blues Lackawanna (2005) and Watchmen (2019).

In 1977, he won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series for his role as Fiddler on the groundbreaking ABC miniseries “Roots.”

He made Oscar history in 1983. In 2023, Gossett celebrated the fortieth anniversary of his historic Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He was the first black actor to win this category.

Featured Stories

Gossett – recalled during a press conference in December 2023 that he faced some tough competition this awards season. Other nominees included Charles Durning, John Lithgow, James Mason and Robert Preston. “Being in the top five is pretty cool,” said Gossett, who also won a Golden Globe this yr.

In addition to the Oscar and Emmy, Gossett won one other Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in the HBO series “The Josephine Baker Story” in 1992. In 2000, he received the Black Reels Award for Outstanding Directing in a Made-for-TV Movie or Limited Series series “Love Songs” (1999). He teamed up with Robert Townsend and the late Andre Braugher to every direct a story, all tied together by themes of love and family.

Gossett, at age 87, was still wanted. Although it was a small role, Gossett took on the role of Ol’ Mister Johnson with gusto in the film adaptation of the musical “The Color Purple,” which premiered in 2023 to rave reviews and awards season buzz. For Gossett, it was a “blessing” to be a part of all of it. “It’s just lightning in a bottle” – Gossett he said about the film’s popularity. “It’s just perfect.”

When asked at a press conference in Atlanta on the decision to bring The Color Purple back to the screen, he praised the novel as a “monumental work of art” and its commitment to truth.

He told the audience, “As long as I am still here, I have been committed to the absolute, ultimate truth of our common existence as humanity.”

Off screen, Gossett was a dedicated community activist and educator. With the grant, Gossett, James Earl Jones and Paul Sorvino founded a theater group in the Nineteen Sixties to assist at-risk youth. In 2005, he sponsored an anti-violence campaign in Los Angeles called One Summer of Peace. The following yr, he founded the Eracism Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating racism. The foundation provides young adults with the tools to steer racially diverse and culturally inclusive lives. As part of the foundation’s work, he partnered with the Reverend George Clements, a black Catholic priest and human rights activist, to create Shamba centers where black history and culture may be taught.

Gossett is survived by sons, Satie Gossett and Sharron Gossett.