Louis Gossett Jr.

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Birth Name: Louis Cameron Gossett Jr.

Born: 27 May 1936 Died: 29 March 2024

Country of origin: United States

Height: 6' 2"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Cyndi James-Reese

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Almost Unrecognizable (95 items)
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Published 17 years, 6 months ago

138 comments

100 votes

Gone, but not forgotten (2073 items)
list by Agent Kermit D. Fonz

Published 1 year, 7 months ago

10 comments

50 votes

Rest in Peace (498 items)
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Published 15 years ago

3 comments

35 votes

People...Black Actors (887 items)
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Published 12 years, 4 months ago

1 comment

34 votes

They were contenders for these roles (521 items)
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Published 12 years ago

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Description: Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (May 27, 1936 – March 29, 2024) was an American actor. He made his stage debut at the age of 17. Shortly thereafter, he successfully auditioned for the Broadway play Take a Giant Step. Gossett continued acting onstage in critically acclaimed plays including A Raisin in the Sun (1959), The Blacks (1961), Tambourines to Glory (1963), and The Zulu and the Zayda (1965). In 1977, Gossett appeared in the popular miniseries Roots, for which he won Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards. Gossett continued acting in high-profile films, television, plays Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (May 27, 1936 – March 29, 2024) was an American actor. He made his stage debut at the age of 17. Shortly thereafter, he successfully auditioned for the Broadway play Take a Giant Step. Gossett continued acting onstage in critically acclaimed plays including A Raisin in the Sun (1959), The Blacks (1961), Tambourines to Glory (1963), and The Zulu and the Zayda (1965). In 1977, Gossett appeared in the popular miniseries Roots, for which he won Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards.

Gossett continued acting in high-profile films, television, plays, and video games. In 1982, for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and became the first African-American actor to win in this category. At the Emmy Awards, Gossett continued to receive recognition, with nominations for The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots (1978), Backstairs at the White House (1979), Palmerstown, U.S.A. (1981), Sadat (1983), A Gathering of Old Men (1987), Touched by an Angel (1997), and Watchmen (2019). He won and was nominated at other ceremonies including the Golden Globe Awards, Black Reel Awards, and NAACP Image Awards. Gossett was also well known for his role as Colonel Chappy Sinclair in the Iron Eagle film series (1986–1995).

Gossett's other film appearances include Hal Ashby's The Landlord (1970), Paul Bogart's Skin Game (1971), George Cukor's Travels with My Aunt (1972), Stuart Rosenberg's The Laughing Policeman (1974), Philip Kaufman's The White Dawn (1974), Peter Yates's The Deep (1977), Wolfgang Petersen's Enemy Mine (1985), Christopher Cain's The Principal (1987), Mark Goldblatt's The Punisher (1989), Daniel Petrie's Toy Soldiers (1991), and Blitz Bazawule's The Color Purple (2023), his television appearances include Bonanza (1971), The Jeffersons (1975), American Playhouse (1990), Stargate SG-1 (2005), Boardwalk Empire (2013), The Book of Negroes (2015).

Gossett was married three times; he fathered one son and adopted another. His first marriage was to Hattie Glascoe; it was annulled. His second, to Christina Mangosing, took place on August 21, 1973. Their son Satie was born in 1974. Gossett and Mangosing divorced in 1975. His third marriage, to Star Search champion Cyndi James-Reese, took place on December 25, 1987. They adopted a son, Sharron (born 1977). Gossett and James-Reese divorced in 1992.

Gossett was the first cousin of actor Robert Gossett.

Gossett stated that in 1966 he was handcuffed to a tree for three hours by the police in Beverly Hills.

Gossett struggled with a debilitating illness during the 1990s and early 2000s, having been given a prognosis of six months to live from a doctor at one stage. In 2001, he learned much of his illness was due to toxic mold in his Malibu home.

On February 9, 2010, Gossett announced that he had prostate cancer. He added the disease was caught in its early stages, and he expected to make a full recovery.

In late December 2020, Gossett was hospitalized in Georgia with COVID-19.

Gossett died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at a rehabilitation center in Santa Monica, California, on March 29, 2024, at the age of 87; heart failure and atrial fibrillation were cited as contributing factors.

Gossett was cremated according to his death certificate. ... (more)

Tags: Actor (3), Born 1936 (3), American (2), Black (2), Died 2024 (2), African American (1), Film Actor (1), Tv Actor (1), Died Aged 87 (1), Born In New York (1), Born May 27 (1), Born In New York City (1), Oscar Winning Actor (1)

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TV

Movies

TV directed by

1. The Powers of Matthew Star (1982-1983)

Rating:

6.7

6 Watched

Movies directed by

1. Love Songs (1999)

Rating:

4.5

2 Watched

2. Cottonwood

1 want to see

3. Tobacco Valley

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Djbrothamax added this to a list 1 week, 3 days ago

The Black Excellence Collection (59 person items)

Agent Kermit D. Fonz added this to a list 1 year, 7 months ago

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ercer added this to a list 1 year, 10 months ago

Rest in Peace (498 person items)

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The Avengers (1992) (10 movies items)

"Nick Fury!"

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Avengers: Age of Ultron (1995) (16 movies items)

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Academy Awards nominated performances I've seen (446 person items)

" 1983 - WINNER Best Actor in a Supporting Role LOUIS GOSSETT JR. as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN 1982 | dir: Taylor Hackford "

Arizona posted a image 4 years, 11 months ago

nicolee added this to a list 5 years, 1 month ago

Every Best Supporting Actor Winner (76 person items)

"1982-Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman"

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Black American Firsts in Film and Theatre (70 person items)

"1983, Academy Award For Best Actor In A Supporting Role Gossett received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor Award for his acting talents in “Officer and a Gentleman,” which made him the first black actor to do so. He’s spoken about the lack of acting opportunities he’s had as a black actor even after his historic win. In 2013 he told The Root, “I never got a million dollars for any movie I did in 60 years.” Since his win there have been three other black actors to win"

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