Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr.

1936-05-27 • Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA • Male • 205 Known Credits

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.

Personal Info

Gender

Male

Birthday

1936-05-27

Place of Birth

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Known Credits

205

Known For

Acting

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

Photos

Louis Gossett Jr. Photo
Louis Gossett Jr. Photo
Louis Gossett Jr. Photo
Louis Gossett Jr. Photo
Louis Gossett Jr. Photo
Louis Gossett Jr. Photo

Tagged Images

Left Behind: World at War

Left Behind: World at War

Movie (2005)

Known For Movies

The Josephine Baker Story

The Josephine Baker Story

1991
IF

IF

2024
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

1996
The River Niger

The River Niger

1976
The Perfect Game

The Perfect Game

2009
The Father Clements Story

The Father Clements Story

1987
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

1988
Jaws 3-D

Jaws 3-D

1983
Solar Attack

Solar Attack

2006
A Fighting Man

A Fighting Man

2014
A Gathering of Old Men

A Gathering of Old Men

1987
The Cuban

The Cuban

2020
Freeman

Freeman

1977
An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman

1982
Foster Boy

Foster Boy

2019
J.D.'s Revenge

J.D.'s Revenge

1976
The Highwayman

The Highwayman

2000
The Guardian

The Guardian

1984
Blue Chips

Blue Chips

1994
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

1987
The Choirboys

The Choirboys

1977
The Punisher

The Punisher

1989
Iron Eagle

Iron Eagle

1986
The Color Purple

The Color Purple

2023
Benny's Place

Benny's Place

1982
The Dependables

The Dependables

2014
The Deep

The Deep

1977
Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers

1984
Roots: The Gift

Roots: The Gift

1988
Firewalker

Firewalker

1986
Hal

Hal

2019
The Laughing Policeman

The Laughing Policeman

1973
The Wall That Heals

The Wall That Heals

1998
Companions in Nightmare

Companions in Nightmare

1968
Stories USA

Stories USA

2007
Enemy Mine

Enemy Mine

1985
Why Did I Get Married Too?

Why Did I Get Married Too?

2010
Undercover Grandpa

Undercover Grandpa

2017
Crimes of Violence

Crimes of Violence
The Undershepherd

The Undershepherd

2012
Love Songs

Love Songs

1999
Black Bart

Black Bart

1975
Diggstown

Diggstown

1992
Amazing Racer

Amazing Racer

2009
Toy Soldiers

Toy Soldiers

1991
Dr. Lucille

Dr. Lucille

2001
Daddy's Little Girls

Daddy's Little Girls

2007
Delgo

Delgo

2008
Cover-Up

Cover-Up

1991
Skin Game

Skin Game

1971
Iron Eagle II

Iron Eagle II

1988
Monolith

Monolith

1993
Iron Eagle on the Attack

Iron Eagle on the Attack

1995
The Reason

The Reason

2020
Sidney

Sidney

2022
Little Ladies of the Night

Little Ladies of the Night

1977
Supervized

Supervized

2019
Y2K

Y2K

1999
Outlaw Johnny Black

Outlaw Johnny Black

2023
Flashfire

Flashfire

1994
The White Dawn

The White Dawn

1974
The Principal

The Principal

1987
Deceived

Deceived

2002
Jasper, Texas

Jasper, Texas

2003
Iron Eagle III

Iron Eagle III

1992
El Diablo

El Diablo

1990
Sidekicks

Sidekicks

1974
The Grace Card

The Grace Card

2011
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

2016
Carolina Skeletons

Carolina Skeletons

1991
Keeper of the City

Keeper of the City

1991
The New Girl

The New Girl

1960
Double Play

Double Play

2017
Smitty

Smitty

2012
A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun

1961
Zooman

Zooman

1995
Inside

Inside

1996
Managua

Managua

1996
Three Months

Three Months

2022
The Gang Activists

The Gang Activists

2019
A Good Man in Africa

A Good Man in Africa

1994
Momentum

Momentum

2003
Left Behind: World at War

Left Behind: World at War

2005
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

2007
All In

All In

2006
The Inspectors

The Inspectors

1998
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

1995
Cover

Cover

2007
Gridiron Gang

Gridiron Gang
Sudie and Simpson

Sudie and Simpson

1990
Travels with My Aunt

Travels with My Aunt

1972
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

2000
Club Soda

Club Soda

2006
It's Good to Be Alive

It's Good to Be Alive

1974
I Love Liberty

I Love Liberty

1982
Forget to Remember

Forget to Remember
To Kill a Cop

To Kill a Cop

1978
Zora is My Name!

Zora is My Name!

1990
Lawman Without a Gun

Lawman Without a Gun

1979
A Father for Charlie

A Father for Charlie

1995
Lackawanna Blues

Lackawanna Blues

2005
I Forgive

I Forgive

2021
Miracle in East Texas

Miracle in East Texas

2020
In His Father's Shoes

In His Father's Shoes

1997
Legend of the Mummy

Legend of the Mummy

1998
King of the Dancehall

King of the Dancehall

2017
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

2000
The Landlord

The Landlord

1970
The Black List: Volume One

The Black List: Volume One

2008
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

1975
The Bushbaby

The Bushbaby

1969
A Love Story of Today

A Love Story of Today

2008
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

1995
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

1993
Breaking Brooklyn

Breaking Brooklyn

2018
Not to Forget

Not to Forget

2021
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

2009
Dog Jack

Dog Jack

2011
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige

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

1981
To Dance with Olivia

To Dance with Olivia

1997
Boiling Pot

Boiling Pot

2015
For Love of Olivia

For Love of Olivia

2001
The Least Among You

The Least Among You

2009
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

2016
Curse of the Starving Class

Curse of the Starving Class

1994
The Lazarus Syndrome

The Lazarus Syndrome

1979
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

1996
Strange Justice

Strange Justice

1999
It Rained All Night the Day I Left

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

1980
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

2017
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1994
Straight Up

Straight Up
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

1992
Miracle at Gate 213

Miracle at Gate 213

2013
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die

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

1983
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

2002
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

1988
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

1998
A Special Kind of Love

A Special Kind of Love

2008
Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

1995
Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth

Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth

2008

Known For TV Shows

Family Guy

Family Guy

1999
Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1

1997
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962
Hawaii Five-0

Hawaii Five-0

2010
Psych

Psych

2006
The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

1961
Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

1975
Bonanza

Bonanza

1959
ER

ER

1994
Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

1944
Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

1974
The Good Fight

The Good Fight

2017
Madam Secretary

Madam Secretary

2014
The Six Million Dollar Man

The Six Million Dollar Man

1974
The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show

1962
American Experience

American Experience

1988
The Rockford Files

The Rockford Files

1974
Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

1994
Hercules

Hercules

1998
The Batman

The Batman

2004
Love, American Style

Love, American Style

1969
The Dead Zone

The Dead Zone

2002
Ellen

Ellen

1994
The Invaders

The Invaders

1967
Captain Planet and the Planeteers

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

1990
The Oscars

The Oscars

1953
Early Edition

Early Edition

1996
Watchmen

Watchmen

2019
The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948
The Partridge Family

The Partridge Family

1970
McCloud

McCloud

1970
The Rookies

The Rookies

1972
Good Times

Good Times

1974
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

1971
Extant

Extant

2014
Police Story

Police Story

1973
The Jeffersons

The Jeffersons

1975
Picket Fences

Picket Fences

1992
Roots

Roots

1977
Celebrity Ghost Stories

Celebrity Ghost Stories

2009
Alias Smith and Jones

Alias Smith and Jones

1971
Half & Half

Half & Half

2002
The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

1968
Petrocelli

Petrocelli

1974
Harry O

Harry O

1974
Daktari

Daktari

1966
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

1969
The Bill Cosby Show

The Bill Cosby Show

1969
Promised Land

Promised Land

1996
The Book of Negroes

The Book of Negroes

2015
The Spoils Before Dying

The Spoils Before Dying

2015
The American Film Institute Salute to ...

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973
Backstairs at the White House

Backstairs at the White House

1979
Return to Lonesome Dove

Return to Lonesome Dove

1993
Please Turn the Page

Please Turn the Page

1977
Cowboy in Africa

Cowboy in Africa

1967
The Powers of Matthew Star

The Powers of Matthew Star

1982
The Young Rebels

The Young Rebels

1970
Palmerstown, U.S.A.

Palmerstown, U.S.A.

1980
Gideon Oliver

Gideon Oliver

1989
Black in the 80s

Black in the 80s

2005
Sadat

Sadat

1983
The Critical List

The Critical List

1978
The Lazarus Syndrome

The Lazarus Syndrome

1979

Movie Credits

The Josephine Baker Story

1991

Sidney Williams

IF

2024

Lewis (voice)

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

1996

James Mink

The River Niger

1976

Dr. Dudley Stanton

The Perfect Game

2009

Cool Papa Bell

The Father Clements Story

1987

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

1988

Big John Creed

Jaws 3-D

1983

Calvin Bouchard

Solar Attack

2006

President Ryan Gordon

A Fighting Man

2014

Cubby

A Gathering of Old Men

1987

Mathu

The Cuban

2020

Luis Garcia

Freeman

1977

Rex

An Officer and a Gentleman

1982

Sergeant Emil Foley

Foster Boy

2019

Judge George Taylor

J.D.'s Revenge

1976

Rev. Elija Bliss

The Highwayman

2000

Phil Bishop

The Guardian

1984

John Mack

Blue Chips

1994

Father Dawkins (uncredited)

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

1987

Self

The Choirboys

1977

Calvin Motts

The Punisher

1989

Jake Berkowitz

Iron Eagle

1986

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

The Color Purple

2023

Ol' Mister

Benny's Place

1982

Benny Moore

The Dependables

2014

Lou Jones

The Deep

1977

Henri Cloche

Finders Keepers

1984

Century

Roots: The Gift

1988

Fiddler

Firewalker

1986

Leo Porter

Hal

2019

Self

The Laughing Policeman

1973

Insp. James Larrimore SFPD

The Wall That Heals

1998

Self - Host

Companions in Nightmare

1968

Lt. Adam McKay

Stories USA

2007

Doc (segment "Club Soda")

Enemy Mine

1985

Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

Why Did I Get Married Too?

2010

Porter

Undercover Grandpa

2017

Mother

Crimes of Violence

Self - Host

The Undershepherd

2012

Bishop Redford

Love Songs

1999

Reuben

Black Bart

1975

Black Bart

Diggstown

1992

"Honey" Roy Palmer

Amazing Racer

2009

Max Donovan

Toy Soldiers

1991

Dean Parker

Dr. Lucille

2001

Daddy's Little Girls

2007

Willie

Delgo

2008

King Zahn (voice)

Cover-Up

1991

Lou Jackson

Skin Game

1971

Jason O'Rourke

Iron Eagle II

1988

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Monolith

1993

Capt. MacCandless

Iron Eagle on the Attack

1995

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

The Reason

2020

Pastor Jim

Sidney

2022

Self

Little Ladies of the Night

1977

Russ Garfield

Supervized

2019

Pendle

Y2K

1999

Morgan

Outlaw Johnny Black

2023

Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)

Flashfire

1994

Ben Durand

The White Dawn

1974

Portagee

The Principal

1987

Jake Phillips

Deceived

2002

Col. David Garrett

Jasper, Texas

2003

R.C. Horn

Iron Eagle III

1992

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

El Diablo

1990

Van Leek

Sidekicks

1974

Jason O'Rourke

The Grace Card

2011

George Wright

A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

2016

Himself

Carolina Skeletons

1991

James Bragg

Keeper of the City

1991

Det. James Dela

The New Girl

1960

Mary's Brother

Double Play

2017

Coco

Smitty

2012

Mr. Smith

A Raisin in the Sun

1961

George Murchison

Zooman

1995

Rueben Tate

Inside

1996

Questioner

Managua

1996

Paul

Three Months

2022

Benny

The Gang Activists

2019

Self

A Good Man in Africa

1994

Prof. Sam Adekunle

Momentum

2003

Raymond Addison

Left Behind: World at War

2005

President Geral Fitzhugh

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

2007

Self

All In

2006

Caps

The Inspectors

1998

Inspector Frank Hughes

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

1995

Self

Cover

2007

Detective Hicks

Gridiron Gang

Host

Sudie and Simpson

1990

Simpson

Travels with My Aunt

1972

Wordsworth

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

2000

Lou Hastings

Club Soda

2006

Doc

It's Good to Be Alive

1974

Sam Brockington

I Love Liberty

1982

Self

Forget to Remember

To Kill a Cop

1978

Everett Walker

Zora is My Name!

1990

Lawman Without a Gun

1979

Tom Hayward

A Father for Charlie

1995

Walter Osgood

Lackawanna Blues

2005

Ol'lem Taylor

I Forgive

2021

God (voice)

Miracle in East Texas

2020

Irving Tanner Jr.

In His Father's Shoes

1997

Frank Crosby / Richard

Legend of the Mummy

1998

Corbeck

King of the Dancehall

2017

The Bishop

The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

2000

Frank

The Landlord

1970

Copee Johnson

The Black List: Volume One

2008

Self

Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

1975

Otis James

The Bushbaby

1969

Tembo

A Love Story of Today

2008

Self

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

1995

Ray Alexander

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

1993

Leonard Clay

Breaking Brooklyn

2018

Miles Bryant

Not to Forget

2021

Pastor John

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

2009

Self

Dog Jack

2011

Grown up Jed

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

1981

Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

To Dance with Olivia

1997

Daniel Stewart

Boiling Pot

2015

Detective Haven

For Love of Olivia

2001

Daniel Stewart

The Least Among You

2009

Samuel Benton

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

2016

Self

Curse of the Starving Class

1994

Ellis

The Lazarus Syndrome

1979

Dr. MacArthur St. Clair

Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

1996

Bob Kersee

Strange Justice

1999

Vernon Jordan

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

1980

Leo Garcia

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

2017

Self

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1994

Ray Alexander

Straight Up

Cosmo

Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

1992

Reader

Miracle at Gate 213

2013

Roy Peddington

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

1983

narrator

What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

2002

Dr. Barnes

Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

1988

Sam

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

1998

Self

A Special Kind of Love

2008

Self

Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

1995

Narrator

Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth

2008

Self

TV Credits

Family Guy

1999

Drill Sargent (voice) (1 episodes)

Stargate SG-1

1997

Gerak (5 episodes)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

Self (2 episodes)

Hawaii Five-0

2010

Lou's father (1 episodes)

Psych

2006

Lloyd Marr (1 episodes)

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

Self (1 episodes)

Saturday Night Live

1975

Self - Host (1 episodes)

Bonanza

1959

Buck Walter (1 episodes)

ER

1994

Leo Malcolm (1 episodes)

Golden Globe Awards

1944

Self - Nominee (1 episodes)

Little House on the Prairie

1974

Henry Hill (1 episodes)

The Good Fight

2017

Carl Reddick (1 episodes)

Madam Secretary

2014

Laurent Vasseur (1 episodes)

The Six Million Dollar Man

1974

O'Flaherty (1 episodes)

The Merv Griffin Show

1962

Self (1 episodes)

American Experience

1988

Self - Narrator (1 episodes)

The Rockford Files

1974

Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien (1 episodes)

Touched by an Angel

1994

Anderson Walker (1 episodes)

Hercules

1998

Chiron (voice) (1 episodes)

The Batman

2004

Lucius Fox (voice) (3 episodes)

Love, American Style

1969

Freddy (1 episodes)

The Dead Zone

2002

Pastor David Lewis (1 episodes)

Ellen

1994

Sgt. Timko (1 episodes)

The Invaders

1967

Ollie (1 episodes)

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

1990

Commander Clash (voice) (2 episodes)

The Oscars

1953

Self (2 episodes)

Early Edition

1996

Jim Matthews (1 episodes)

Watchmen

2019

Old Man / Will Reeves (7 episodes)

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948

Self (1 episodes)

The Partridge Family

1970

Sam Simon (1 episodes)

McCloud

1970

(1 episodes)

The Rookies

1972

(1 episodes)

Good Times

1974

(2 episodes)

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

1971

Lt. Carl Fellows (1 episodes)

Extant

2014

Quinn (4 episodes)

Police Story

1973

(2 episodes)

The Jeffersons

1975

(1 episodes)

Picket Fences

1992

Rick Jennings (1 episodes)

Roots

1977

Fiddler (3 episodes)

Celebrity Ghost Stories

2009

Self (1 episodes)

Alias Smith and Jones

1971

(1 episodes)

Half & Half

2002

Ray Willis (2 episodes)

The Mod Squad

1968

Smitty (1 episodes)

Petrocelli

1974

Kurt Olson, DA (1 episodes)

Harry O

1974

Cleon Jackson (1 episodes)

Daktari

1966

Mkono (1 episodes)

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

1969

Dr. Karnes (1 episodes)

The Bill Cosby Show

1969

Hurricane Smith (1 episodes)

Promised Land

1996

Anderson Walker (1 episodes)

The Book of Negroes

2015

Daddy Moses (6 episodes)

The Spoils Before Dying

2015

Duke Webster (6 episodes)

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973

Self (1 episodes)

Backstairs at the White House

1979

Levi Mercer, Houseman (4 episodes)

Return to Lonesome Dove

1993

Isom Pickett (4 episodes)

Please Turn the Page

1977

Self (1 episodes)

Cowboy in Africa

1967

Fulah (1 episodes)

The Powers of Matthew Star

1982

Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai) (22 episodes)

The Young Rebels

1970

(15 episodes)

Palmerstown, U.S.A.

1980

(1 episodes)

Gideon Oliver

1989

(5 episodes)

Black in the 80s

2005

(3 episodes)

Sadat

1983

Anwar al-Sadat (2 episodes)

The Critical List

1978

Lem Harper (2 episodes)

The Lazarus Syndrome

1979

MacArthur St. Clair (10 episodes)

Movie Production Credits

IF

In Memory Of

2024

Love Songs

Director

1999

Inside

Executive Producer

1996

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

Executive Producer

2000

A Father for Charlie

Executive Producer

1995

In His Father's Shoes

Executive Producer

1997

To Dance with Olivia

Executive Producer

1997

For Love of Olivia

Executive Producer

2001

TV Production Credits

The Powers of Matthew Star

Director

1982

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

Executive Producer

2010