Louis Gossett Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Louis Gossett Jr.
Gossett in 1978
Born	Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (1936-05-27)May 27, 1936 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	March 29, 2024(2024-03-29) (aged 87) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1953–2024
Spouse(s)	Hattie Glascoe ​ ​ (m. 1967; ann. 1968)​ Christina Mangosing ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1975)​ Cyndi James-Reese ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1992)​
Children	2
Relatives	Robert Gossett (first cousin)

Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (born May 27, 1936 – died March 29, 2024) was an American actor. He was born in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. He started acting on stage when he was 17 years old. Soon after, he got a part in the Broadway play Take a Giant Step.

Gossett continued to act in many popular plays like A Raisin in the Sun (1959). In 1977, he appeared in the famous TV show Roots. For this role, he won an Emmy Award, which is a big award for TV shows.

In 1982, Gossett played Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role. He was the first Black actor to win an Oscar in this category. Gossett also starred as Colonel Chappy Sinclair in the Iron Eagle movie series (1986-1995). He was nominated for and won many other awards, including Golden Globe Awards and NAACP Image Awards.

About Louis Gossett Jr.

Early Life and School

Louis Gossett Jr. was born in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. His mother, Hellen, was a nurse, and his father, Louis Gossett Sr., was a porter. He went to Mark Twain Intermediate School 239 and Abraham Lincoln High School. When he was young, he got polio, a disease that can affect muscles.

He started acting at 17 in a school play called You Can't Take It with You. He decided to take an acting class after a sports injury. His high school teacher told him to try out for a Broadway play. This led to him getting a role in Take a Giant Step in 1953.

After high school, he went to New York University. He even turned down a chance to play basketball for the New York Knicks because he wanted to act in A Raisin in the Sun.

Becoming an Actor

A scene from the play A Raisin in the Sun in 1959, with Gossett (left) as George Murchison, Ruby Dee as Ruth Younger, and Sidney Poitier as Walter Younger

In 1953, Gossett starred in the Broadway play Take a Giant Step. He was only 17 and had no special acting lessons. The New York Times newspaper critics called the play one of the top 10 shows that year.

In 1959, Gossett played George Murchison in the Broadway play A Raisin in the Sun. This play was about a Black family in Chicago trying to make their lives better. The play was highly praised and won an award from the New York Drama Critics' Circle.

In the early 1960s, Gossett was also known as a talented folk singer. He performed at places like Folk City in New York.

His first movie was the film version of A Raisin in the Sun in 1961. Most of the original actors from the play, including Gossett, were in the movie. The film also received great reviews.

In 1961, Gossett was part of the first cast of The Blacks. This play ran for a very long time, with 1,408 performances. Other famous actors like James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson were also in it.

Gossett also acted in other Broadway plays like Tambourines to Glory (1963) and Golden Boy (1964). He also released some songs during this time. In 1966, he helped write the anti-war folk song "Handsome Johnny" with Richie Havens. Havens later played this song at the famous Woodstock music festival in 1969.

Cast of ABC TV series The Young Rebels (1970): From left-Alex Henteloff, Rick Ely, Philippe Forquet, and Gossett.

Gossett with Esther Rolle in a publicity photo for Good Times in 1976

In 1970, Gossett released his own music album called From Me to You. He continued to act in many films, including Skin Game (1971) and Travels with My Aunt (1972). He also appeared in TV shows like Bonanza (1971) and The Jeffersons (1975).

Breakthrough with Roots

In 1977, Gossett played Fiddler in the TV miniseries Roots. This show was based on Alex Haley's book about a family's history from Africa to slavery in America. This role made him very famous. He won an Emmy Award for his acting in Roots. Gossett later said he learned a lot about his character, Fiddler, who had to be smart to survive.

That same year, he acted in the underwater thriller movie The Deep. He played the main bad guy in the film. It was one of the highest-earning movies of 1977.

Continued Success and Famous Roles

Richard Pryor with Louis Gossett Jr. in 1978

In 1978, Gossett was a guest star in a TV special called The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for this performance. In 1979, he was in the mini-series Backstairs at the White House, playing a servant who aged from 37 to 88. He said he liked the challenge of showing a character grow old.

In 1982, Gossett played the tough drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. This role earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was the first Black man to win an Oscar in a supporting role. He also won a Golden Globe Award and an NAACP Image Award for this movie.

In 1983, he played the main character in Sadat, a TV mini-series about the life of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat. He was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for this role.

Gossett with Clint Eastwood and President Ronald Reagan at the White House in 1987

Gossett continued to star in many movies. In 1985, he was in the science fiction film Enemy Mine with Dennis Quaid. In 1987, he acted in A Gathering of Old Men, which earned him another Emmy nomination. He also played the principal in the movie The Principal.

From 1986 to 1995, Gossett was well-known for playing Colonel Chappy Sinclair in the Iron Eagle film series. He also appeared in The Punisher (1989) and Toy Soldiers (1991).

In 1991, he won another Golden Globe Award for his role in the TV film The Josephine Baker Story. He also narrated a documentary about World War II called The Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II. In 1997, he was nominated for an Emmy for his guest role in the TV show Touched by an Angel. He also narrated Disney's Candlelight Processional, which tells the Christmas story.

Later Career

Louis Gossett Jr. with Eugene Levy in 2017

In 2004, Gossett provided voices for characters called Vortigaunts in the video game Half-Life 2. In 2005, he played the U.S. President in the movie Left Behind: World at War. That same year, he played Free Jaffa Leader Gerak in the TV series Stargate SG-1.

He continued to act in films like Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls (2007). He also voiced Lucius Fox in The Batman animated series. In 2009, he voiced the character of John the Apostle in an audio Bible project called The Word of Promise. Many other famous actors were part of this project.

In 2013, Gossett was in the drama Boiling Pot, a movie about racism on college campuses. He played a detective trying to solve a murder. He also acted in the TV show Boardwalk Empire. From 2014 to 2015, he had a recurring role in Extant and appeared in Madam Secretary and The Book of Negroes.

Gossett Jr. at the Guadalajara Film Festival

In 2019, Gossett acted in the TV series Watchmen. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for this role. In 2021, he appeared in the film Not to Forget, which aimed to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease.

In 2023, he played Ol' Mister in the new movie version of The Color Purple. This role was first played by Adolph Caesar in the 1985 film.

Personal Life

Gossett at the celebration of the anniversary of the March on Washington

Family

Louis Gossett Jr. was married three times. He had one son named Satie and adopted another son named Sharron. His first marriage to Hattie Glascoe was ended. His second marriage was to Christina Mangosing, and their son Satie was born in 1974. They later divorced. His third marriage was to Cyndi James-Reese, and they adopted Sharron. They also divorced. Louis Gossett Jr. was the first cousin of actor Robert Gossett.

Health Challenges

Gossett faced health challenges during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2001, he found out that much of his illness was caused by toxic mold in his home. On February 9, 2010, Gossett announced he had prostate cancer, but it was found early, and he expected to recover fully. In late 2020, Gossett was hospitalized in Georgia with COVID-19.

Louis Gossett Jr. passed away on March 29, 2024, at the age of 87, in Santa Monica, California.

Awards and Recognition

Gossett won many awards during his long career. Here are some of his most notable achievements:

See also

In Spanish: Louis Gossett, Jr. para niños

Images for kids

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  Cast of the TV series The Young Rebels (1970)

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  Gossett with Esther Rolle in 1976