Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (May 27, 1936 – March 29, 2024) was an American actor. He was a folk singer in the 1960s. He is best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman, winning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also won an Emmy Award for his role as Fiddler, in the 1977 ABC television miniseries Roots.
Gossett has also starred in numerous other film productions: A Raisin in the Sun, The Landlord, Skin Game, Travels with My Aunt, The Laughing Policeman, The White Dawn, The Deep, Jaws 3-D, Wolfgang Petersen's Enemy Mine, The Principal, the Iron Eagle series, Toy Soldiers and The Punisher, in an acting career that spans over five decades.
Filmography Film
Year Title Role NotesRef.1961George Murchison1969Tembo1970Copee1971Skin GameJason O'Rourke1972Travels with My AuntZachary / 'Wordsworth'1973Inspector James LarrimoreCredited as Lou Gossett1974Portagee 1976Dr. Dudley StantonJ. D.'s RevengeReverend Elija Bliss 1977Henri Cloche BondurantCalvin Motts1980It Rained All Night the Day I LeftLeo Garcia1982Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley1983Jaws 3-DCalvin Bouchard 1984Finders KeepersCenturyThe GuardianJohn Mack1985Enemy MineJeriba 'Jerry' Shigan 1986Iron EagleColonel Charles 'Chappy' SinclairFirewalkerLeo Porter1987Jake Phillips1988Iron Eagle IIColonel / Brigadier General Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair1989Detective Jake Berkowitz 1991Cover UpCIA Chief Lou JacksonToy SoldiersDean Parker 1992Aces: Iron Eagle IIIBrigadier General Charles 'Chappy' SinclairDiggstownRoy 'Honey Roy' Palmer1993MonolithCaptain MacCandless 1994FlashfireBen DurandBlue ChipsFather DawkinsUncreditedProfessor Sam AdekunleCurse of the Starving ClassEllis1995Iron Eagle on the AttackBrigadier General Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair (Ret.)1996ManaguaPaul 1997NarratorBram Stoker's Legend of the MummyCorbeck1999Terminal CountdownMorgan2000The HighwaymanPhil Bishop2002DeceivedColonel David Garrett 2005WindowRalph StanleyPart of African American Short FilmsLeft Behind: World at WarPresident Gerald Fitzhugh 2006All InCapsClub Soda'Doc' 2007Daddy's Little GirlsWillieCoverDetective Hicks 2008Cool Papa BellDelgoZahnVoice 2009Dog JackGrown Up JedShannon's RainbowMax DonovanSamuel Benton 2010SmittyMr. SmithWhy Did I Get Married Too?Porter 2011George WrightGlenThe Genie2012The UndershepherdBishop Redford 2014A Fighting Man'Cubby'The DependablesLou Jones2015Boiling PotDetective Haven 2017Undercover GrandpaMotherDouble Play'Coco'Breaking BrooklynMiles Bryant 2019Foster BoyJudgeThe CubanLuis GarciaSupervizedPendle2020The ReasonPastor Jim2021Not to ForgetPastor John2022Three MonthsBenny 2023Outlaw Johnny BlackReverend TharringtonUncredited voiceThe Color PurpleOl' Mister2024IFLewis Voice, posthumous release; dedicated to his memory 2027 Amos Burton Voice, in production, posthumous releaseMr. GPost-production, posthumous releaseElijahDr. Benjamin LockeIn production, posthumous release
Television Year Title Role NotesRef.1958Jamie GoodwinEpisode: "The Stubbornest Man"1962William TaylorEpisode: "The Prisoner"1967–1968Cowboy in AfricaFulah / HemeraEpisode: "Fang and Claw"Episode: "The Quiet Death" 1968OllieEpisode: "The Vise"DaktariMkonoEpisode: "Adam and Jenny"Companions in NightmareLieutenant Adam McKayNBC television film1968–1972'Smitty' (1968) Lloyd (1969) Charley Jameson (1972)Episode: "When Smitty Comes Marching Home" (1968)Episode: "The Uptight Town" (1969)Episode: "Can You Hear Me Out There?" (1972)1970'Hurricane' SmithEpisode: "The Return of Big Bad Bubba Bronson"1970–1971Isak Poole15 episodes 1971Big Fish, Little FishJimmie LutonTelevision filmSamEpisode: "Soul Club"BonanzaBuck WalterEpisode: "The Desperado"LongstreetSergeant CoryEpisode: "The Way of the Intercepting Fist"Dr. KarnesEpisode: "One Lonely Step"Alias Smith and JonesJoe SimsEpisode: "The Bounty Hunter"Cade's CountyUnknownEpisode: "The Alien Land" 1972The Living EndDoug NewmanCBS television pilotToby JonesEpisode: "Covenant with Death"Love, American StyleFreddySegment: "Love and the Christmas Punch..." 1973Owen Marshall: Counselor at LawUnknownEpisode: "An Often and Familiar Ghost"The Fuzz BrothersFrancis FuzzABC television pilot 1974It's Good to Be AliveSam BrockingtonCBS television filmSidekicksJason O'RourkeTV remake of Gossett's 1971 Skin GameCBS television filmMcCloudDewey JustinEpisode: "Shivaree on Delancy Street"The New LandSimon YorkEpisode: "The Word is: Dignity" (never aired) 1974–1975PetrocelliDistrict Attorney Kurt OlsonEpisode: "A Very Lonely Lady" and "A Fallen Idol"Good TimesDonald Knight / Uncle WilbertEpisode: "Thelma's Young Man"Episode: "Michael's Big Fall" 1975InsightThe ManEpisode: "The Man from Inner Space"Lucas TannerBobby KoballEpisode: "Bonus Baby"Black BartBart 'Black Bart'CBS television filmDelancey Street: The Crisis WithinOtis JamesNBC television filmCaribeDavid WallaceEpisode: "The Assassin"Harry OCleon JacksonEpisode: "Shades"Wendell BrownEpisode: "George's Best Friend"O'FlahertyEpisode: "Clark Templeton O'Flaherty"1975–1976Police StoryFreddie / Virgil BarnesEpisode: "The Cut Man Caper"Episode: "50 Cents-First Half Hour, $1.75 All Day" 1976Little House on the PrairieHenry HillEpisode: "The Long Road Home"The RebelsUnknown1976–1977Marcus 'Gabby' Hayes (aka Marc O'Brien)Episode: Foul on the First Play and Just Another Polish Wedding 1977Little Ladies of the NightRuss GarfieldABC television filmRootsFiddlerABC miniseriesVisions RexEpisode: "Freeman" 1978The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His RootsHimselfTelevision specialTo Kill a CopEverett WalkerUncredited role; NBC television filmThe Critical ListLem HarperNBC television film 1979Backstairs at the White HouseLevi MercerNBC miniseriesLawman Without a GunTom HaywardNBC television filmThe Lazarus SyndromeDr. MacArthur St. ClairABC television film1980Palmerstown, USAFredrick Douglas JacksonEpisode: Future City1981Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' PaigeLeroy 'Satchel' PaigeABC television film 1982American PlayhouseUnknownEpisode: "Zora Is My Name!"Benny's PlaceBenny MooreABC television filmSaturday Night LiveHostEpisode: "Louis Gossett Jr/George Thorogood & the Destroyers"1982–1983Walter 'Walt' Shepherd / D'Hai22 episodes1983SadatAnwar al-SadatTelevision miniseries1984The GuardianJohn MackTelevision film 1987MathuCBS television filmFather ClementsNBC television film 1988Sam Found Out: A Triple PlayUnknownABC television filmGoodbye, Miss 4th of JulyJohn 'Big John' CreedDisney Channel television filmRoots: The GiftFiddlerABC television filmStraight Up (1988 film)Cosmo2 episodes1989Gideon OliverGideon Oliver5 episodes 1990El DiabloVan LeekHBO television filmSudie and SimpsonSimpsonTelevision film 1991Sidney WilliamsHBO television filmCarolina SkeletonsJames BraggNBC television film1991–1992Captain Planet and the PlaneteersCommander ClashVoice, 3 episodes1992Keeper of the CityDetective James DelaTelevision film 1993Story of a PeopleHostMiniseriesGridiron GangDocumentary filmFather & Son: Dangerous RelationsUnknownNBC television filmReturn to Lonesome DoveIsom PickettMiniseries 1994Picket FencesRick JenningsEpisode: "Terms of Estrangement"Ray Alexander: A Taste for JusticeRay AlexanderNBC television film 1995A Father for CharlieWalter OsgoodCBS television filmZoomanRueben TateTelevision movieRay Alexander: A Menu for MurderRay Alexander 1996Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryJames MinkRun for the Dream: The Gail Devers StoryBob KerseeTelevision filmInsideQuestioner 1997Touched by an AngelAnderson WalkerEpisode: "Amazing Grace"To Dance with OliviaDaniel StewartCBS television filmIn His Father's ShoesFrank Crosby / RichardShowtime television filmEarly EditionJim MatthewsEpisode: "The Medal"EllenSergeant TimkoEpisode: "G.I. Ellen"1998InspectorsInspector Frank HughesShowtime television film 1999Love SongsReubenSegment: "A Love Song for Dad"Strange JusticeVernon JordanShowtime television film 2000Dr. LucilleDavid MuleraTelevision filmThe Inspectors 2: A Shred of EvidenceInspector Frank HughesShowtime television filmThe Color of Love: Jacey's StoryLou HastingsCBS television film2001For Love of OliviaDaniel Stewart 2002Opening Ceremony Salt Lake Paralympic Winter GamesNarratorTelevision specialWhat About Your Friends: Weekend GetawayDr. BarnesUPN television filmResurrection Blvd.Ezekiel 'Zeke' GrantEpisode: "En Un Momento" and "Esperando Lagrimas" 2003Pastor David LewisEpisode: "Zion"Jasper, TexasR.C. HornTelevision movieMomentumRaymond AddisonSCI FI television film2004Half & HalfRay Willis2 episodes 2005Solar AttackPresident Ryan GordonDirect-to-DVD releaseLackawanna BluesOl'lem TaylorHBO television film2005–2006Stargate SG-1Gerak5 episodes2006Family GuyDrill SergeantVoice, episode: "Saving Private Brian"2007Lucius FoxVoice, 3 episodes2009ERLeo MalcolmEpisode: "The Family Man"2012PsychLloydEpisode: "Heeeeere's Lassie"2013Boardwalk EmpireOscar BoneauEpisode: "Havre de Grace"2014Madam Secretary Father Laurent VasseurEpisode: "The Call"2014–2015Extant QuinnRecurring; 4 episodes 2015The Book of NegroesDaddy Moses2 episodesThe Spoils Before DyingDuke WebsterEpisode: "The Trip Trap"2017The Good FightCarl ReddickEpisode: "Reddick v Boseman" 2018Hap and LeonardBacon6 episodesHawaii Five-0Percy Grover Sr.Episode: "Lele pū nā manu like" (Hawaiian for: "Birds of a Feather...")2019WatchmenWill Reeves / Hooded Justice7 episodes2022–2023Kingdom BusinessJeremiah2 episodes
Video games Year Title Role Notes Ref.2004Half-Life 2 Vortigaunts Voice 2006Half-Life 2: Episode One
Theatre Year Title Role Venue Ref.1953 Take a Giant Step Spencer Scott Lyceum Theatre, Broadway debut 1955 The Desk Set Kenny Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway 1959 A Raisin in the Sun George Murchinson Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway 1963 Tambourines to Glory Big-Eyed Buddy Lomax Little Theatre, Broadway 1964 Golden Boy Frank Majestic Theatre, Broadway 1965 The Zulu and the Zayda Paulus Cort Theatre, Broadway 1966 My Sweet Charlie Charles Roberts Longacre Theatre, Broadway 1968 Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights Willie Nurse John Golden Theatre, Broadway 1971 Murderous Angels Patricia Lumumba Playhouse Theatre 2002 Chicago Billy Flynn Ambassador Theatre 2006 Dvorak's New World: Chamber Music Plus Narrator Venue
Awards and nominations
References