Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Known for
Acting
Born
May 27, 1936
Died
March 29, 2024 (aged 87)
Birthplace
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

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.

Known For

Photos

Louis Gossett Jr. photoLouis Gossett Jr. photoLouis Gossett Jr. photoLouis Gossett Jr. photoLouis Gossett Jr. photoLouis Gossett Jr. photo

Filmography

—
Crimes of Violence

Crimes of Violence

Movie · as Self - Host

—
Forget to Remember

Forget to Remember

Movie

—
Unplugged poster

Unplugged

Movie · as Amos Burton (voice)

2025
Sin poster

Sin

Movie · as Elijah

2024
IF poster

IF

Movie · as Lewis (voice)

2023
The Color Purple poster

The Color Purple

Movie · as Ol' Mister

2023
Outlaw Johnny Black poster

Outlaw Johnny Black

Movie · as Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)

2022
Three Months poster

Three Months

Movie · as Benny

2022
Sidney poster

Sidney

Movie · as Self

2022
African Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus Garvey poster

African Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus Garvey

Movie · as Self

2021
I Forgive poster

I Forgive

Movie · as God (voice)

2021
Not to Forget poster

Not to Forget

Movie · as Pastor John

2020
Miracle in East Texas poster

Miracle in East Texas

Movie · as Irving Tanner Jr.

2020
The Cuban poster

The Cuban

Movie · as Luis Garcia

2020
The Reason poster

The Reason

Movie · as Pastor Jim

2019
Hal poster

Hal

Movie · as Self

2019
Supervized poster

Supervized

Movie · as Pendle

2019
The Gang Activists

The Gang Activists

Movie · as Self

2019
Foster Boy poster

Foster Boy

Movie · as Judge George Taylor

2019
Watchmen poster

Watchmen

TV · as Old Man / Will Reeves · 7 eps

2018
Breaking Brooklyn poster

Breaking Brooklyn

Movie · as Miles Bryant

2017
Double Play poster

Double Play

Movie · as Coco

2017
Undercover Grandpa poster

Undercover Grandpa

Movie · as Mother

2017
King of the Dancehall poster

King of the Dancehall

Movie · as The Bishop

2017
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart poster

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

Movie · as Self

2017
The Good Fight poster

The Good Fight

TV · as Carl Reddick · 1 ep

2016
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise poster

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Movie · as Self

2016
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin poster

A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

Movie · as Himself

2015
Boiling Pot poster

Boiling Pot

Movie · as Detective Haven

2015
The Book of Negroes poster

The Book of Negroes

TV · as Daddy Moses · 6 eps

2015
The Spoils Before Dying poster

The Spoils Before Dying

TV · as Duke Webster · 6 eps

2014
The Dependables poster

The Dependables

Movie · as Lou Jones

2014
A Fighting Man poster

A Fighting Man

Movie · as Cubby

2014
Extant poster

Extant

TV · as Quinn · 4 eps

2014
Madam Secretary poster

Madam Secretary

TV · as Laurent Vasseur · 1 ep

2013
Miracle at Gate 213 poster

Miracle at Gate 213

Movie · as Roy Peddington

2013
Breaking at the Edge poster

Breaking at the Edge

Movie · as Floyd

2012
Smitty poster

Smitty

Movie · as Mr. Smith

2012
The Undershepherd poster

The Undershepherd

Movie · as Bishop Redford

2011
Dog Jack poster

Dog Jack

Movie · as Grown up Jed

2011
The Grace Card poster

The Grace Card

Movie · as George Wright

2010
Why Did I Get Married Too? poster

Why Did I Get Married Too?

Movie · as Porter

2010
Hawaii Five-0 poster

Hawaii Five-0

TV · as Lou's father · 1 ep

2009
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy poster

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Movie · as Self

2009
The Least Among You

The Least Among You

Movie · as Samuel Benton

2009
The Perfect Game poster

The Perfect Game

Movie · as Cool Papa Bell

2009
Amazing Racer poster

Amazing Racer

Movie · as Max Donovan

2009
Celebrity Ghost Stories poster

Celebrity Ghost Stories

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2008
Delgo poster

Delgo

Movie · as King Zahn (voice)

2008
Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth

Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth

Movie · as Self

2008
The Black List: Volume One poster

The Black List: Volume One

Movie · as Self

2008
A Special Kind of Love poster

A Special Kind of Love

Movie · as Self

2008
A Love Story of Today poster

A Love Story of Today

Movie · as Self

2007
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas poster

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

Movie · as Self

2007
Daddy's Little Girls poster

Daddy's Little Girls

Movie · as Willie

2007
Cover poster

Cover

Movie · as Detective Hicks

2007
Stories USA poster

Stories USA

Movie · as Doc (segment "Club Soda")

2006
Solar Attack poster

Solar Attack

Movie · as President Ryan Gordon

2006
Club Soda poster

Club Soda

Movie · as Doc

2006
All In poster

All In

Movie · as Caps

2006
Psych poster

Psych

TV · as Lloyd Marr · 1 ep

2005
Left Behind: World at War poster

Left Behind: World at War

Movie · as President Geral Fitzhugh

2005
Lackawanna Blues poster

Lackawanna Blues

Movie · as Ol'lem Taylor

2005
The Distance: Boxing from the Inside Out

The Distance: Boxing from the Inside Out

Movie

2005
Black in the 80s poster

Black in the 80s

TV · as Self · 3 eps

2004
The Batman poster

The Batman

TV · as Lucius Fox (voice) · 3 eps

2003
Momentum poster

Momentum

Movie · as Raymond Addison

2003
Jasper, Texas poster

Jasper, Texas

Movie · as R.C. Horn

2002
Deceived poster

Deceived

Movie · as Col. David Garrett

2002
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away poster

What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

Movie · as Dr. Barnes

2002
Half & Half poster

Half & Half

TV · as Ray Willis · 2 eps

2002
The Dead Zone poster

The Dead Zone

TV · as Pastor David Lewis · 1 ep

2001
For Love of Olivia poster

For Love of Olivia

Movie · as Daniel Stewart

2001
Dr. Lucille poster

Dr. Lucille

Movie

2000
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence poster

The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

Movie · as Frank

2000
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story poster

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

Movie · as Lou Hastings

2000
The Highwayman poster

The Highwayman

Movie · as Phil Bishop

1999
Y2K poster

Y2K

Movie · as Morgan

1999
Strange Justice poster

Strange Justice

Movie · as Vernon Jordan

1999
Love Songs poster

Love Songs

Movie · as Reuben

1999
Family Guy poster

Family Guy

TV · as Drill Sargent (voice) · 1 ep

1998
Legend of the Mummy poster

Legend of the Mummy

Movie · as Corbeck

1998
The Inspectors poster

The Inspectors

Movie · as Inspector Frank Hughes

1998
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood poster

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

Movie · as Self

1998
The Wall That Heals poster

The Wall That Heals

Movie · as Self - Host

1998
Hercules poster

Hercules

TV · as Chiron (voice) · 1 ep

1997
In His Father's Shoes poster

In His Father's Shoes

Movie · as Frank Crosby / Richard

1997
To Dance with Olivia poster

To Dance with Olivia

Movie · as Daniel Stewart

1997
Stargate SG-1 poster

Stargate SG-1

TV · as Gerak · 5 eps

1996
Managua poster

Managua

Movie · as Paul

1996
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

Movie · as Bob Kersee

1996
Inside poster

Inside

Movie · as Questioner

1996
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story poster

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

Movie · as James Mink

1996
Early Edition poster

Early Edition

TV · as Jim Matthews · 1 ep

1996
Promised Land poster

Promised Land

TV · as Anderson Walker · 1 ep

1995
Iron Eagle on the Attack poster

Iron Eagle on the Attack

Movie · as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

1995
A Father for Charlie poster

A Father for Charlie

Movie · as Walter Osgood

1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies poster

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

Movie · as Self

1995
Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

Movie · as Narrator

1995
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder poster

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

Movie · as Ray Alexander

1995
Zooman poster

Zooman

Movie · as Rueben Tate

1994
Flashfire poster

Flashfire

Movie · as Ben Durand

1994
Curse of the Starving Class poster

Curse of the Starving Class

Movie · as Ellis

1994
Blue Chips poster

Blue Chips

Movie · as Father Dawkins (uncredited)

1994
A Good Man in Africa poster

A Good Man in Africa

Movie · as Prof. Sam Adekunle

1994
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice poster

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Movie · as Ray Alexander

1994
ER poster

ER

TV · as Leo Malcolm · 1 ep

1994
Ellen poster

Ellen

TV · as Sgt. Timko · 1 ep

1994
Touched by an Angel poster

Touched by an Angel

TV · as Anderson Walker · 1 ep

1993
Monolith poster

Monolith

Movie · as Capt. MacCandless

1993
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations poster

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

Movie · as Leonard Clay

1993
Return to Lonesome Dove poster

Return to Lonesome Dove

TV · as Isom Pickett · 4 eps

1992
Iron Eagle III poster

Iron Eagle III

Movie · as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

1992
Diggstown poster

Diggstown

Movie · as "Honey" Roy Palmer

1992
Gridiron Gang poster

Gridiron Gang

Movie · as Host

1992
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

Movie · as Reader (voice)

1992
Picket Fences poster

Picket Fences

TV · as Rick Jennings · 1 ep

1991
Toy Soldiers poster

Toy Soldiers

Movie · as Dean Parker

1991
Cover-Up poster

Cover-Up

Movie · as Lou Jackson

1991
The Josephine Baker Story poster

The Josephine Baker Story

Movie · as Sidney Williams

1991
Carolina Skeletons poster

Carolina Skeletons

Movie · as James Bragg

1991
Keeper of the City poster

Keeper of the City

Movie · as Det. James Dela

1991
A Party For Richard Pryor

A Party For Richard Pryor

Movie · as Self

1990
El Diablo poster

El Diablo

Movie · as Van Leek

1990
Sudie and Simpson poster

Sudie and Simpson

Movie · as Simpson

1990
Zora is My Name! poster

Zora is My Name!

Movie

1990
Captain Planet and the Planeteers poster

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

TV · as Commander Clash (voice) · 2 eps

1989
The Punisher poster

The Punisher

Movie · as Jake Berkowitz

1989
Gideon Oliver poster

Gideon Oliver

TV · 5 eps

1988
Iron Eagle II poster

Iron Eagle II

Movie · as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

1988
Roots: The Gift poster

Roots: The Gift

Movie · as Fiddler

1988
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play poster

Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

Movie · as Sam

1988
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July poster

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

Movie · as Big John Creed

1988
Straight Up

Straight Up

Movie · as Cosmo

1988
American Experience poster

American Experience

TV · as Narrator (voice) · 1 ep

1987
The Principal poster

The Principal

Movie · as Jake Phillips

1987
A Gathering of Old Men poster

A Gathering of Old Men

Movie · as Mathu

1987
The Father Clements Story poster

The Father Clements Story

Movie

1987
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood poster

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

Movie · as Self

1986
Iron Eagle poster

Iron Eagle

Movie · as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

1986
Firewalker poster

Firewalker

Movie · as Leo Porter

1985
Enemy Mine poster

Enemy Mine

Movie · as Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

1984
Finders Keepers poster

Finders Keepers

Movie · as Century

1984
The Guardian poster

The Guardian

Movie · as John Mack

1983
Jaws 3-D poster

Jaws 3-D

Movie · as Calvin Bouchard

1983
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die poster

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

Movie

1983
Sadat

Sadat

TV · as Anwar al-Sadat · 2 eps

1982
An Officer and a Gentleman poster

An Officer and a Gentleman

Movie · as Sergeant Emil Foley

1982
I Love Liberty poster

I Love Liberty

Movie · as Self

1982
Benny's Place poster

Benny's Place

Movie · as Benny Moore

1982
The Powers of Matthew Star poster

The Powers of Matthew Star

TV · as Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai) · 22 eps

1982
American Playhouse poster

American Playhouse

TV · 1 ep

1981
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige poster

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

Movie · as Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

1980
It Rained All Night the Day I Left poster

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

Movie · as Leo Garcia

1980
Palmerstown, U.S.A. poster

Palmerstown, U.S.A.

TV · 1 ep

1979
The Lazarus Syndrome poster

The Lazarus Syndrome

Movie · as Dr. MacArthur St. Clair

1979
Lawman Without a Gun poster

Lawman Without a Gun

Movie · as Tom Hayward

1979
Backstairs at the White House poster

Backstairs at the White House

TV · as Levi Mercer, Houseman · 4 eps

1979
The Lazarus Syndrome poster

The Lazarus Syndrome

TV · as MacArthur St. Clair · 10 eps

1978
To Kill a Cop poster

To Kill a Cop

Movie · as Everett Walker

1978
The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots

The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots

Movie · as Self

1978
The Critical List poster

The Critical List

TV · as Lem Harper · 2 eps

1978
To Kill a Cop poster

To Kill a Cop

TV · as Everett Walker · 2 eps

1977
Freeman poster

Freeman

Movie · as Rex

1977
The Deep poster

The Deep

Movie · as Henri Cloche

1977
The Choirboys poster

The Choirboys

Movie · as Calvin Motts

1977
Little Ladies of the Night poster

Little Ladies of the Night

Movie · as Russ Garfield

1977
Roots poster

Roots

TV · as Fiddler · 3 eps

1977
Please Turn the Page

Please Turn the Page

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1976
J.D.'s Revenge poster

J.D.'s Revenge

Movie · as Rev. Elija Bliss

1976
The River Niger poster

The River Niger

Movie · as Dr. Dudley Stanton

1975
Black Bart poster

Black Bart

Movie · as Black Bart

1975
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within poster

Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

Movie · as Otis James

1975
The Jeffersons poster

The Jeffersons

TV · 1 ep

1975
Saturday Night Live poster

Saturday Night Live

TV · as Self - Host · 1 ep

1974
The White Dawn poster

The White Dawn

Movie · as Portagee

1974
It's Good to Be Alive poster

It's Good to Be Alive

Movie · as Sam Brockington

1974
Sidekicks poster

Sidekicks

Movie · as Jason O'Rourke

1974
Good Times poster

Good Times

TV · 2 eps

1974
Little House on the Prairie poster

Little House on the Prairie

TV · as Henry Hill · 1 ep

1974
The Six Million Dollar Man poster

The Six Million Dollar Man

TV · as O'Flaherty · 1 ep

1974
The Rockford Files poster

The Rockford Files

TV · as Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien, Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes · 1 ep

1974
Petrocelli poster

Petrocelli

TV · as Kurt Olson, DA, District Attorney Kurt Olson · 1 ep

1974
Harry O poster

Harry O

TV · as Cleon Jackson · 1 ep

1973
The Laughing Policeman poster

The Laughing Policeman

Movie · as Insp. James Larrimore SFPD

1973
Police Story poster

Police Story

TV · 2 eps

1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ... poster

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1972
Travels with My Aunt poster

Travels with My Aunt

Movie · as Wordsworth

1972
The Rookies poster

The Rookies

TV · 1 ep

1971
Skin Game poster

Skin Game

Movie · as Jason O'Rourke

1971
Alias Smith and Jones poster

Alias Smith and Jones

TV · 1 ep

1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law poster

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

TV · as Lt. Carl Fellows · 1 ep

1970
The Landlord poster

The Landlord

Movie · as Copee Johnson

1970
McCloud poster

McCloud

TV · 1 ep

1970
The Young Rebels poster

The Young Rebels

TV · 15 eps

1970
The Partridge Family poster

The Partridge Family

TV · as Sam Simon · 1 ep

1969
The Bushbaby poster

The Bushbaby

Movie · as Tembo

1969
The Bill Cosby Show poster

The Bill Cosby Show

TV · as Hurricane Smith · 1 ep

1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors poster

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

TV · as Dr. Karnes · 1 ep

1969
Love, American Style poster

Love, American Style

TV · as Freddy · 1 ep

1968
Companions in Nightmare poster

Companions in Nightmare

Movie · as Lt. Adam McKay

1968
The Mod Squad poster

The Mod Squad

TV · as Smitty, Charley Jameson, Lloyd · 1 ep

1967
Cowboy in Africa poster

Cowboy in Africa

TV · as Fulah, Joseph Hemera · 1 ep

1967
The Invaders poster

The Invaders

TV · as Ollie · 1 ep

1966
Daktari poster

Daktari

TV · as Mkono · 1 ep

1962
The Merv Griffin Show poster

The Merv Griffin Show

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson poster

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1961
A Raisin in the Sun poster

A Raisin in the Sun

Movie · as George Murchison

1961
The Mike Douglas Show poster

The Mike Douglas Show

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1960
The New Girl

The New Girl

Movie · as Mary's Brother

1959
Bonanza poster

Bonanza

TV · as Buck Walter · 1 ep

1953
The Oscars poster

The Oscars

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1948
The Ed Sullivan Show poster

The Ed Sullivan Show

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1944
Golden Globe Awards poster

Golden Globe Awards

TV · as Self - Nominee, Self - Audience Member, Self - Presenter, Self - Host, Self - Nominee / Presenter · 1 ep