Iconic Actor Louis Gossett Jr., Who Starred In ‘An Officer & A Gentleman,’ Dies At 87

Louis Gossett Jr., the esteemed actor known for his remarkable performances in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman and the groundbreaking miniseries Roots, has died at the age of 87, according to a statement released by his family.

Gossett made history in 1983 when he became the first black man to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a tough drill instructor in An Officer and a Gentleman, opposite Richard Gere.

In a statement, Gere remembered, “Lou was a sweetheart. He took his job very seriously. He did his research. He stayed in character the whole time…He was the drill sergeant 24 hours a day, and it showed clearly in his performance. He drove every scene he was in. A tough guy with a heart of gold.”

Prior to his Oscar-winning performance, Gossett captivated audiences in the miniseries adaptation of Alex Haley’s Roots, where he portrayed Fiddler, a compassionate mentor to the newly arrived slave Kunta Kinte.

Standing tall at 6’4″, Gossett often portrayed authority figures that capitalized on his physicality. He played a boxer in Diggstown, a villain in The Deep, and an alien pilot in the sci-fi allegory Enemy Mine, among other notable roles. Gossett’s talent extended to the Iron Eagle film series, where he played a prominent character throughout multiple sequels.

Born in Brooklyn, Gossett credited a high school English teacher for steering him toward acting. He pursued his passion while also excelling in basketball, even trying out for the New York Knicks. He studied drama at New York University and kickstarted his career by appearing on stage and in the film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun, alongside Sidney Poitier. Poitier, another trailblazing actor, was the first black man to win an Academy Award in the 1960s.

Throughout his career, Gossett portrayed several historical figures, such as Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat and baseball legend Satchel Paige, in television movies in the 1980s.

Off-screen, Gossett was a passionate advocate for racial equality. In the 1990s, he co-founded the Eracism Foundation, an organization dedicated to combatting racism, an issue he experienced in Hollywood. Reflecting on his journey, Gossett spoke about the challenges he faced and the need to persevere in an industry that often marginalized African American talent.

“I had to really learn the importance of what it takes to survive in this town, and I had to act as if I was second class,” he said.  “I had to ingest the onus of being an African American person in America.” Gossett was determined to raise awareness about prostate cancer after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2010. Gossett publicly shared his experience to encourage African American men, who often neglect preventive examinations and early treatment, to prioritize their health.

Despite his health struggles, Gossett remained dedicated to his craft. He continued to act well into his 80s and delivered memorable performances in projects such as the film adaptation of The Color Purple and the HBO series Watchmen, which earned him his eighth Emmy nomination in 2020.