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.
Awards & recognition
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series · 1998
- Golden Globe Award — Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film · 1991
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1983
- Golden Globe Award — Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture · 1982
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture · 1982
Show all 23 awards →
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series · 1977
- Mary Pickford Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special · 2012 · nominated
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special · 2004 · nominated
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series · 1998 · nominated
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special · 1997 · nominated
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series · 1997 · nominated
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie · 1987 · nominated
- Golden Raspberry Award — Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award · 1984 · nominated
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie · 1984 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1983 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture · 1982 · nominated
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture · 1982 · nominated
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series · 1981 · nominated
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special · 1979 · nominated
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie · 1979 · nominated
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series · 1977 · nominated
Filmography50+ titles
Love Songs
Half & Half
Stargate SG-1
The Batman
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story
Good Times
Psych
Little House on the Prairie
The Reason
Breaking Brooklyn
ER
Hawaii Five-0
A Raisin in the Sun
Watchmen
The Rockford Files
The Good Fight
Picket Fences
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Bonanza
Family Guy
Roots
The River Niger
Sidney
The Grace Card
Celebrity Ghost Stories
The Dead Zone
The Jeffersons
It's Good to Be Alive
The Six Million Dollar Man
Touched by an Angel
Carolina Skeletons
McCloud
The Perfect Game
Roots: The Gift
IF
The Color Purple
Three Months
Madam Secretary
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
Return to Lonesome Dove
Enemy Mine
An Officer and a Gentleman
Police Story
Daddy's Little Girls
Hercules
Sudie and Simpson
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Saturday Night Live
The Rookies
The Partridge Family