Louis Gossett Jr.
Known for acting · Born 27 May 1936 · Died 29 March 2024 · aged 87 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
223 credits
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
An Officer and a Gentleman
1982
Enemy Mine
1985
The Punisher
1989
Iron Eagle
1986
Jaws 3-D
1983
The Principal
1987
Firewalker
1986
Watchmen
2019
Daddy's Little Girls
2007
Diggstown
1992
Iron Eagle II
1988
The Deep
1977
Acting (213)
2025SinElijahFilm
2024IFLewis (voice)Film
2023The Color PurpleOl' MisterFilm
2023Outlaw Johnny BlackReverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)Film
2022Three MonthsBennyFilm
2022SidneySelfFilm
2022African Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus GarveySelfFilm
2021Not to ForgetPastor JohnFilm
2021I ForgiveGod (voice)Film
2020The ReasonPastor JimFilm
2020The CubanLuis GarciaFilm
2020Miracle in East TexasIrving Tanner Jr.Film
2019WatchmenOld Man / Will Reeves · 7 episodesSeries
2019SupervizedPendleFilm
2019Foster BoyJudge George TaylorFilm
2019HalSelfFilm
2019The Gang ActivistsSelfFilm
2018Breaking BrooklynMiles BryantFilm
2017The Good FightCarl ReddickSeries
2017Undercover GrandpaMotherFilm
2017Double PlayCocoFilm
2017King of the DancehallThe BishopFilm
2017Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling HeartSelfFilm
2016Maya Angelou: And Still I RiseSelfFilm
2016A.C. Green: Iron VirginHimselfFilm
2015The Book of NegroesDaddy Moses · 6 episodesSeries
2015The Spoils Before DyingDuke Webster · 6 episodesSeries
2015Boiling PotDetective HavenFilm
2014ExtantQuinn · 4 episodesSeries
2014Madam SecretaryLaurent VasseurSeries
2014A Fighting ManCubbyFilm
2014The DependablesLou JonesFilm
2013Breaking at the EdgeFloydFilm
2013Miracle at Gate 213Roy PeddingtonFilm
2012SmittyMr. SmithFilm
2012The UndershepherdBishop RedfordFilm
2011The Grace CardGeorge WrightFilm
2011Dog JackGrown up JedFilm
2010Hawaii Five-0Lou's fatherSeries
2010Why Did I Get Married Too?PorterFilm
2009The Perfect GameCool Papa BellFilm
2009Amazing RacerMax DonovanFilm
2009Celebrity Ghost StoriesSelfSeries
2009Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black ComedySelfFilm
2009The Least Among YouSamuel BentonFilm
2008DelgoKing Zahn (voice)Film
2008The Black List: Volume OneSelfFilm
2008Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for TruthSelfFilm
2008A Love Story of TodaySelfFilm
2008A Special Kind of LoveSelfFilm
2007Daddy's Little GirlsWillieFilm
2007CoverDetective HicksFilm
2007Stories USADoc (segment "Club Soda")Film
2007The 50 Greatest Television DramasSelfFilm
2006PsychLloyd MarrSeries
2006Solar AttackPresident Ryan GordonFilm
2006All InCapsFilm
2006Club SodaDocFilm
2005Left Behind: World at WarPresident Geral FitzhughFilm
2005Lackawanna BluesOl'lem TaylorFilm
2005Black in the 80sSelf · 3 episodesSeries
2004The BatmanLucius Fox (voice) · 3 episodesSeries
2003Jasper, TexasR.C. HornFilm
2003MomentumRaymond AddisonFilm
2002The Dead ZonePastor David LewisSeries
2002Half & HalfRay Willis · 2 episodesSeries
2002DeceivedCol. David GarrettFilm
2002What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-AwayDr. BarnesFilm
2001For Love of OliviaDaniel StewartFilm
2001Dr. LucilleFilm
2000The Inspectors 2: A Shred of EvidenceFrankFilm
2000The Color of Love: Jacey's StoryLou HastingsFilm
2000The HighwaymanPhil BishopFilm
1999Family GuyDrill Sargent (voice)Series
1999Y2KMorganFilm
1999Love SongsReubenFilm
1999Strange JusticeVernon JordanFilm
1998HerculesChiron (voice)Series
1998Legend of the MummyCorbeckFilm
1998The InspectorsInspector Frank HughesFilm
1998Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in HollywoodSelfFilm
1998The Wall That HealsSelf - HostFilm
1997Stargate SG-1Gerak · 5 episodesSeries
1997In His Father's ShoesFrank Crosby / RichardFilm
1997To Dance with OliviaDaniel StewartFilm
1996Early EditionJim MatthewsSeries
1996InsideQuestionerFilm
1996ManaguaPaulFilm
1996Promised LandAnderson WalkerSeries
1996Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryJames MinkFilm
1996Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers StoryBob KerseeFilm
1995Iron Eagle on the AttackCharles 'Chappy' SinclairFilm
1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American MoviesSelfFilm
1995A Father for CharlieWalter OsgoodFilm
1995ZoomanRueben TateFilm
1995Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight BoxingNarratorFilm
1995Ray Alexander: A Menu for MurderRay AlexanderFilm
1994ERLeo MalcolmSeries
1994Blue ChipsFather Dawkins (uncredited)Film
1994Touched by an AngelAnderson WalkerSeries
1994EllenSgt. TimkoSeries
1994A Good Man in AfricaProf. Sam AdekunleFilm
1994Curse of the Starving ClassEllisFilm
1994FlashfireBen DurandFilm
1994Ray Alexander: A Taste For JusticeRay AlexanderFilm
1993Return to Lonesome DoveIsom Pickett · 4 episodesSeries
1993MonolithCapt. MacCandlessFilm
1993Father & Son: Dangerous RelationsLeonard ClayFilm
1992Diggstown"Honey" Roy PalmerFilm
1992Iron Eagle IIICharles 'Chappy' SinclairFilm
1992Picket FencesRick JenningsSeries
1992Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War IIReader (voice)Film
1992Gridiron GangHostFilm
1991Toy SoldiersDean ParkerFilm
1991Cover-UpLou JacksonFilm
1991The Josephine Baker StorySidney WilliamsFilm
1991Carolina SkeletonsJames BraggFilm
1991Keeper of the CityDet. James DelaFilm
1991A Party For Richard PryorSelfFilm
1990Captain Planet and the PlaneteersCommander Clash (voice) · 2 episodesSeries
1990El DiabloVan LeekFilm
1990Sudie and SimpsonSimpsonFilm
1990Zora is My Name!Film
1989The PunisherJake BerkowitzFilm
1989Gideon Oliver · 5 episodesSeries
1988Iron Eagle IICharles 'Chappy' SinclairFilm
1988American ExperienceNarrator (voice)Series
1988Roots: The GiftFiddlerFilm
1988Goodbye, Miss 4th of JulyBig John CreedFilm
1988Sam Found Out: A Triple PlaySamFilm
1988Straight UpCosmoFilm
1987The PrincipalJake PhillipsFilm
1987A Gathering of Old MenMathuFilm
1987Happy 100th Birthday, HollywoodSelfFilm
1987The Father Clements StoryFilm
1986Iron EagleCharles 'Chappy' SinclairFilm
1986FirewalkerLeo PorterFilm
1985Enemy MineJeriba 'Jerry' ShiganFilm
1984Finders KeepersCenturyFilm
1984The GuardianJohn MackFilm
1983Jaws 3-DCalvin BouchardFilm
1983The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't DienarratorFilm
1983SadatAnwar al-Sadat · 2 episodesSeries
1982An Officer and a GentlemanSergeant Emil FoleyFilm
1982The Powers of Matthew StarWalter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai) · 22 episodesSeries
1982American PlayhouseSeries
1982Benny's PlaceBenny MooreFilm
1982I Love LibertySelfFilm
1981Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" PaigeLeroy 'Satchel' PaigeFilm
1980It Rained All Night the Day I LeftLeo GarciaFilm
1980Palmerstown, U.S.A.Series
1979The Lazarus SyndromeDr. MacArthur St. ClairFilm
1979Backstairs at the White HouseLevi Mercer, Houseman · 4 episodesSeries
1979The Lazarus SyndromeMacArthur St. Clair · 10 episodesSeries
1979Lawman Without a GunTom HaywardFilm
1978The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His RootsSelfFilm
1978The Critical ListLem Harper · 2 episodesSeries
1978To Kill a CopEverett Walker · 2 episodesSeries
1978To Kill a CopEverett WalkerFilm
1977The DeepHenri ClocheFilm
1977RootsFiddler · 3 episodesSeries
1977The ChoirboysCalvin MottsFilm
1977Little Ladies of the NightRuss GarfieldFilm
1977FreemanRexFilm
1977Please Turn the PageSelfSeries
1976J.D.'s RevengeRev. Elija BlissFilm
1976The River NigerDr. Dudley StantonFilm
1975Saturday Night LiveSelf - HostSeries
1975The JeffersonsSeries
1975Black BartBlack BartFilm
1975Delancey Street: The Crisis WithinOtis JamesFilm
1974Little House on the PrairieHenry HillSeries
1974The Six Million Dollar ManO'FlahertySeries
1974The Rockford FilesMarcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien, Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' HayesSeries
1974Good Times · 2 episodesSeries
1974PetrocelliKurt Olson, DA, District Attorney Kurt OlsonSeries
1974The White DawnPortageeFilm
1974Harry OCleon JacksonSeries
1974It's Good to Be AliveSam BrockingtonFilm
1974SidekicksJason O'RourkeFilm
1973The Laughing PolicemanInsp. James Larrimore SFPDFilm
1973Police Story · 2 episodesSeries
1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...SelfSeries
1972Travels with My AuntWordsworthFilm
1972The RookiesSeries
1971Skin GameJason O'RourkeFilm
1971Alias Smith and JonesSeries
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at LawLt. Carl FellowsSeries
1970The LandlordCopee JohnsonFilm
1970McCloudSeries
1970The Partridge FamilySam SimonSeries
1970The Young Rebels · 15 episodesSeries
1969Love, American StyleFreddySeries
1969The Bill Cosby ShowHurricane SmithSeries
1969The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsDr. KarnesSeries
1969The BushbabyTemboFilm
1968The Mod SquadSmitty, Charley Jameson, LloydSeries
1968Companions in NightmareLt. Adam McKayFilm
1967The InvadersOllieSeries
1967Cowboy in AfricaFulah, Joseph HemeraSeries
1966DaktariMkonoSeries
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 2 episodesSeries
1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelfSeries
1961A Raisin in the SunGeorge MurchisonFilm
1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelfSeries
1960The New GirlMary's BrotherFilm
1959BonanzaBuck WalterSeries
1953The OscarsSelf · 2 episodesSeries
1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelfSeries
1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee, Self - Audience Member · 2 episodes, Self - Presenter · 2 episodes, Self - Host, Self - Nominee / PresenterSeries
—Crimes of ViolenceSelf - HostFilm
—Forget to RememberFilm
—UnpluggedAmos Burton (voice)Film
Crew (1)
2024IFIn Memory OfFilm
Directing (2)
1999Love SongsDirectorFilm
1982The Powers of Matthew StarDirectorSeries
Production (7)
2010For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black PatriotsExecutive ProducerSeries
2001For Love of OliviaExecutive ProducerFilm
2000The Color of Love: Jacey's StoryExecutive ProducerFilm
1997In His Father's ShoesExecutive ProducerFilm
1997To Dance with OliviaExecutive ProducerFilm
1996InsideExecutive ProducerFilm
1995A Father for CharlieExecutive ProducerFilm