Louis Gossett Jr.

Acting

Louis Gossett Jr.

Born 27 May 1936 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA · Died 29 March 2024 at 87

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

Highlights

Family Guy1999 · Series · Drill Sargent (voice)
Stargate SG-11997 · Series · Gerak
Hawaii Five-02010 · Series · Lou's father
Watchmen2019 · Series · Old Man / Will Reeves
Little House on the Prairie1974 · Series · Henry Hill
Psych2006 · Series · Lloyd Marr

Filmography

Movies

116 films

Sin2025 · Film · Elijah
IF2024 · Film · Lewis (voice)
The Color Purple2023 · Film · Ol' Mister
Outlaw Johnny Black2023 · Film · Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)
Three Months2022 · Film · Benny
Not to Forget2021 · Film · Pastor John
I Forgive2021 · Film · God (voice)
The Reason2020 · Film · Pastor Jim
The Cuban2020 · Film · Luis Garcia
Miracle in East Texas2020 · Film · Irving Tanner Jr.
Foster Boy2019 · Film · Judge George Taylor
Supervized2019 · Film · Pendle
Breaking Brooklyn2018 · Film · Miles Bryant
Undercover Grandpa2017 · Film · Mother
Double Play2017 · Film · Coco
King of the Dancehall2017 · Film · The Bishop
Boiling Pot2015 · Film · Detective Haven
The Dependables2014 · Film · Lou Jones
A Fighting Man2014 · Film · Cubby
Miracle at Gate 2132013 · Film · Roy Peddington
Breaking at the Edge2013 · Film · Floyd
Smitty2012 · Film · Mr. Smith
The Undershepherd2012 · Film · Bishop Redford
Dog Jack2011 · Film · Grown up Jed
The Grace Card2011 · Film · George Wright
Why Did I Get Married Too?2010 · Film · Porter
The Perfect Game2009 · Film · Cool Papa Bell
Amazing Racer2009 · Film · Max Donovan
Delgo2008 · Film · King Zahn (voice)
Stories USA2007 · Film · Doc (segment "Club Soda")
Cover2007 · Film · Detective Hicks
Daddy's Little Girls2007 · Film · Willie
Club Soda2006 · Film · Doc
Solar Attack2006 · Film · President Ryan Gordon
All In2006 · Film · Caps
Left Behind: World at War2005 · Film · President Geral Fitzhugh
Lackawanna Blues2005 · Film · Ol'lem Taylor
Jasper, Texas2003 · Film · R.C. Horn
Momentum2003 · Film · Raymond Addison
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away2002 · Film · Dr. Barnes
Deceived2002 · Film · Col. David Garrett
For Love of Olivia2001 · Film · Daniel Stewart
Dr. Lucille2001 · Film
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story2000 · Film · Lou Hastings
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence2000 · Film · Frank
The Highwayman2000 · Film · Phil Bishop
Strange Justice1999 · Film · Vernon Jordan
Y2K1999 · Film · Morgan
Love Songs1999 · Film · Reuben
The Inspectors1998 · Film · Inspector Frank Hughes
Legend of the Mummy1998 · Film · Corbeck
In His Father's Shoes1997 · Film · Frank Crosby / Richard
To Dance with Olivia1997 · Film · Daniel Stewart
Inside1996 · Film · Questioner
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story1996 · Film · James Mink
Managua1996 · Film · Paul
Iron Eagle on the Attack1995 · Film · Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder1995 · Film · Ray Alexander
Zooman1995 · Film · Rueben Tate
A Father for Charlie1995 · Film · Walter Osgood
Flashfire1994 · Film · Ben Durand
Curse of the Starving Class1994 · Film · Ellis
A Good Man in Africa1994 · Film · Prof. Sam Adekunle
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice1994 · Film · Ray Alexander
Blue Chips1994 · Film · Father Dawkins (uncredited)
Monolith1993 · Film · Capt. MacCandless
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations1993 · Film · Leonard Clay
Diggstown1992 · Film · "Honey" Roy Palmer
Iron Eagle III1992 · Film · Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Keeper of the City1991 · Film · Det. James Dela
Carolina Skeletons1991 · Film · James Bragg
Toy Soldiers1991 · Film · Dean Parker
The Josephine Baker Story1991 · Film · Sidney Williams
Cover-Up1991 · Film · Lou Jackson
Sudie and Simpson1990 · Film · Simpson
El Diablo1990 · Film · Van Leek
Zora is My Name!1990 · Film
The Punisher1989 · Film · Jake Berkowitz
Roots: The Gift1988 · Film · Fiddler
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July1988 · Film · Big John Creed
Iron Eagle II1988 · Film · Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play1988 · Film · Sam
The Father Clements Story1987 · Film
The Principal1987 · Film · Jake Phillips
A Gathering of Old Men1987 · Film · Mathu
Firewalker1986 · Film · Leo Porter
Iron Eagle1986 · Film · Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Enemy Mine1985 · Film · Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
The Guardian1984 · Film · John Mack
Finders Keepers1984 · Film · Century
Jaws 3-D1983 · Film · Calvin Bouchard
An Officer and a Gentleman1982 · Film · Sergeant Emil Foley
Benny's Place1982 · Film · Benny Moore
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige1981 · Film · Leroy 'Satchel' Paige
It Rained All Night the Day I Left1980 · Film · Leo Garcia
The Lazarus Syndrome1979 · Film · Dr. MacArthur St. Clair
Lawman Without a Gun1979 · Film · Tom Hayward
To Kill a Cop1978 · Film · Everett Walker
Freeman1977 · Film · Rex
The Choirboys1977 · Film · Calvin Motts
The Deep1977 · Film · Henri Cloche
Little Ladies of the Night1977 · Film · Russ Garfield
J.D.'s Revenge1976 · Film · Rev. Elija Bliss
The River Niger1976 · Film · Dr. Dudley Stanton
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within1975 · Film · Otis James
Black Bart1975 · Film · Black Bart
The White Dawn1974 · Film · Portagee
Sidekicks1974 · Film · Jason O'Rourke
It's Good to Be Alive1974 · Film · Sam Brockington
The Laughing Policeman1973 · Film · Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
Travels with My Aunt1972 · Film · Wordsworth
Skin Game1971 · Film · Jason O'Rourke
The Landlord1970 · Film · Copee Johnson
The Bushbaby1969 · Film · Tembo
Companions in Nightmare1968 · Film · Lt. Adam McKay
A Raisin in the Sun1961 · Film · George Murchison

Filmography

Series

53 shows

Watchmen2019 · Series · Old Man / Will Reeves
The Good Fight2017 · Series · Carl Reddick
The Spoils Before Dying2015 · Series · Duke Webster
The Book of Negroes2015 · Series · Daddy Moses
Madam Secretary2014 · Series · Laurent Vasseur
Extant2014 · Series · Quinn
Hawaii Five-02010 · Series · Lou's father
Psych2006 · Series · Lloyd Marr
The Batman2004 · Series · Lucius Fox (voice)
Half & Half2002 · Series · Ray Willis
The Dead Zone2002 · Series · Pastor David Lewis
Family Guy1999 · Series · Drill Sargent (voice)
Hercules1998 · Series · Chiron (voice)
Stargate SG-11997 · Series · Gerak
Early Edition1996 · Series · Jim Matthews
Promised Land1996 · Series · Anderson Walker
Touched by an Angel1994 · Series · Anderson Walker
ER1994 · Series · Leo Malcolm
Ellen1994 · Series · Sgt. Timko
Return to Lonesome Dove1993 · Series · Isom Pickett
Picket Fences1992 · Series · Rick Jennings
Captain Planet and the Planeteers1990 · Series · Commander Clash (voice)
Gideon Oliver1989 · Series
The Powers of Matthew Star1982 · Series · Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)
American Playhouse1982 · Series
Palmerstown, U.S.A.1980 · Series
The Lazarus Syndrome1979 · Series · MacArthur St. Clair
Backstairs at the White House1979 · Series · Levi Mercer, Houseman
The Critical List1978 · Series · Lem Harper
To Kill a Cop1978 · Series · Everett Walker
Roots1977 · Series · Fiddler
The Jeffersons1975 · Series
The Rockford Files1974 · Series · Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien
Harry O1974 · Series · Cleon Jackson
Little House on the Prairie1974 · Series · Henry Hill
Petrocelli1974 · Series · Kurt Olson, DA
Good Times1974 · Series
The Six Million Dollar Man1974 · Series · O'Flaherty
Police Story1973 · Series
The Rookies1972 · Series
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law1971 · Series · Lt. Carl Fellows
Alias Smith and Jones1971 · Series
The Partridge Family1970 · Series · Sam Simon
The Young Rebels1970 · Series
McCloud1970 · Series
Love, American Style1969 · Series · Freddy
The Bill Cosby Show1969 · Series · Hurricane Smith
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors1969 · Series · Dr. Karnes
The Mod Squad1968 · Series · Smitty
Cowboy in Africa1967 · Series · Fulah
The Invaders1967 · Series · Ollie
Daktari1966 · Series · Mkono
Bonanza1959 · Series · Buck Walter