Louis Gossett Jr.
Known for
Acting
Life
1936 – 2024 (aged 87)
Born in
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Credits
View on IMDb181 acting credits
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
Family Guy
31 Jan 1999
Hawaii Five-0
20 Sep 2010
Stargate SG-1
27 Jul 1997
IF
08 May 2024
Watchmen
20 Oct 2019
Jaws 3-D
22 Jul 1983
An Officer and a Gentleman
28 Jul 1982
Enemy Mine
12 Dec 1985
Photos
Filmography
2025
- Sinas Elijah
2024
- IFas Lewis (voice)
2023
- The Color Purpleas Ol' Mister
- Outlaw Johnny Blackas Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)
2022
- Three Monthsas Benny
2021
- Not to Forgetas Pastor John
- I Forgiveas God (voice)
2020
- The Reasonas Pastor Jim
- The Cubanas Luis Garcia
- Miracle in East Texasas Irving Tanner Jr.
2019
- Watchmenas Old Man7 episodes
- Foster Boyas Judge George Taylor
- Supervizedas Pendle
2018
- Breaking Brooklynas Miles Bryant
2017
- Undercover Grandpaas Mother
- The Good Fightas Carl Reddick1 episode
- Double Playas Coco
- King of the Dancehallas The Bishop
2015
- Boiling Potas Detective Haven
- The Spoils Before Dyingas Duke Webster6 episodes
- The Book of Negroesas Daddy Moses6 episodes
2014
- Madam Secretaryas Laurent Vasseur1 episode
- Extantas Quinn4 episodes
- The Dependablesas Lou Jones
- A Fighting Manas Cubby
2013
- Miracle at Gate 213as Roy Peddington
- Breaking at the Edgeas Floyd
2012
- Smittyas Mr. Smith
- The Undershepherdas Bishop Redford
2011
- Dog Jackas Grown up Jed
- The Grace Cardas George Wright
2010
- Hawaii Five-0as Lou's father1 episode
- Why Did I Get Married Too?as Porter
2009
- The Perfect Gameas Cool Papa Bell
- Amazing Raceras Max Donovan
- The Least Among Youas Samuel Benton
2008
- Delgoas King Zahn (voice)
2007
- Stories USAas Doc (segment "Club Soda")
- Coveras Detective Hicks
- Daddy's Little Girlsas Willie
2006
- Club Sodaas Doc
- Psychas Lloyd Marr1 episode
- Solar Attackas President Ryan Gordon
- All Inas Caps
2005
- Left Behind: World at Waras President Geral Fitzhugh
- Lackawanna Bluesas Ol'lem Taylor
2004
- The Batmanas Lucius Fox (voice)3 episodes
2003
- Jasper, Texasas R.C. Horn
- Momentumas Raymond Addison
2002
- Half & Halfas Ray Willis2 episodes
- The Dead Zoneas Pastor David Lewis1 episode
- What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Awayas Dr. Barnes
- Deceivedas Col. David Garrett
2001
- For Love of Oliviaas Daniel Stewart
- Dr. Lucille
2000
- The Color of Love: Jacey's Storyas Lou Hastings
- The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidenceas Frank
- The Highwaymanas Phil Bishop
1999
- Strange Justiceas Vernon Jordan
- Y2Kas Morgan
- Love Songsas Reuben
- Family Guyas Drill Sargent (voice)1 episode
1998
- The Inspectorsas Inspector Frank Hughes
- Herculesas Chiron (voice)1 episode
- Legend of the Mummyas Corbeck
1997
- Stargate SG-1as Gerak5 episodes
- In His Father's Shoesas Frank Crosby
- To Dance with Oliviaas Daniel Stewart
1996
- Early Editionas Jim Matthews1 episode
- Promised Landas Anderson Walker1 episode
- Insideas Questioner
- Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Storyas Bob Kersee
- Captive Heart: The James Mink Storyas James Mink
- Managuaas Paul
1995
- Iron Eagle on the Attackas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
- Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murderas Ray Alexander
- Zoomanas Rueben Tate
- A Father for Charlieas Walter Osgood
- Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxingas Narrator
1994
- Touched by an Angelas Anderson Walker1 episode
- ERas Leo Malcolm1 episode
- Flashfireas Ben Durand
- Curse of the Starving Classas Ellis
- A Good Man in Africaas Prof. Sam Adekunle
- Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justiceas Ray Alexander
- Ellenas Sgt. Timko1 episode
- Blue Chipsas Father Dawkins (uncredited)
1993
- Return to Lonesome Doveas Isom Pickett4 episodes
- Monolithas Capt. MacCandless
- Father & Son: Dangerous Relationsas Leonard Clay
1992
- Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War IIas Reader (voice)
- Picket Fencesas Rick Jennings1 episode
- Gridiron Gangas Host
- Diggstownas "Honey" Roy Palmer
- Iron Eagle IIIas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
1991
- Keeper of the Cityas Det. James Dela
- Carolina Skeletonsas James Bragg
- Toy Soldiersas Dean Parker
- The Josephine Baker Storyas Sidney Williams
- Cover-Upas Lou Jackson
1990
- Captain Planet and the Planeteersas Commander Clash (voice)2 episodes
- Sudie and Simpsonas Simpson
- El Diabloas Van Leek
- Zora is My Name!
1989
- The Punisheras Jake Berkowitz
- Gideon Oliver5 episodes
1988
- Roots: The Giftas Fiddler
- Goodbye, Miss 4th of Julyas Big John Creed
- Iron Eagle IIas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
- American Experienceas Narrator (voice)1 episode
- Sam Found Out: A Triple Playas Sam
- Straight Upas Cosmo
1987
- The Father Clements Story
- The Principalas Jake Phillips
- A Gathering of Old Menas Mathu
1986
- Firewalkeras Leo Porter
- Iron Eagleas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
1985
- Enemy Mineas Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
1984
- The Guardianas John Mack
- Finders Keepersas Century
1983
- Sadatas Anwar al-Sadat2 episodes
- Jaws 3-Das Calvin Bouchard
- The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Dieas narrator
1982
- The Powers of Matthew Staras Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)22 episodes
- An Officer and a Gentlemanas Sergeant Emil Foley
- Benny's Placeas Benny Moore
- American Playhouse1 episode
1981
- Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paigeas Leroy 'Satchel' Paige
1980
- It Rained All Night the Day I Leftas Leo Garcia
- Palmerstown, U.S.A.1 episode
1979
- The Lazarus Syndromeas Dr. MacArthur St. Clair
- The Lazarus Syndromeas MacArthur St. Clair10 episodes
- Lawman Without a Gunas Tom Hayward
- Backstairs at the White Houseas Levi Mercer, Houseman4 episodes
1978
- The Critical Listas Lem Harper2 episodes
- To Kill a Copas Everett Walker
- To Kill a Copas Everett Walker2 episodes
1977
- Freemanas Rex
- The Choirboysas Calvin Motts
- The Deepas Henri Cloche
- Rootsas Fiddler3 episodes
- Little Ladies of the Nightas Russ Garfield
1976
- J.D.'s Revengeas Rev. Elija Bliss
- The River Nigeras Dr. Dudley Stanton
1975
- Delancey Street: The Crisis Withinas Otis James
- The Jeffersons1 episode
- Black Bartas Black Bart
1974
- The Rockford Filesas Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes1 episode
- Harry Oas Cleon Jackson1 episode
- Little House on the Prairieas Henry Hill1 episode
- Petrocellias Kurt Olson, DA1 episode
- The White Dawnas Portagee
- Sidekicksas Jason O'Rourke
- It's Good to Be Aliveas Sam Brockington
- Good Times2 episodes
- The Six Million Dollar Manas O'Flaherty1 episode
1973
- The Laughing Policemanas Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
- Police Story2 episodes
1972
- Travels with My Auntas Wordsworth
- The Rookies1 episode
1971
- Skin Gameas Jason O'Rourke
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Lawas Lt. Carl Fellows1 episode
- Alias Smith and Jones1 episode
1970
- The Partridge Familyas Sam Simon1 episode
- The Young Rebels15 episodes
- The Landlordas Copee Johnson
- McCloud1 episode
1969
- Love, American Styleas Freddy1 episode
- The Bill Cosby Showas Hurricane Smith1 episode
- The Bold Ones: The New Doctorsas Dr. Karnes1 episode
- The Bushbabyas Tembo
1968
- Companions in Nightmareas Lt. Adam McKay
- The Mod Squadas Lloyd1 episode
1967
- Cowboy in Africaas Fulah1 episode
- The Invadersas Ollie1 episode
1966
- Daktarias Mkono1 episode
1961
- A Raisin in the Sunas George Murchison
1960
- The New Girlas Mary's Brother
1959
- Bonanzaas Buck Walter1 episode