

Louis Gossett Jr.
Known for exceptional acting in global cinema.
Profession
Acting
Birthday
27 May 1936
Age
90 Years
Born In
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Total Projects
219
Years Active
81 Yrs
Avg Rating
6.5 ★
Overview
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...
Known For
Filmography

movie
Sin
Sin
as Elijah

movie
IF
IF
as Lewis (voice)

movie
The Color Purple
The Color Purple
as Ol' Mister

movie
Outlaw Johnny Black
Outlaw Johnny Black
as Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)

movie
Sidney
Sidney
as Self

movie
Three Months
Three Months
as Benny

movie
Not to Forget
Not to Forget
as Pastor John

movie
I Forgive
I Forgive
as God (voice)

movie
The Reason
The Reason
as Pastor Jim

movie
The Cuban
The Cuban
as Luis Garcia

movie
Miracle in East Texas
Miracle in East Texas
as Irving Tanner Jr.

tv
Watchmen
Watchmen
as Old Man / Will Reeves

movie
Foster Boy
Foster Boy
as Judge George Taylor

movie
Supervized
Supervized
as Pendle

movie
The Gang Activists
The Gang Activists
as Self

movie
Hal
Hal
as Self

movie
Breaking Brooklyn
Breaking Brooklyn
as Miles Bryant

movie
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
as Self

movie
Undercover Grandpa
Undercover Grandpa
as Mother

tv
The Good Fight
The Good Fight
as Carl Reddick

movie
Double Play
Double Play
as Coco

movie
King of the Dancehall
King of the Dancehall
as The Bishop

movie
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
as Self

movie
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin
as Himself

movie
Boiling Pot
Boiling Pot
as Detective Haven

tv
The Spoils Before Dying
The Spoils Before Dying
as Duke Webster

tv
The Book of Negroes
The Book of Negroes
as Daddy Moses

tv
Madam Secretary
Madam Secretary
as Laurent Vasseur

tv
Extant
Extant
as Quinn

movie
The Dependables
The Dependables
as Lou Jones

movie
A Fighting Man
A Fighting Man
as Cubby

movie
Miracle at Gate 213
Miracle at Gate 213
as Roy Peddington

movie
Breaking at the Edge
Breaking at the Edge
as Floyd

movie
Smitty
Smitty
as Mr. Smith

movie
The Undershepherd
The Undershepherd
as Bishop Redford

movie
Dog Jack
Dog Jack
as Grown up Jed

movie
The Grace Card
The Grace Card
as George Wright

tv
Hawaii Five-0
Hawaii Five-0
as Lou's father

movie
Why Did I Get Married Too?
Why Did I Get Married Too?
as Porter

movie
The Perfect Game
The Perfect Game
as Cool Papa Bell

tv
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Celebrity Ghost Stories
as Self

movie
Amazing Racer
Amazing Racer
as Max Donovan

movie
The Least Among You
The Least Among You
as Samuel Benton

movie
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
as Self

movie
Delgo
Delgo
as King Zahn (voice)

movie
Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth
Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth
as Self

movie
A Love Story of Today
A Love Story of Today
as Self

movie
A Special Kind of Love
A Special Kind of Love
as Self

movie
The Black List: Volume One
The Black List: Volume One
as Self

movie
Stories USA
Stories USA
as Doc (segment "Club Soda")

movie
Cover
Cover
as Detective Hicks

movie
Daddy's Little Girls
Daddy's Little Girls
as Willie

movie
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
as Self

movie
Club Soda
Club Soda
as Doc

tv
Psych
Psych
as Lloyd Marr

movie
Solar Attack
Solar Attack
as President Ryan Gordon

movie
All In
All In
as Caps

movie
Left Behind: World at War
Left Behind: World at War
as President Geral Fitzhugh

tv
Black in the 80s
Black in the 80s

movie
Lackawanna Blues
Lackawanna Blues
as Ol'lem Taylor

tv
The Batman
The Batman
as Lucius Fox (voice)

movie
Jasper, Texas
Jasper, Texas
as R.C. Horn

movie
Momentum
Momentum
as Raymond Addison

tv
Half & Half
Half & Half
as Ray Willis

tv
The Dead Zone
The Dead Zone
as Pastor David Lewis

movie
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away
as Dr. Barnes

movie
Deceived
Deceived
as Col. David Garrett

movie
For Love of Olivia
For Love of Olivia
as Daniel Stewart

movie
Dr. Lucille
Dr. Lucille

movie
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
as Lou Hastings

movie
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence
as Frank

movie
The Highwayman
The Highwayman
as Phil Bishop

movie
Strange Justice
Strange Justice
as Vernon Jordan

movie
Y2K
Y2K
as Morgan

movie
Love Songs
Love Songs
as Reuben

tv
Family Guy
Family Guy
as Drill Sargent (voice)

movie
The Inspectors
The Inspectors
as Inspector Frank Hughes

tv
Hercules
Hercules
as Chiron (voice)

movie
The Wall That Heals
The Wall That Heals
as Self - Host

movie
Legend of the Mummy
Legend of the Mummy
as Corbeck

movie
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
as Self

tv
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
as Gerak

movie
In His Father's Shoes
In His Father's Shoes
as Frank Crosby / Richard

movie
To Dance with Olivia
To Dance with Olivia
as Daniel Stewart

tv
Early Edition
Early Edition
as Jim Matthews

tv
Promised Land
Promised Land
as Anderson Walker

movie
Inside
Inside
as Questioner

movie
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story
as Bob Kersee

movie
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
as James Mink

movie
Managua
Managua
as Paul

movie
Iron Eagle on the Attack
Iron Eagle on the Attack
as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

movie
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self

movie
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
as Ray Alexander

movie
Zooman
Zooman
as Rueben Tate

movie
A Father for Charlie
A Father for Charlie
as Walter Osgood

movie
Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing
Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing
as Narrator

tv
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
as Anderson Walker

tv
ER
ER
as Leo Malcolm

movie
Flashfire
Flashfire
as Ben Durand

movie
Curse of the Starving Class
Curse of the Starving Class
as Ellis

movie
A Good Man in Africa
A Good Man in Africa
as Prof. Sam Adekunle

movie
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
as Ray Alexander

tv
Ellen
Ellen
as Sgt. Timko

movie
Blue Chips
Blue Chips
as Father Dawkins (uncredited)

tv
Return to Lonesome Dove
Return to Lonesome Dove
as Isom Pickett

movie
Monolith
Monolith
as Capt. MacCandless

movie
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
as Leonard Clay

movie
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II
as Reader (voice)

tv
Picket Fences
Picket Fences
as Rick Jennings

movie
Diggstown
Diggstown
as "Honey" Roy Palmer

movie
Iron Eagle III
Iron Eagle III
as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

movie
Keeper of the City
Keeper of the City
as Det. James Dela

movie
Carolina Skeletons
Carolina Skeletons
as James Bragg

movie
Toy Soldiers
Toy Soldiers
as Dean Parker

movie
The Josephine Baker Story
The Josephine Baker Story
as Sidney Williams

movie
Cover-Up
Cover-Up
as Lou Jackson

tv
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
as Commander Clash (voice)

movie
Sudie and Simpson
Sudie and Simpson
as Simpson

movie
El Diablo
El Diablo
as Van Leek

movie
Zora is My Name!
Zora is My Name!

movie
The Punisher
The Punisher
as Jake Berkowitz

tv
Gideon Oliver
Gideon Oliver

movie
Roots: The Gift
Roots: The Gift
as Fiddler

movie
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July
as Big John Creed

movie
Iron Eagle II
Iron Eagle II
as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

tv
American Experience
American Experience
as Narrator (voice)

movie
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play
as Sam

movie
The Father Clements Story
The Father Clements Story

movie
The Principal
The Principal
as Jake Phillips

movie
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
as Self

movie
A Gathering of Old Men
A Gathering of Old Men
as Mathu

movie
Firewalker
Firewalker
as Leo Porter

movie
Iron Eagle
Iron Eagle
as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

movie
Enemy Mine
Enemy Mine
as Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

movie
The Guardian
The Guardian
as John Mack

movie
Finders Keepers
Finders Keepers
as Century

tv
Sadat
Sadat
as Anwar al-Sadat

movie
Jaws 3-D
Jaws 3-D
as Calvin Bouchard

movie
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die
as narrator

tv
The Powers of Matthew Star
The Powers of Matthew Star
as Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)

movie
An Officer and a Gentleman
An Officer and a Gentleman
as Sergeant Emil Foley

movie
Benny's Place
Benny's Place
as Benny Moore

movie
I Love Liberty
I Love Liberty
as Self

movie
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
as Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

movie
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
as Leo Garcia

tv
Palmerstown, U.S.A.
Palmerstown, U.S.A.

movie
The Lazarus Syndrome
The Lazarus Syndrome
as Dr. MacArthur St. Clair

tv
The Lazarus Syndrome
The Lazarus Syndrome
as MacArthur St. Clair

movie
Lawman Without a Gun
Lawman Without a Gun
as Tom Hayward

tv
Backstairs at the White House
Backstairs at the White House
as Levi Mercer, Houseman

tv
The Critical List
The Critical List
as Lem Harper

movie
To Kill a Cop
To Kill a Cop
as Everett Walker

tv
To Kill a Cop
To Kill a Cop
as Everett Walker

movie
The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots
The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots
as Self

movie
Freeman
Freeman
as Rex

movie
The Choirboys
The Choirboys
as Calvin Motts

movie
The Deep
The Deep
as Henri Cloche

tv
Please Turn the Page
Please Turn the Page
as Self

tv
Roots
Roots
as Fiddler

movie
Little Ladies of the Night
Little Ladies of the Night
as Russ Garfield

movie
J.D.'s Revenge
J.D.'s Revenge
as Rev. Elija Bliss

movie
The River Niger
The River Niger
as Dr. Dudley Stanton

tv
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host

movie
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within
as Otis James

tv
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons

movie
Black Bart
Black Bart
as Black Bart

tv
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
as Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien

tv
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
as Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes

tv
Harry O
Harry O
as Cleon Jackson

tv
Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
as Henry Hill

tv
Petrocelli
Petrocelli
as Kurt Olson, DA

tv
Petrocelli
Petrocelli
as District Attorney Kurt Olson

movie
The White Dawn
The White Dawn
as Portagee

movie
Sidekicks
Sidekicks
as Jason O'Rourke

movie
It's Good to Be Alive
It's Good to Be Alive
as Sam Brockington

tv
Good Times
Good Times

tv
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man
as O'Flaherty

movie
The Laughing Policeman
The Laughing Policeman
as Insp. James Larrimore SFPD

tv
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
as Self

tv
Police Story
Police Story

movie
Travels with My Aunt
Travels with My Aunt
as Wordsworth

tv
The Rookies
The Rookies

movie
Skin Game
Skin Game
as Jason O'Rourke

tv
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
as Lt. Carl Fellows

tv
Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones

tv
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family
as Sam Simon

tv
The Young Rebels
The Young Rebels

movie
The Landlord
The Landlord
as Copee Johnson

tv
McCloud
McCloud

tv
Love, American Style
Love, American Style
as Freddy

tv
The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show
as Hurricane Smith

tv
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
as Dr. Karnes

movie
The Bushbaby
The Bushbaby
as Tembo

movie
Companions in Nightmare
Companions in Nightmare
as Lt. Adam McKay

tv
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad
as Smitty

tv
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad
as Lloyd

tv
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad
as Charley Jameson

tv
Cowboy in Africa
Cowboy in Africa
as Fulah

tv
Cowboy in Africa
Cowboy in Africa
as Joseph Hemera

tv
The Invaders
The Invaders
as Ollie

tv
Daktari
Daktari
as Mkono

tv
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self

tv
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self

tv
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self

movie
A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun
as George Murchison

movie
The New Girl
The New Girl
as Mary's Brother

tv
Bonanza
Bonanza
as Buck Walter

tv
The Oscars
The Oscars
as Self

tv
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self

tv
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Nominee

tv
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Audience Member

tv
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Presenter

tv
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Host

tv
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Nominee / Presenter

movie
Gridiron Gang
Gridiron Gang
as Host

movie
Straight Up
Straight Up
as Cosmo

movie
Crimes of Violence
Crimes of Violence
as Self - Host

movie
Forget to Remember
Forget to Remember

movie
Unplugged
Unplugged
as Amos Burton (voice)