Personal Info
Known ForActing
Born1936-05-27
BirthplaceBrooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Louis Gossett Jr.
Acting
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.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Louis Gossett Jr.
Filmography
Acting (145)
2025
Sinas Elijah
2024
IFas Lewis (voice)
6.9
2023
The Color Purpleas Ol' Mister
7.0
2023
Outlaw Johnny Blackas Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)
5.3
2022
Sidneyas Self
6.9
2022
Three Monthsas Benny
7.1
2021
Not to Forgetas Pastor John
6.8
2021
I Forgiveas God (voice)
4.7
2020
The Reasonas Pastor Jim
7.8
2020
The Cubanas Luis Garcia
5.2
2020
Miracle in East Texasas Irving Tanner Jr.
4.0
2019
Foster Boyas Judge George Taylor
6.7
2019
Supervizedas Pendle
5.2
2019
The Gang Activistsas Self
2019
Halas Self
6.6
2018
Breaking Brooklynas Miles Bryant
7.8
6.2
2017
Undercover Grandpaas Mother
5.7
2017
Double Playas Coco
3.5
2017
King of the Dancehallas The Bishop
7.6
2016
8.0
2016
A.C. Green: Iron Virginas Himself
7.0
2015
Boiling Potas Detective Haven
5.2
2014
The Dependablesas Lou Jones
3.1
2014
A Fighting Manas Cubby
5.5
2013
Miracle at Gate 213as Roy Peddington
6.0
2013
Breaking at the Edgeas Floyd
4.7
2012
Smittyas Mr. Smith
5.9
2012
The Undershepherdas Bishop Redford
6.0
2011
Dog Jackas Grown up Jed
4.0
2011
The Grace Cardas George Wright
7.2
2010
Why Did I Get Married Too?as Porter
6.6
2009
The Perfect Gameas Cool Papa Bell
7.3
2009
Amazing Raceras Max Donovan
5.9
2009
The Least Among Youas Samuel Benton
4.0
8.0
2008
Delgoas King Zahn (voice)
4.6
2008
2008
A Love Story of Todayas Self
2008
A Special Kind of Loveas Self
2008
The Black List: Volume Oneas Self
6.5
2007
Stories USAas Doc (segment "Club Soda")
3.9
2007
Coveras Detective Hicks
5.1
2007
Daddy's Little Girlsas Willie
6.9
2007
2006
Club Sodaas Doc
2006
Solar Attackas President Ryan Gordon
5.2
2006
All Inas Caps
4.5
2005
Left Behind: World at Waras President Geral Fitzhugh
4.2
2005
Lackawanna Bluesas Ol'lem Taylor
5.9
2003
Jasper, Texasas R.C. Horn
6.0
2003
Momentumas Raymond Addison
5.1
2002
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Awayas Dr. Barnes
7.5
2002
Deceivedas Col. David Garrett
5.0
2001
For Love of Oliviaas Daniel Stewart
5.0
2001
7.0
2000
The Color of Love: Jacey's Storyas Lou Hastings
7.0
2000
6.0
2000
The Highwaymanas Phil Bishop
4.3
1999
Strange Justiceas Vernon Jordan
7.0
1999
Y2Kas Morgan
4.9
1999
Love Songsas Reuben
8.7
1998
The Inspectorsas Inspector Frank Hughes
5.9
1998
The Wall That Healsas Self - Host
8.0
1998
Legend of the Mummyas Corbeck
4.3
1997
In His Father's Shoesas Frank Crosby / Richard
6.0
1997
To Dance with Oliviaas Daniel Stewart
8.0
1996
Insideas Questioner
4.8
1996
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Storyas Bob Kersee
8.0
1996
Captive Heart: The James Mink Storyas James Mink
5.1
1996
Managuaas Paul
5.0
1995
Iron Eagle on the Attackas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
3.9
8.0
1995
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murderas Ray Alexander
7.0
1995
Zoomanas Rueben Tate
6.2
1995
A Father for Charlieas Walter Osgood
6.8
1995
8.0
1994
Flashfireas Ben Durand
4.5
1994
Curse of the Starving Classas Ellis
4.6
1994
A Good Man in Africaas Prof. Sam Adekunle
4.9
1994
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justiceas Ray Alexander
10.0
1994
Blue Chipsas Father Dawkins (uncredited)
6.1
1993
Monolithas Capt. MacCandless
4.6
1993
Father & Son: Dangerous Relationsas Leonard Clay
6.2
1992
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War IIas Reader (voice)
7.5
1992
Gridiron Gangas Host
1992
Diggstownas "Honey" Roy Palmer
6.3
1992
Iron Eagle IIIas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
4.1
1991
Keeper of the Cityas Det. James Dela
5.3
1991
Carolina Skeletonsas James Bragg
7.2
1991
Toy Soldiersas Dean Parker
6.5
1991
The Josephine Baker Storyas Sidney Williams
6.0
1991
Cover-Upas Lou Jackson
4.0
1990
Sudie and Simpsonas Simpson
6.9
1990
El Diabloas Van Leek
5.6
1990
10.0
1989
The Punisheras Jake Berkowitz
5.8
1988
Roots: The Giftas Fiddler
7.3
1988
Goodbye, Miss 4th of Julyas Big John Creed
9.0
1988
Iron Eagle IIas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
4.5
1988
10.0
1988
Straight Upas Cosmo
9.0
1987
The Principalas Jake Phillips
6.5
1987
6.0
1987
A Gathering of Old Menas Mathu
6.2
1986
Firewalkeras Leo Porter
5.3
1986
Iron Eagleas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
5.6
1985
Enemy Mineas Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
7.0
1984
The Guardianas John Mack
5.5
1984
Finders Keepersas Century
5.5
1983
Jaws 3-Das Calvin Bouchard
4.5
1983
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Dieas narrator
5.0
1982
An Officer and a Gentlemanas Sergeant Emil Foley
7.0
1982
Benny's Placeas Benny Moore
10.0
1982
I Love Libertyas Self
1981
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paigeas Leroy 'Satchel' Paige
6.6
1980
It Rained All Night the Day I Leftas Leo Garcia
5.2
1979
The Lazarus Syndromeas Dr. MacArthur St. Clair
4.9
1979
Lawman Without a Gunas Tom Hayward
9.0
1978
To Kill a Copas Everett Walker
10.0
1977
Freemanas Rex
6.0
1977
The Choirboysas Calvin Motts
5.4
1977
The Deepas Henri Cloche
6.1
1977
Little Ladies of the Nightas Russ Garfield
4.2
1976
J.D.'s Revengeas Rev. Elija Bliss
5.9
1976
The River Nigeras Dr. Dudley Stanton
6.7
1975
Delancey Street: The Crisis Withinas Otis James
10.0
1975
Black Bartas Black Bart
3.8
1974
The White Dawnas Portagee
6.6
1974
Sidekicksas Jason O'Rourke
6.5
1974
It's Good to Be Aliveas Sam Brockington
7.3
1973
The Laughing Policemanas Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
6.2
1972
Travels with My Auntas Wordsworth
6.0
1971
Skin Gameas Jason O'Rourke
6.6
1970
The Landlordas Copee Johnson
6.0
1969
The Bushbabyas Tembo
6.5
1968
Companions in Nightmareas Lt. Adam McKay
5.3
1961
A Raisin in the Sunas George Murchison
7.7
1960
The New Girlas Mary's Brother
—
Crimes of Violenceas Self - Host
8.0
—
Unpluggedas Amos Burton (voice)
Production & Directing (8)
2024
IFIn Memory Of
6.9
2001
For Love of OliviaExecutive Producer
5.0
2000
The Color of Love: Jacey's StoryExecutive Producer
7.0
1999
Love SongsDirector
8.7
1997
In His Father's ShoesExecutive Producer
6.0
1997
To Dance with OliviaExecutive Producer
8.0
1996
InsideExecutive Producer
4.8
1995
A Father for CharlieExecutive Producer
6.8