Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Acting

May 27, 1936 — March 29, 2024Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

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

Family Guy

1999

Hawaii Five-0

Hawaii Five-0

2010

Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1

1997

IF

2024

Watchmen

Watchmen

2019

Jaws 3-D

Jaws 3-D

1983

An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman

1982

Enemy Mine

Enemy Mine

1985

Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

1974

Psych

Psych

2006

Acting211

Sin

Sin

2025

Elijah

IF

2024

Lewis (voice)

The Color Purple

The Color Purple

2023

Ol' Mister

Outlaw Johnny Black

Outlaw Johnny Black

2023

Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)

Sidney

Sidney

2022

Self

Three Months

Three Months

2022

Benny

Not to Forget

Not to Forget

2021

Pastor John

I Forgive

I Forgive

2021

God (voice)

The Reason

The Reason

2020

Pastor Jim

The Cuban

The Cuban

2020

Luis Garcia

Miracle in East Texas

Miracle in East Texas

2020

Irving Tanner Jr.

Watchmen

Watchmen

2019

Old Man / Will Reeves

Foster Boy

Foster Boy

2019

Judge George Taylor

Supervized

Supervized

2019

Pendle

The Gang Activists

The Gang Activists

2019

Self

Hal

Hal

2019

Self

Breaking Brooklyn

Breaking Brooklyn

2018

Miles Bryant

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

2017

Self

Undercover Grandpa

Undercover Grandpa

2017

Mother

The Good Fight

The Good Fight

2017

Carl Reddick

Double Play

Double Play

2017

Coco

King of the Dancehall

King of the Dancehall

2017

The Bishop

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

2016

Self

A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

2016

Himself

Boiling Pot

Boiling Pot

2015

Detective Haven

The Spoils Before Dying

The Spoils Before Dying

2015

Duke Webster

The Book of Negroes

The Book of Negroes

2015

Daddy Moses

Madam Secretary

Madam Secretary

2014

Laurent Vasseur

Extant

Extant

2014

Quinn

The Dependables

The Dependables

2014

Lou Jones

A Fighting Man

A Fighting Man

2014

Cubby

Miracle at Gate 213

Miracle at Gate 213

2013

Roy Peddington

Breaking at the Edge

Breaking at the Edge

2013

Floyd

Smitty

Smitty

2012

Mr. Smith

The Undershepherd

The Undershepherd

2012

Bishop Redford

Dog Jack

Dog Jack

2011

Grown up Jed

The Grace Card

The Grace Card

2011

George Wright

Hawaii Five-0

Hawaii Five-0

2010

Lou's father

Why Did I Get Married Too?

Why Did I Get Married Too?

2010

Porter

The Perfect Game

The Perfect Game

2009

Cool Papa Bell

Celebrity Ghost Stories

Celebrity Ghost Stories

2009

Self

Amazing Racer

Amazing Racer

2009

Max Donovan

The Least Among You

The Least Among You

2009

Samuel Benton

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

2009

Self

Delgo

Delgo

2008

King Zahn (voice)

Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth

Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth

2008

Self

A Love Story of Today

A Love Story of Today

2008

Self

A Special Kind of Love

A Special Kind of Love

2008

Self

The Black List: Volume One

The Black List: Volume One

2008

Self

Stories USA

Stories USA

2007

Doc (segment "Club Soda")

Cover

Cover

2007

Detective Hicks

Daddy's Little Girls

Daddy's Little Girls

2007

Willie

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

2007

Self

Club Soda

Club Soda

2006

Doc

Psych

Psych

2006

Lloyd Marr

Solar Attack

Solar Attack

2006

President Ryan Gordon

All In

All In

2006

Caps

Left Behind: World at War

Left Behind: World at War

2005

President Geral Fitzhugh

Black in the 80s

Black in the 80s

2005

Lackawanna Blues

Lackawanna Blues

2005

Ol'lem Taylor

The Batman

The Batman

2004

Lucius Fox (voice)

Jasper, Texas

Jasper, Texas

2003

R.C. Horn

Momentum

Momentum

2003

Raymond Addison

Half & Half

Half & Half

2002

Ray Willis

The Dead Zone

The Dead Zone

2002

Pastor David Lewis

What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

2002

Dr. Barnes

Deceived

Deceived

2002

Col. David Garrett

For Love of Olivia

For Love of Olivia

2001

Daniel Stewart

Dr. Lucille

Dr. Lucille

2001

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

2000

Lou Hastings

The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

2000

Frank

The Highwayman

The Highwayman

2000

Phil Bishop

Strange Justice

Strange Justice

1999

Vernon Jordan

Y2K

Y2K

1999

Morgan

Love Songs

Love Songs

1999

Reuben

Family Guy

Family Guy

1999

Drill Sargent (voice)

The Inspectors

The Inspectors

1998

Inspector Frank Hughes

Hercules

Hercules

1998

Chiron (voice)

The Wall That Heals

The Wall That Heals

1998

Self - Host

Legend of the Mummy

Legend of the Mummy

1998

Corbeck

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

1998

Self

Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1

1997

Gerak

In His Father's Shoes

In His Father's Shoes

1997

Frank Crosby / Richard

To Dance with Olivia

To Dance with Olivia

1997

Daniel Stewart

Early Edition

Early Edition

1996

Jim Matthews

Promised Land

Promised Land

1996

Anderson Walker

Inside

Inside

1996

Questioner

Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

1996

Bob Kersee

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

1996

James Mink

Managua

Managua

1996

Paul

Iron Eagle on the Attack

Iron Eagle on the Attack

1995

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

1995

Self

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

1995

Ray Alexander

Zooman

Zooman

1995

Rueben Tate

A Father for Charlie

A Father for Charlie

1995

Walter Osgood

Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

1995

Narrator

Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

1994

Anderson Walker

ER

1994

Leo Malcolm

Flashfire

Flashfire

1994

Ben Durand

Curse of the Starving Class

Curse of the Starving Class

1994

Ellis

A Good Man in Africa

A Good Man in Africa

1994

Prof. Sam Adekunle

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1994

Ray Alexander

Ellen

Ellen

1994

Sgt. Timko

Blue Chips

Blue Chips

1994

Father Dawkins (uncredited)

Return to Lonesome Dove

Return to Lonesome Dove

1993

Isom Pickett

Monolith

Monolith

1993

Capt. MacCandless

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

1993

Leonard Clay

Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

1992

Reader (voice)

Picket Fences

Picket Fences

1992

Rick Jennings

Gridiron Gang

Gridiron Gang

1992

Host

Diggstown

Diggstown

1992

"Honey" Roy Palmer

Iron Eagle III

Iron Eagle III

1992

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Keeper of the City

Keeper of the City

1991

Det. James Dela

Carolina Skeletons

Carolina Skeletons

1991

James Bragg

Toy Soldiers

Toy Soldiers

1991

Dean Parker

The Josephine Baker Story

The Josephine Baker Story

1991

Sidney Williams

Cover-Up

Cover-Up

1991

Lou Jackson

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

1990

Commander Clash (voice)

Sudie and Simpson

Sudie and Simpson

1990

Simpson

El Diablo

El Diablo

1990

Van Leek

Zora is My Name!

Zora is My Name!

1990

The Punisher

The Punisher

1989

Jake Berkowitz

Gideon Oliver

1989

Roots: The Gift

Roots: The Gift

1988

Fiddler

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

1988

Big John Creed

Iron Eagle II

Iron Eagle II

1988

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

American Experience

American Experience

1988

Narrator (voice)

Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

1988

Sam

Straight Up

1988

Cosmo

The Father Clements Story

The Father Clements Story

1987

The Principal

The Principal

1987

Jake Phillips

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

1987

Self

A Gathering of Old Men

A Gathering of Old Men

1987

Mathu

Firewalker

Firewalker

1986

Leo Porter

Iron Eagle

Iron Eagle

1986

Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Enemy Mine

Enemy Mine

1985

Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

The Guardian

The Guardian

1984

John Mack

Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers

1984

Century

Sadat

1983

Anwar al-Sadat

Jaws 3-D

Jaws 3-D

1983

Calvin Bouchard

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

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

1983

narrator

The Powers of Matthew Star

The Powers of Matthew Star

1982

Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)

An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman

1982

Sergeant Emil Foley

Benny's Place

Benny's Place

1982

Benny Moore

I Love Liberty

I Love Liberty

1982

Self

American Playhouse

American Playhouse

1982

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

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

1981

Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

1980

Leo Garcia

Palmerstown, U.S.A.

Palmerstown, U.S.A.

1980

The Lazarus Syndrome

The Lazarus Syndrome

1979

Dr. MacArthur St. Clair

The Lazarus Syndrome

The Lazarus Syndrome

1979

MacArthur St. Clair

Lawman Without a Gun

Lawman Without a Gun

1979

Tom Hayward

Backstairs at the White House

Backstairs at the White House

1979

Levi Mercer, Houseman

The Critical List

The Critical List

1978

Lem Harper

To Kill a Cop

To Kill a Cop

1978

Everett Walker

To Kill a Cop

To Kill a Cop

1978

Everett Walker

The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots

The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots

1978

Self

Freeman

Freeman

1977

Rex

The Choirboys

The Choirboys

1977

Calvin Motts

The Deep

The Deep

1977

Henri Cloche

Please Turn the Page

Please Turn the Page

1977

Self

Roots

Roots

1977

Fiddler

Little Ladies of the Night

Little Ladies of the Night

1977

Russ Garfield

J.D.'s Revenge

J.D.'s Revenge

1976

Rev. Elija Bliss

The River Niger

The River Niger

1976

Dr. Dudley Stanton

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

1975

Self - Host

Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

1975

Otis James

The Jeffersons

The Jeffersons

1975

Black Bart

Black Bart

1975

Black Bart

The Rockford Files

The Rockford Files

1974

Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien / Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes

Harry O

Harry O

1974

Cleon Jackson

Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

1974

Henry Hill

Petrocelli

Petrocelli

1974

District Attorney Kurt Olson / Kurt Olson, DA

The White Dawn

The White Dawn

1974

Portagee

Sidekicks

Sidekicks

1974

Jason O'Rourke

It's Good to Be Alive

It's Good to Be Alive

1974

Sam Brockington

Good Times

Good Times

1974

The Six Million Dollar Man

The Six Million Dollar Man

1974

O'Flaherty

The Laughing Policeman

The Laughing Policeman

1973

Insp. James Larrimore SFPD

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973

Self

Police Story

Police Story

1973

Travels with My Aunt

Travels with My Aunt

1972

Wordsworth

The Rookies

The Rookies

1972

Skin Game

Skin Game

1971

Jason O'Rourke

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

1971

Lt. Carl Fellows

Alias Smith and Jones

Alias Smith and Jones

1971

The Partridge Family

The Partridge Family

1970

Sam Simon

The Young Rebels

The Young Rebels

1970

The Landlord

The Landlord

1970

Copee Johnson

McCloud

McCloud

1970

Love, American Style

Love, American Style

1969

Freddy

The Bill Cosby Show

The Bill Cosby Show

1969

Hurricane Smith

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

1969

Dr. Karnes

The Bushbaby

The Bushbaby

1969

Tembo

Companions in Nightmare

Companions in Nightmare

1968

Lt. Adam McKay

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

1968

Smitty / Charley Jameson / Lloyd

Cowboy in Africa

Cowboy in Africa

1967

Joseph Hemera / Fulah

The Invaders

The Invaders

1967

Ollie

Daktari

Daktari

1966

Mkono

The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show

1962

Self

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

Self

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

Self

A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun

1961

George Murchison

The New Girl

1960

Mary's Brother

Bonanza

Bonanza

1959

Buck Walter

The Oscars

The Oscars

1953

Self

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948

Self

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

1944

Self - Nominee / Self - Audience Member / Self - Presenter / Self - Host / Self - Nominee / Presenter

Crimes of Violence

Crimes of Violence

Self - Host

Forget to Remember

Forget to Remember

Unplugged

Unplugged

Amos Burton (voice)

Production7

For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots

For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots

2010

Executive Producer

For Love of Olivia

For Love of Olivia

2001

Executive Producer

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

2000

Executive Producer

In His Father's Shoes

In His Father's Shoes

1997

Executive Producer

To Dance with Olivia

To Dance with Olivia

1997

Executive Producer

Inside

Inside

1996

Executive Producer

A Father for Charlie

A Father for Charlie

1995

Executive Producer

Directing2

Love Songs

Love Songs

1999

Director

The Powers of Matthew Star

The Powers of Matthew Star

1982

Director

Crew1

IF

2024

In Memory Of