7.7Acting
Louis Gossett Jr.
- Born
- 1936-05-27
- Died
- 2024-03-29
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
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
Filmography
214 titles · Newest first · Cast and crew credits
Sin
2025 · Movie
Elijah
IF
2024 · Movie
Lewis (voice) · In Memory Of
Outlaw Johnny Black
2023 · Movie
Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)
The Color Purple
2023 · Movie
Ol' Mister
African Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus Garvey
2022 · Movie
Self
Sidney
2022 · Movie
Self
Three Months
2022 · Movie
Benny
I Forgive
2021 · Movie
God (voice)
Not to Forget
2021 · Movie
Pastor John
Miracle in East Texas
2020 · Movie
Irving Tanner Jr.
The Cuban
2020 · Movie
Luis Garcia
The Reason
2020 · Movie
Pastor Jim
Foster Boy
2019 · Movie
Judge George Taylor
Hal
2019 · Movie
Self
Supervized
2019 · Movie
Pendle
The Gang Activists
2019 · Movie
Self
Watchmen
2019 · TV Show
Old Man / Will Reeves
Breaking Brooklyn
2018 · Movie
Miles Bryant
Double Play
2017 · Movie
Coco
King of the Dancehall
2017 · Movie
The Bishop
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
2017 · Movie
Self
The Good Fight
2017 · TV Show
Carl Reddick
Undercover Grandpa
2017 · Movie
Mother
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin
2016 · Movie
Himself
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
2016 · Movie
Self
Boiling Pot
2015 · Movie
Detective Haven
The Book of Negroes
2015 · TV Show
Daddy Moses
The Spoils Before Dying
2015 · TV Show
Duke Webster
A Fighting Man
2014 · Movie
Cubby
Extant
2014 · TV Show
Quinn
Madam Secretary
2014 · TV Show
Laurent Vasseur
The Dependables
2014 · Movie
Lou Jones
Breaking at the Edge
2013 · Movie
Floyd
Miracle at Gate 213
2013 · Movie
Roy Peddington
Smitty
2012 · Movie
Mr. Smith
The Undershepherd
2012 · Movie
Bishop Redford
Dog Jack
2011 · Movie
Grown up Jed
The Grace Card
2011 · Movie
George Wright
For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots
2010 · TV Show
Executive Producer
Hawaii Five-0
2010 · TV Show
Lou's father
Why Did I Get Married Too?
2010 · Movie
Porter
Amazing Racer
2009 · Movie
Max Donovan
Celebrity Ghost Stories
2009 · TV Show
Self
The Least Among You
2009 · Movie
Samuel Benton
The Perfect Game
2009 · Movie
Cool Papa Bell
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2009 · Movie
Self
A Love Story of Today
2008 · Movie
Self
A Special Kind of Love
2008 · Movie
Self
Delgo
2008 · Movie
King Zahn (voice)
Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth
2008 · Movie
Self
The Black List: Volume One
2008 · Movie
Self
Cover
2007 · Movie
Detective Hicks
Daddy's Little Girls
2007 · Movie
Willie
Stories USA
2007 · Movie
Doc (segment "Club Soda")
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
2007 · Movie
Self
All In
2006 · Movie
Caps
Club Soda
2006 · Movie
Doc
Psych
2006 · TV Show
Lloyd Marr
Solar Attack
2006 · Movie
President Ryan Gordon
Black in the 80s
2005 · TV Show
Self
Lackawanna Blues
2005 · Movie
Ol'lem Taylor
Left Behind: World at War
2005 · Movie
President Geral Fitzhugh
The Batman
2004 · TV Show
Lucius Fox (voice)
Jasper, Texas
2003 · Movie
R.C. Horn
Momentum
2003 · Movie
Raymond Addison
Deceived
2002 · Movie
Col. David Garrett
Half & Half
2002 · TV Show
Ray Willis
The Dead Zone
2002 · TV Show
Pastor David Lewis
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away
2002 · Movie
Dr. Barnes
Dr. Lucille
2001 · Movie
Cast
For Love of Olivia
2001 · Movie
Daniel Stewart · Executive Producer
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
2000 · Movie
Lou Hastings · Executive Producer
The Highwayman
2000 · Movie
Phil Bishop
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence
2000 · Movie
Frank
Family Guy
1999 · TV Show
Drill Sargent (voice)
Love Songs
1999 · Movie
Reuben · Director
Strange Justice
1999 · Movie
Vernon Jordan
Y2K
1999 · Movie
Morgan
Hercules
1998 · TV Show
Chiron (voice)
Legend of the Mummy
1998 · Movie
Corbeck
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
1998 · Movie
Self
The Inspectors
1998 · Movie
Inspector Frank Hughes
The Wall That Heals
1998 · Movie
Self - Host
In His Father's Shoes
1997 · Movie
Frank Crosby / Richard · Executive Producer
Stargate SG-1
1997 · TV Show
Gerak
To Dance with Olivia
1997 · Movie
Daniel Stewart · Executive Producer
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
1996 · Movie
James Mink
Early Edition
1996 · TV Show
Jim Matthews
Inside
1996 · Movie
Questioner · Executive Producer
Managua
1996 · Movie
Paul
Promised Land
1996 · TV Show
Anderson Walker
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story
1996 · Movie
Bob Kersee
A Father for Charlie
1995 · Movie
Walter Osgood · Executive Producer
Iron Eagle on the Attack
1995 · Movie
Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing
1995 · Movie
Narrator
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
1995 · Movie
Ray Alexander
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995 · Movie
Self
Zooman
1995 · Movie
Rueben Tate
A Good Man in Africa
1994 · Movie
Prof. Sam Adekunle
Blue Chips
1994 · Movie
Father Dawkins (uncredited)
Curse of the Starving Class
1994 · Movie
Ellis
Ellen
1994 · TV Show
Sgt. Timko
ER
1994 · TV Show
Leo Malcolm
Flashfire
1994 · Movie
Ben Durand
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
1994 · Movie
Ray Alexander
Touched by an Angel
1994 · TV Show
Anderson Walker
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
1993 · Movie
Leonard Clay
Monolith
1993 · Movie
Capt. MacCandless
Return to Lonesome Dove
1993 · TV Show
Isom Pickett
Diggstown
1992 · Movie
"Honey" Roy Palmer
Gridiron Gang
1992 · Movie
Host
Iron Eagle III
1992 · Movie
Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II
1992 · Movie
Reader (voice)
Picket Fences
1992 · TV Show
Rick Jennings
A Party For Richard Pryor
1991 · Movie
Self
Carolina Skeletons
1991 · Movie
James Bragg
Cover-Up
1991 · Movie
Lou Jackson
Keeper of the City
1991 · Movie
Det. James Dela
The Josephine Baker Story
1991 · Movie
Sidney Williams
Toy Soldiers
1991 · Movie
Dean Parker
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
1990 · TV Show
Commander Clash (voice)
El Diablo
1990 · Movie
Van Leek
Sudie and Simpson
1990 · Movie
Simpson
Zora is My Name!
1990 · Movie
Cast
Gideon Oliver
1989 · TV Show
Cast
The Punisher
1989 · Movie
Jake Berkowitz
American Experience
1988 · TV Show
Narrator (voice)
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July
1988 · Movie
Big John Creed
Iron Eagle II
1988 · Movie
Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Roots: The Gift
1988 · Movie
Fiddler
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play
1988 · Movie
Sam
Straight Up
1988 · Movie
Cosmo
A Gathering of Old Men
1987 · Movie
Mathu
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987 · Movie
Self
The Father Clements Story
1987 · Movie
Cast
The Principal
1987 · Movie
Jake Phillips
Firewalker
1986 · Movie
Leo Porter
Iron Eagle
1986 · Movie
Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Enemy Mine
1985 · Movie
Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
Finders Keepers
1984 · Movie
Century
The Guardian
1984 · Movie
John Mack
Jaws 3-D
1983 · Movie
Calvin Bouchard
Sadat
1983 · TV Show
Anwar al-Sadat
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die
1983 · Movie
narrator
American Playhouse
1982 · TV Show
Cast
An Officer and a Gentleman
1982 · Movie
Sergeant Emil Foley
Benny's Place
1982 · Movie
Benny Moore
I Love Liberty
1982 · Movie
Self
The Powers of Matthew Star
1982 · TV Show
Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai) · Director
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
1981 · Movie
Leroy 'Satchel' Paige
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
1980 · Movie
Leo Garcia
Palmerstown, U.S.A.
1980 · TV Show
Cast
Backstairs at the White House
1979 · TV Show
Levi Mercer, Houseman
Lawman Without a Gun
1979 · Movie
Tom Hayward
The Lazarus Syndrome
1979 · Movie
Dr. MacArthur St. Clair
The Lazarus Syndrome
1979 · TV Show
MacArthur St. Clair
The Critical List
1978 · TV Show
Lem Harper
The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots
1978 · Movie
Self
To Kill a Cop
1978 · Movie
Everett Walker
To Kill a Cop
1978 · TV Show
Everett Walker
Freeman
1977 · Movie
Rex
Little Ladies of the Night
1977 · Movie
Russ Garfield
Please Turn the Page
1977 · TV Show
Self
Roots
1977 · TV Show
Fiddler
The Choirboys
1977 · Movie
Calvin Motts
The Deep
1977 · Movie
Henri Cloche
J.D.'s Revenge
1976 · Movie
Rev. Elija Bliss
The River Niger
1976 · Movie
Dr. Dudley Stanton
Black Bart
1975 · Movie
Black Bart
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within
1975 · Movie
Otis James
Saturday Night Live
1975 · TV Show
Self - Host
The Jeffersons
1975 · TV Show
Cast
Good Times
1974 · TV Show
Cast
Harry O
1974 · TV Show
Cleon Jackson
It's Good to Be Alive
1974 · Movie
Sam Brockington
Little House on the Prairie
1974 · TV Show
Henry Hill
Petrocelli
1974 · TV Show
District Attorney Kurt Olson · Kurt Olson, DA
Sidekicks
1974 · Movie
Jason O'Rourke
The Rockford Files
1974 · TV Show
Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien · Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes
The Six Million Dollar Man
1974 · TV Show
O'Flaherty
The White Dawn
1974 · Movie
Portagee
Police Story
1973 · TV Show
Cast
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
1973 · TV Show
Self
The Laughing Policeman
1973 · Movie
Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
The Rookies
1972 · TV Show
Cast
Travels with My Aunt
1972 · Movie
Wordsworth
Alias Smith and Jones
1971 · TV Show
Cast
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971 · TV Show
Lt. Carl Fellows
Skin Game
1971 · Movie
Jason O'Rourke
McCloud
1970 · TV Show
Cast
The Landlord
1970 · Movie
Copee Johnson
The Partridge Family
1970 · TV Show
Sam Simon
The Young Rebels
1970 · TV Show
Cast
Love, American Style
1969 · TV Show
Freddy
The Bill Cosby Show
1969 · TV Show
Hurricane Smith
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1969 · TV Show
Dr. Karnes
The Bushbaby
1969 · Movie
Tembo
Companions in Nightmare
1968 · Movie
Lt. Adam McKay
The Mod Squad
1968 · TV Show
Smitty · Charley Jameson · Lloyd
Cowboy in Africa
1967 · TV Show
Joseph Hemera · Fulah
The Invaders
1967 · TV Show
Ollie
Daktari
1966 · TV Show
Mkono
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · TV Show
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · TV Show
Self
A Raisin in the Sun
1961 · Movie
George Murchison
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · TV Show
Self
The New Girl
1960 · Movie
Mary's Brother
Bonanza
1959 · TV Show
Buck Walter
The Oscars
1953 · TV Show
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · TV Show
Self
Golden Globe Awards
1944 · TV Show
Self - Nominee · Self - Audience Member · Self - Presenter · Self - Host · Self - Nominee / Presenter
Crimes of Violence
Date unknown · Movie
Self - Host
Forget to Remember
Date unknown · Movie
Cast
Unplugged
Date unknown · Movie
Amos Burton (voice)