Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Gossett, Jr. | |
---|---|
Gossett in February 2008 | |
Born |
Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. May 27, 1936 Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1957–present |
Spouse(s) |
Hattie Glascoe (1967–1968; annulled) Christina Mangosing (1973–1975) Cyndi James-Reese (1987–1992) |
Children | 2 |
Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. (born May 27, 1936) is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his Academy Award-winning role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman, and his Emmy Award-winning role as Fiddler in the 1977 ABC television miniseries Roots. Gossett has also starred in numerous film productions including A Raisin In The Sun, Skin Game, Travels with My Aunt, The Laughing Policeman, The Deep, Jaws 3-D (1983), Wolfgang Petersen's Enemy Mine, the Iron Eagle series, Toy Soldiers and The Punisher, in an acting career that spans over five decades.[1]
Early life and education
Gossett was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, on May 27, 1936, to Hellen Rebecca (née Wray), a nurse, and Louis Gossett, Sr., a porter. He is an alumnus of Mark Twain Intermediate School 239 and Abraham Lincoln High School.[2] His stage debut came at the age of 17, in a school production of You Can't Take It with You when a sports injury resulted in the decision to take an acting class. Polio had already delayed his graduation.
After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1954, he attended New York University, declining an athletic scholarship.[3] Standing 6'4" (1.93 m), he was offered the opportunity to play varsity basketball during his college years at NYU, which he declined to concentrate on theater. His high school teacher had encouraged him to audition for a Broadway part, which resulted in his selection for a starring role on Broadway in 1953 from among 200 other actors well before he entered NYU.
Career
Gossett replaced Bill Gunn as Spencer Scott in Broadway's Take a Giant Step,[4] which was selected by The New York Times drama critics as one of the 10 best shows of the year. He was 17, and still a student at Abraham Lincoln High School, with no formal drama training.
Gossett's Broadway theatre credits include A Raisin in the Sun (1959). Gossett stepped into the world of cinema in the Sidney Poitier vehicle A Raisin in the Sun in 1961.
Also in 1961, Gossett appeared in the original cast of Jean Genet's The Blacks, the longest running off-Broadway play of the decade, running for 1,408 performances. The original cast also featured James Earl Jones, Roscoe Lee Browne, Cicely Tyson, Godfrey Cambridge, Maya Angelou and Charles Gordone.[5]
Gossett wrote the antiwar folk song "Handsome Johnny" with Richie Havens which Havens recorded in 1966.
His Emmy Award-winning role of Fiddler in the 1977 television miniseries Roots first brought Gossett to the audience's attention.
In 1983, he was cast in the title role in Sadat, a miniseries which chronicled the life and assassination of Anwar Sadat. While filming An Officer and a Gentleman, Gossett was also starring in the 1982–1983 science fiction series, The Powers of Matthew Star. His role as drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was the first African-American male to win an Oscar in a supporting role, the second black male to win for acting, and the third African-American actor to win overall.
In 1986, Gossett starred in another role as a military man (Colonel Chappy Sinclair) in the film Iron Eagle. It was followed by three sequels.
Gossett is the voice of the Vortigaunts in the video game Half-Life 2 and is the Free Jaffa Leader Gerak in Season 9 of the sci-fi television series Stargate SG-1. He provides the voice of Lucius Fox in The Batman animated series. He recorded several commercials for a Nashville-based diabetic company, AmMed Direct, LLC. In 1997, Gossett presented When Animals Attack! 4, a one-hour special on Fox.
He plays the role of fictional U.S. President Gerald Fitzhugh in the 2005 film Left Behind: World at War. In 2008 he filmed the "Keep It Real" series of commercials for the Namibian lager Windhoek.
In 2009, Gossett also lent his voice talents in the Thomas Nelson audio Bible production known as The Word of Promise. In this dramatized audio, Gossett played the character of John the Apostle. The project also featured a large ensemble of well known Hollywood actors including Jim Caviezel, John Rhys-Davies, Jon Voight, Gary Sinise, Jason Alexander, Christopher McDonald, Marissa Tomei and John Schneider.[6][7]
In 2013, Gossett starred in the controversial drama, Boiling Pot, which is based on true events of racism that occurred on college campuses across the country during the 2008 Presidential election. The film, written and directed by the Ashmawey brothers under AshmaweyFilms, also stars Danielle Fishel, Keith David, M. Emmet Walsh, and John Heard. Gossett plays a Detective attempting to decipher a murder case that was fueled by racism, all while putting aside his own prejudices. Boiling Pot was released in 2014.
Personal life
Gossett has been married three times and fathered one son and adopted one son. His first marriage was to Hattie Glascoe; it was annulled. His second, to Christina Mangosing, took place on August 21, 1973. Their son Satie was born in 1974. Gossett and Mangosing divorced in 1975. His third marriage, to Star Search champion Cyndi James-Reese, took place on December 25, 1987. They adopted a son, Sharron (born 1977). Gossett and James-Reese divorced in 1992.[8]
Louis is the uncle of actor Robert Gossett who stars on TNT's The Closer.[9]
According to DNA analysis, he is descended, chiefly, from people of Liberia and Sierra Leone.[10]
On February 9, 2010, Gossett announced that he is suffering from prostate cancer. He added the disease was caught in its early stages, and expects to make a full recovery.[11]
Mr. Gosset's Osgood–Schlatter disease is visible in a living room scene in season four, episode 11 of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1961 | Raisin in the Sun, AA Raisin in the Sun | George Murchison | |
1969 | Bushbaby, TheThe Bushbaby | Tembo | |
1970 | Landlord, TheThe Landlord | Copee | |
1971 | Skin Game | Jason O'Rourke | |
1972 | Travels with My Aunt | Zachary/'Wordsworth' | |
1973 | The Fuzz Brothers | Francis Fuzz | |
1973 | Laughing Policeman, TheThe Laughing Policeman | Insp. James Larrimore SFPD | |
1974 | White Dawn, TheThe White Dawn | Portagee | |
1976 | River Niger, TheThe River Niger | Dr. Dudley Stanton | |
1976 | J. D.'s Revenge | Rev. Elija Bliss | |
1977 | Deep, TheThe Deep | Henri Cloche | |
1977 | Choirboys, TheThe Choirboys | Calvin Motts | |
1980 | It Rained All Night the Day I Left | Leo Garcia | |
1982 | Officer and a Gentleman, AnAn Officer and a Gentleman | Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture |
1983 | Jaws 3-D | Calvin Bouchard | Nominated — Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor |
1984 | Finders Keepers | Century | |
1985 | Enemy Mine | Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan | Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actor |
1986 | Iron Eagle | Chappy Sinclair | |
1986 | Firewalker | Leo Porter | |
1987 | Principal, TheThe Principal | Jake Phillips | |
1987 | A Gathering of Old Men | Mathu | |
1988 | Iron Eagle II | Chappy Sinclair | |
1989 | Punisher, TheThe Punisher | Jake Berkowitz | |
1991 | Cover Up | Lou Jackson | |
1991 | Toy Soldiers | Dean Parker | |
1992 | Aces: Iron Eagle III | Chappy Sinclair | |
1992 | Diggstown | 'Honey' Roy Palmer | |
1993 | Monolith | Capt. MacCandless | |
1993 | Flashfire | Ben Durand | |
1994 | Blue Chips | Father Dawkins | |
1994 | Good Man in Africa, AA Good Man in Africa | Prof. Sam Adekunle | |
1994 | Curse of the Starving Class | Ellis | |
1995 | Iron Eagle on the Attack | Chappy Sinclair | |
1996 | Managua | Paul | |
1997 | Wall That Heals, TheThe Wall That Heals | Narrator | |
1997 | Legend of the Mummy | Corbeck | |
1999 | Y2K | Morgan | |
2000 | The Highwayman | Phil Bishop | |
2002 | Deceived | Col. David Garrett | Direct-to-video release |
2005 | Window | Ralph Stanley | Included as part of African American Short Films[12] |
2005 | Left Behind: World at War | President Gerald Fitzhugh | |
2006 | All In | Caps | |
2006 | Club Soda | Doc | |
2007 | Daddy's Little Girls | Willie | |
2007 | Cover | Det. Hicks | |
2008 | Perfect Game, TheThe Perfect Game | Cool Papa Bell | |
2008 | Delgo | Zahn | Voice only |
2009 | Dog Jack | Grown up Jed | |
2009 | Shannon's Rainbow | Max | |
2009 | Least Among You, TheThe Least Among You | Samuel Benton | |
2010 | Smitty | Mr. Smith | |
2010 | Why Did I Get Married Too? | Porter | |
2011 | Grace Card, TheThe Grace Card | George Wright | |
2011 | Fonder Heart, AA Fonder Heart | Glen | |
2011 | Lamp, TheThe Lamp | The Genie | |
2013 | Boiling Pot | Detective Haven | |
2014 | A Fighting Man | Cubby | |
2014 | The Dependables | Lou Jones |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1958 | Big Story, TheThe Big Story | Jamie Goodwin | Episode: "The Stubbornest Man" |
1962 | Nurses, TheThe Nurses | William Taylor | Episode: "The Prisoner" |
1967–68 | Cowboy in Africa | Fulah Hemera | Episode: "Fang and Claw" Episode: "The Quiet Death" |
1968 | Invaders, TheThe Invaders | Ollie | Episode: "The Vise" |
1968 | Daktari | Mkono | Episode: "Adam and Jenny" |
1968 | Companions in Nightmare | Lt. Adam McKay | NBC television film |
1968 | Mod Squad, TheThe Mod Squad | Sgt William Smith (Smithy) | Episode: "When Smitty Comes Marching Home" |
1970 | Bill Cosby Show, TheThe Bill Cosby Show | Hurricane Smith | Episode: "The Return of Big Bad Bubba Bronson" |
1970–71 | Young Rebels, TheThe Young Rebels | Isak Poole | |
1971 | Big Fish, Little Fish | Jimmie Luton | |
1971 | Partridge Family, TheThe Partridge Family | Sam | Episode: "Soul Club" |
1971 | Bonanza | Buck Walter | Episode: "The Desperado" |
1971 | Longstreet | Sergeant Cory | Episode: "The Way of the Intercepting Fist" |
1971 | Bold Ones: The New Doctors, TheThe Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Dr. Karnes | Episode: "One Lonely Step" |
1971 | Alias Smith and Jones | Joe Sims | Episode: "The Bounty Hunter" |
1971 | Cade's County | Episode: "The Alien Land" | |
1972 | Insight | Episode: "The Man from Inner Space" | |
1972 | The Living End | Doug Newman | CBS television pilot |
1972 | Rookies, TheThe Rookies | Toby Jones | Episode: "Covenant with Death" |
1972 | Love, American Style | Freddy | Segment: "Love and the Christmas Punch..." |
1968–1969 1972 | Mod Squad, TheThe Mod Squad | Smitty Lloyd Charley Jameson | Episode: "When Smitty Comes Marching Home" Episode: "The Uptight Town" Episode: "Can You Hear Me Out There?" |
1973 | Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law | Episode: "An Often and Familiar Ghost" | |
1974 | It's Good to Be Alive | Sam Brockington | CBS television film |
1974 | Sidekicks | Jason O'Rourke | TV remake of Gossett's 1971 Skin Game CBS television film |
1974 | White Dawn, TheThe White Dawn | Portagee | ABC television film |
1974 | McCloud | Dewey Justin | Episode: Shivaree on Delancy Street |
1974 | The New Land | Simon York | Episode: "The Word is: Dignity" (never aired) |
1974–75 | Petrocelli | D.A. Kurt Olson | Episode: "A Very Lonely Lady" and "A Fallen Idol" |
1974–75 | Good Times | Donald Knight Uncle Wilbert | Episode: "Thelma's Young Man" Episode: "Michael's Big Fall" |
1975 | Lucas Tanner | Bobby Koball | Episode: "Bonus Baby" |
1975 | Black Bart | Black Bart | CBS television film |
1975 | Delancey Street: The Crisis Within | Otis James | NBC television film |
1975 | Caribe | David Wallace | Episode: "The Assassin" |
1975 | Harry O | Cleon Jackson | Episode: "Shades" |
1975 | Jeffersons, TheThe Jeffersons | Wendell Brown | Episode: "George's Best Friend" |
1975 | Six Million Dollar Man, TheThe Six Million Dollar Man | O'Flaherty | Episode: "Clark Templeton O'Flaherty" |
1975–76 | Police Story | Freddie Virgil Barnes | Episode: "The Cut Man Caper" Episode: "50 Cents-First Half Hour, $1.75 All Day" |
1976 | Little House on the Prairie | Henry Hill | Episode: "The Long Road Home" |
1976 | The Rebels | ||
1976–77 | Rockford Files, TheThe Rockford Files | Marcus 'Gabby' Hayes | Episode: Foul on the First Play and Just Another Polish Wedding |
1977 | Little Ladies of the Night | Russ Garfield | ABC television film |
1977 | Roots | Fiddler | ABC miniseries Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series TV Land Award |
1977 | Visions | Rex | Episode: "Freeman" |
1978 | The Lazarus Syndrome | Dr. MacArthur St. Clair | ABC television film |
1978 | The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | |
1978 | To Kill a Cop | Everett Walker | Uncredited Role NBC television film |
1978 | The Critical List | Lem Harper | NBC television film |
1979 | Backstairs at the White House | Levi Mercer | NBC miniseries Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special |
1979 | Lawman Without a Gun | Tom Hayward | NBC television film |
1979 | The Lazarus Syndrome | Dr. MacArthur St. Clair | |
1980 | Palmerstown, USA | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | |
1981 | Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige | Leroy 'Satchel' Paige | ABC television film |
1982 | American Playhouse | Episode: "Zora Is My Name!" | |
1982 | Benny's Place | Benny Moore | ABC television film |
1982 | Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode: "Louis Gossett Jr/George Thorogood & the Destroyers" |
1982–83 | Powers of Matthew Star, TheThe Powers of Matthew Star | Walter 'Walt' Shepherd/D'Hai | |
1983 | Sadat | Anwar al-Sadat | Television film Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film |
1984 | The Guardian | John Mack | Nominated — CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Movie or Miniseries HBO television film |
1987 | Gathering of Old Men, AA Gathering of Old Men | Mathu | CBS television film Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie |
1987 | Father Clements Story, TheThe Father Clements Story | Father Clements | NBC television film |
1988 | Sam Found Out: A Triple Play | ABC television film | |
1988 | Goodbye, Miss 4th of July | Big John Creed | Disney Channel television film |
1988 | Roots: The Gift | Fiddler | ABC television film |
1989 | Gideon Oliver | Gideon Oliver | |
1990 | El Diablo | Van Leek | HBO television film |
1990 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Commander Clash | Voice role |
1990 | Sudie and Simpson | Simpson | Television film |
1991 | Josephine Baker Story, TheThe Josephine Baker Story | Sidney Williams | HBO television film Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
1991 | Carolina Skeletons | James Bragg | NBC television film |
1991 | Keeper of the City | Det. James Dela | Television film |
1993 | Story of a People | Host | Miniseries |
1993 | Gridiron Gang | Host | Documentary film |
1993 | Father & Son: Dangerous Relations | NBC television film | |
1993 | Return to Lonesome Dove | Isom Pickett | Miniseries |
1994 | Picket Fences | Rick Jennings | Episode: "Terms of Estrangement" |
1994 | Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice | Ray Alexander | NBC television film |
1995 | A Father for Charlie | Walter Osgood | |
1995 | Zooman | Rueben Tate | |
1995 | Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder | Ray Alexander | |
1996 | Captive Heart: The James Mink Story | James Mink | Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Television film |
1996 | Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story | Bob Kersee | Television film |
1996 | Inside | Questioner | Television film |
1997 | Touched by an Angel | Anderson Walker | Episode: "Amazing Grace" NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series |
1997 | To Dance with Olivia | Daniel Stewart | CBS television film |
1997 | In His Father's Shoes | Frank Crosby/Richard | Showtime television film Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special Nominated —CableACE Award for Best Children's Special - 7 and Older Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special |
1997 | Early Edition | Jim Matthews | Episode: "The Medal" |
1997 | Ellen | Sgt. Timko | Episode: "G.I. Ellen" |
1998 | Inspectors, TheThe Inspectors | Inspector Frank Hughes | Showtime television film |
1999 | Love Songs | Reuben | Segment: "A Love Song for Dad"; Showtime television film Black Reel Award for Best Director: T.V. Movie/Cable Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Actor: T.V. Movie/Cable |
1999 | Strange Justice | Vernon Jordan | Showtime television film |
2000 | Dr. Lucille | David Mulera | Television film |
2000 | The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence | Inspector Frank Hughes | Showtime television film |
2000 | ThemColor of Love: Jacey's Story | Lou Hastings | CBS television film Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film |
2001 | For Love of Olivia | Daniel Stewart | CBS television film |
2002 | Opening Ceremony Salt Lake Paralympic Winter Games | Narrator | Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Special |
2002 | What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway | Dr. Barnes | UPN television film |
2002 | Resurrection Blvd. | Ezekiel 'Zeke' Grant | Episode: "En Un Momento" and "Esperando Lagrimas" |
2003 | Dead Zone, TheThe Dead Zone | Pastor David Lewis | Episode: "Zion" |
2003 | Jasper, Texas | R.C. Horn | Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Showtime television film |
2003 | Momentum | Raymond Addison | SCI FI television film |
2004 | Half & Half | Ray Willis | Episode: "The Big Lover, My Brother Episode" and "The Big Thanks for Nothing Episode" |
2005 | Solar Attack | President Ryan Gordon | Direct-to-DVD release |
2005 | Lackawanna Blues | Ol'lem Taylor | HBO television film |
2005–06 | Stargate SG-1 | Gerak | |
2006 | Family Guy | Sergeant Angryman | Voice role Episode: "Saving Private Brian" |
2007 | Batman, TheThe Batman | Lucius Fox | Voice role |
2009 | ER | Leo Malcolm | Episode: "The Family Man" |
2012 | Psych | Lloyd | Episode: "Heeeeere's Lassie" |
2013 | Boardwalk Empire | Oscar | Episode: "Havre de Grace" |
2014 | Extant | Quinn | Recurring |
2014 | Madam Secretary | Father Laurent Vasseur | Episode: "The Call" |
2015 | The Book of Negroes | Daddy Moses |
Theatre
1964: Supporting role, Broadway musical adaptation of Odets' Golden Boy.
2006: Dvorak's New World: Chamber Music Plus. Louis Gossett, Jr., narrator, with Aubrey Allicock (Baritone), Sanda Schuldmann (piano), and Harry Clark (writer).[13][14]
References
- ↑ Collins, Glenn (February 19, 1989). "Lou Gossett Jr. Battles the Hollywood Stereotype". The New York Times. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
- ↑ Biography at filmreference.com
- ↑ Pfefferman, Naomi. "Louis Gossett Jr. to Give Shul Inaugural Ball Toast", The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, January 15, 2009. Accessed September 23, 2009. "Gossett suspects that his English teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School, Gustave Blum, identified with African Americans because he had experienced anti-Semitism as a result of the blacklists."
- ↑ "Take A Giant Step". Jan Hus Playhouse. Lortel Archives. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
- ↑ "Louis Gossett, Jr.". thehistorymakers.com.
- ↑ "The Word of Promise: Cast".
- ↑ "BELIEFS : Stars lined up for elaborate audio Bible : Michael York, Jason Alexander and many others gave voice to a 79-CD reading of Old and New Testaments".
- ↑ "Superior Pics biography".
- ↑ "Film Reference".
- ↑ "Growing Interest in DNA-Based Genetic Testing Among African American with Historic Election of President Elect Barack Obama".
- ↑ "Louis Gossett Jr. Diagnosed with Cancer". TVGuide.com.
- ↑ Window as part of African American Short Films
- ↑ Chamber music PLUS Southwest
- ↑ Tucson Weekly : Arts : Burleigh's Greatest Hits
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Louis Gossett Jr.. |
- Louis Gossett, Jr. at the Internet Movie Database
- Louis Gossett, Jr. at the Internet Broadway Database
- Louis Gossett, Jr. at AllMovie
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Interview with Louis Gossett at SCVTV.com
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