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Louis Gossett Jr.

Actor

Louis Gossett Jr.

Born May 27, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USADied March 29, 2024122 films

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.

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The best way into Louis Gossett Jr.'s work
An Officer and a Gentleman posterFirst watchAn Officer and a Gentleman19827.0as Sergeant Emil FoleyZack Mayo is an aloof, taciturn man who aspires to be a navy pilot. Once he arrives at training camp for his 13-week officer's course, Mayo runs afoul of abrasive, no-nonsense drill…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
IF poster6.9IF2024Enemy Mine poster7.0Enemy Mine1985The Color Purple poster7.0The Color Purple2023The Perfect Game poster7.3The Perfect Game2009Toy Soldiers poster6.5Toy Soldiers1991A Raisin in the Sun poster7.7A Raisin in the Sun1961The Punisher poster5.8The Punisher1989The Principal poster6.4The Principal1987

Filmography

122 films as actor
  1. TBAForget to Remember
  2. TBAUnpluggedAmos Burton (voice)
  3. 2025SinElijah
  4. 2024IFLewis (voice)
  5. 2023The Color PurpleOl' Mister
  6. 2023Outlaw Johnny BlackReverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)
  7. 2022Three MonthsBenny
  8. 2021Not to ForgetPastor John
  9. 2021I ForgiveGod (voice)
  10. 2020The ReasonPastor Jim
  11. 2020The CubanLuis Garcia
  12. 2020Miracle in East TexasIrving Tanner Jr.
  13. 2019Foster BoyJudge George Taylor
  14. 2019SupervizedPendle
  15. 2018Breaking BrooklynMiles Bryant
  16. 2017Undercover GrandpaMother
  17. 2017Double PlayCoco
  18. 2017King of the DancehallThe Bishop
  19. 2015Boiling PotDetective Haven
  20. 2014The DependablesLou Jones
  21. 2014A Fighting ManCubby
  22. 2013Miracle at Gate 213Roy Peddington
  23. 2013Breaking at the EdgeFloyd
  24. 2012SmittyMr. Smith
  25. 2012The UndershepherdBishop Redford
  26. 2011Dog JackGrown up Jed
  27. 2011The Grace CardGeorge Wright
  28. 2010Why Did I Get Married Too?Porter
  29. 2009The Perfect GameCool Papa Bell
  30. 2009Amazing RacerMax Donovan
  31. 2009The Least Among YouSamuel Benton
  32. 2008DelgoKing Zahn (voice)
  33. 2007Stories USADoc (segment "Club Soda")
  34. 2007CoverDetective Hicks
  35. 2007Daddy's Little GirlsWillie
  36. 2006Club SodaDoc
  37. 2006Solar AttackPresident Ryan Gordon
  38. 2006All InCaps
  39. 2005Left Behind: World at WarPresident Geral Fitzhugh
  40. 2005Lackawanna BluesOl'lem Taylor
  41. 2003Jasper, TexasR.C. Horn
  42. 2003MomentumRaymond Addison
  43. 2002What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-AwayDr. Barnes
  44. 2002DeceivedCol. David Garrett
  45. 2001For Love of OliviaDaniel Stewart
  46. 2001Dr. Lucille
  47. 2000The Color of Love: Jacey's StoryLou Hastings
  48. 2000The Inspectors 2: A Shred of EvidenceFrank
  49. 2000The HighwaymanPhil Bishop
  50. 1999Strange JusticeVernon Jordan
  51. 1999Y2KMorgan
  52. 1999Love SongsReuben
  53. 1998The InspectorsInspector Frank Hughes
  54. 1998Legend of the MummyCorbeck
  55. 1997In His Father's ShoesFrank Crosby / Richard
  56. 1997To Dance with OliviaDaniel Stewart
  57. 1996InsideQuestioner
  58. 1996Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers StoryBob Kersee
  59. 1996Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryJames Mink
  60. 1996ManaguaPaul
  61. 1995Iron Eagle on the AttackCharles 'Chappy' Sinclair
  62. 1995Ray Alexander: A Menu for MurderRay Alexander
  63. 1995ZoomanRueben Tate
  64. 1995A Father for CharlieWalter Osgood
  65. 1994FlashfireBen Durand
  66. 1994Curse of the Starving ClassEllis
  67. 1994A Good Man in AfricaProf. Sam Adekunle
  68. 1994Ray Alexander: A Taste For JusticeRay Alexander
  69. 1994Blue ChipsFather Dawkins (uncredited)
  70. 1993MonolithCapt. MacCandless
  71. 1993Father & Son: Dangerous RelationsLeonard Clay
  72. 1992Diggstown"Honey" Roy Palmer
  73. 1992Iron Eagle IIICharles 'Chappy' Sinclair
  74. 1991Keeper of the CityDet. James Dela
  75. 1991Carolina SkeletonsJames Bragg
  76. 1991Toy SoldiersDean Parker
  77. 1991The Josephine Baker StorySidney Williams
  78. 1991Cover-UpLou Jackson
  79. 1990Sudie and SimpsonSimpson
  80. 1990El DiabloVan Leek
  81. 1990Zora is My Name!
  82. 1989The PunisherJake Berkowitz
  83. 1988Roots: The GiftFiddler
  84. 1988Goodbye, Miss 4th of JulyBig John Creed
  85. 1988Iron Eagle IICharles 'Chappy' Sinclair
  86. 1988Sam Found Out: A Triple PlaySam
  87. 1988Straight UpCosmo
  88. 1987The Father Clements Story
  89. 1987The PrincipalJake Phillips
  90. 1987A Gathering of Old MenMathu
  91. 1986FirewalkerLeo Porter
  92. 1986Iron EagleCharles 'Chappy' Sinclair
  93. 1985Enemy MineJeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
  94. 1984The GuardianJohn Mack
  95. 1984Finders KeepersCentury
  96. 1983Jaws 3-DCalvin Bouchard
  97. 1982An Officer and a GentlemanSergeant Emil Foley
  98. 1982Benny's PlaceBenny Moore
  99. 1981Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" PaigeLeroy 'Satchel' Paige
  100. 1980It Rained All Night the Day I LeftLeo Garcia
  101. 1979The Lazarus SyndromeDr. MacArthur St. Clair
  102. 1979Lawman Without a GunTom Hayward
  103. 1978To Kill a CopEverett Walker
  104. 1977FreemanRex
  105. 1977The ChoirboysCalvin Motts
  106. 1977The DeepHenri Cloche
  107. 1977Little Ladies of the NightRuss Garfield
  108. 1976J.D.'s RevengeRev. Elija Bliss
  109. 1976The River NigerDr. Dudley Stanton
  110. 1975Delancey Street: The Crisis WithinOtis James
  111. 1975Black BartBlack Bart
  112. 1974The White DawnPortagee
  113. 1974SidekicksJason O'Rourke
  114. 1974It's Good to Be AliveSam Brockington
  115. 1973The Laughing PolicemanInsp. James Larrimore SFPD
  116. 1972Travels with My AuntWordsworth
  117. 1971Skin GameJason O'Rourke
  118. 1970The LandlordCopee Johnson
  119. 1969The BushbabyTembo
  120. 1968Companions in NightmareLt. Adam McKay