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Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Acting·1936–2024·134 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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As Actor

IF
IF (2024)Lewis (voice)
Jaws 3-D
Jaws 3-D (1983)Calvin Bouchard
An Officer and a Gentleman
An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)Sergeant Emil Foley
Enemy Mine
Enemy Mine (1985)Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
The Punisher
The Punisher (1989)Jake Berkowitz
Toy Soldiers
Toy Soldiers (1991)Dean Parker
The Color Purple
The Color Purple (2023)Ol' Mister
Iron Eagle
Iron Eagle (1986)Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
The Principal
The Principal (1987)Jake Phillips
The Deep
The Deep (1977)Henri Cloche
Blue Chips
Blue Chips (1994)Father Dawkins (uncredited)
Firewalker
Firewalker (1986)Leo Porter
The Perfect Game
The Perfect Game (2009)Cool Papa Bell
Why Did I Get Married Too?
Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010)Porter
A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun (1961)George Murchison
Daddy's Little Girls
Daddy's Little Girls (2007)Willie
Diggstown
Diggstown (1992)"Honey" Roy Palmer
Iron Eagle II
Iron Eagle II (1988)Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Undercover Grandpa
Undercover Grandpa (2017)Mother
Left Behind: World at War
Left Behind: World at War (2005)President Geral Fitzhugh
Three Months
Three Months (2022)Benny
The Laughing Policeman
The Laughing Policeman (1973)Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
Delgo
Delgo (2008)King Zahn (voice)
Iron Eagle III
Iron Eagle III (1992)Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
The Grace Card
The Grace Card (2011)George Wright
The Landlord
The Landlord (1970)Copee Johnson
Iron Eagle on the Attack
Iron Eagle on the Attack (1995)Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Breaking at the Edge
Breaking at the Edge (2013)Floyd
Sidney
Sidney (2022)Self
Solar Attack
Solar Attack (2006)President Ryan Gordon
A Fighting Man
A Fighting Man (2014)Cubby
Cover-Up
Cover-Up (1991)Lou Jackson
A Good Man in Africa
A Good Man in Africa (1994)Prof. Sam Adekunle
Travels with My Aunt
Travels with My Aunt (1972)Wordsworth
Outlaw Johnny Black
Outlaw Johnny Black (2023)Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)
Supervized
Supervized (2019)Pendle
Skin Game
Skin Game (1971)Jason O'Rourke
J.D.'s Revenge
J.D.'s Revenge (1976)Rev. Elija Bliss
El Diablo
El Diablo (1990)Van Leek
The Choirboys
The Choirboys (1977)Calvin Motts
Finders Keepers
Finders Keepers (1984)Century
Lackawanna Blues
Lackawanna Blues (2005)Ol'lem Taylor
Foster Boy
Foster Boy (2019)Judge George Taylor
Smitty
Smitty (2012)Mr. Smith
Amazing Racer
Amazing Racer (2009)Max Donovan
Monolith
Monolith (1993)Capt. MacCandless
Legend of the Mummy
Legend of the Mummy (1998)Corbeck
The White Dawn
The White Dawn (1974)Portagee
Jasper, Texas
Jasper, Texas (2003)R.C. Horn
The Josephine Baker Story
The Josephine Baker Story (1991)Sidney Williams
Cover
Cover (2007)Detective Hicks
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise (2016)Self
Stories USA
Stories USA (2007)Doc (segment "Club Soda")
Hal
Hal (2019)Self
Momentum
Momentum (2003)Raymond Addison
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence (2000)Frank
Breaking Brooklyn
Breaking Brooklyn (2018)Miles Bryant
The Inspectors
The Inspectors (1998)Inspector Frank Hughes
Double Play
Double Play (2017)Coco
Roots: The Gift
Roots: The Gift (1988)Fiddler
All In
All In (2006)Caps
The Reason
The Reason (2020)Pastor Jim
Black Bart
Black Bart (1975)Black Bart
Inside
Inside (1996)Questioner
Y2K
Y2K (1999)Morgan
The Dependables
The Dependables (2014)Lou Jones
A Gathering of Old Men
A Gathering of Old Men (1987)Mathu
Not to Forget
Not to Forget (2021)Pastor John
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995)Self
King of the Dancehall
King of the Dancehall (2017)The Bishop
Carolina Skeletons
Carolina Skeletons (1991)James Bragg
The Cuban
The Cuban (2020)Luis Garcia
Curse of the Starving Class
Curse of the Starving Class (1994)Ellis
A Father for Charlie
A Father for Charlie (1995)Walter Osgood
Flashfire
Flashfire (1994)Ben Durand
Managua
Managua (1996)Paul
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987)Self
The Lazarus Syndrome
The Lazarus Syndrome (1979)Dr. MacArthur St. Clair
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy (2009)Self
The Guardian
The Guardian (1984)John Mack
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations (1993)Leonard Clay
Deceived
Deceived (2002)Col. David Garrett
The Highwayman
The Highwayman (2000)Phil Bishop
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story (2000)Lou Hastings
The River Niger
The River Niger (1976)Dr. Dudley Stanton
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's Good to Be Alive
It's Good to Be Alive (1974)Sam Brockington
Little Ladies of the Night
Little Ladies of the Night (1977)Russ Garfield
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
It Rained All Night the Day I Left (1980)Leo Garcia
I Forgive
I Forgive (2021)God (voice)
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story (1996)James Mink
Zooman
Zooman (1995)Rueben Tate
Keeper of the City
Keeper of the City (1991)Det. James Dela
Companions in Nightmare
Companions in Nightmare (1968)Lt. Adam McKay
Sudie and Simpson
Sudie and Simpson (1990)Simpson
In His Father's Shoes
In His Father's Shoes (1997)Frank Crosby / Richard
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart (2017)Self
Miracle in East Texas
Miracle in East Texas (2020)Irving Tanner Jr.
Love Songs
Love Songs (1999)Reuben
Boiling Pot
Boiling Pot (2015)Detective Haven
Strange Justice
Strange Justice (1999)Vernon Jordan
The Undershepherd
The Undershepherd (2012)Bishop Redford
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away (2002)Dr. Barnes
For Love of Olivia
For Love of Olivia (2001)Daniel Stewart
The Black List: Volume One
The Black List: Volume One (2008)Self
The Bushbaby
The Bushbaby (1969)Tembo
To Dance with Olivia
To Dance with Olivia (1997)Daniel Stewart
Dog Jack
Dog Jack (2011)Grown up Jed
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July (1988)Big John Creed
Benny's Place
Benny's Place (1982)Benny Moore
Sidekicks
Sidekicks (1974)Jason O'Rourke
Freeman
Freeman (1977)Rex
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die (1983)narrator
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice (1994)Ray Alexander
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood (1998)Self
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder (1995)Ray Alexander
Lawman Without a Gun
Lawman Without a Gun (1979)Tom Hayward
Zora is My Name!
Zora is My Name! (1990)
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within (1975)Otis James
The Father Clements Story
The Father Clements Story (1987)
Miracle at Gate 213
Miracle at Gate 213 (2013)Roy Peddington
The Wall That Heals
The Wall That Heals (1998)Self - Host
Dr. Lucille
Dr. Lucille (2001)
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play (1988)Sam
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas (2007)Self
I Love Liberty
I Love Liberty (1982)Self
To Kill a Cop
To Kill a Cop (1978)Everett Walker
Club Soda
Club Soda (2006)Doc
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin (2016)Himself
A Love Story of Today
A Love Story of Today (2008)Self
A Special Kind of Love
A Special Kind of Love (2008)Self
Sin
Sin (2025)Elijah
Unplugged
UnpluggedAmos Burton (voice)
Gridiron Gang
Gridiron Gang (1992)Host

As Director

Love Songs
Love Songs (1999)