Gossett is recognized as much for his humanitarian efforts as he is for his accomplishments as an actor. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Unlike predecessors that romanticized the Civil Warlike Gone With the Wind didRoots didnt shy away from brutality. At the Emmy Awards, Gossett was nominated for "Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or a special". However, he declined it to concentrate on theater. [52], In 1985, Gossett co-starred with Dennis Quaid in Wolfgang Petersen's Enemy Mine. Indeed, many actors have spoken out about the fact that the most prestigious roles for black actors in Hollywood films are usually as slaves. And me as Fiddler, Im looking at LeVar, who is my new friend, and I also looked at Kunta Kinte, and all of a sudden it morphed back and forth, from LeVar to Kunta Kinte, Gossett recalls. Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com. Make you say Toby? The famous penultimate lines of the sceneWhat you care what that white man call you? Since, hes won an Emmy for that role, an Oscar for An Officer and a Gentleman and, most recently, spoken out about the #OscarsSoWhite controversy on the red carpet. Gossett has also starred in numerous other film productions including A Raisin in the Sun, The Landlord, Skin Game, Travels with My Aunt, The Laughing Policema Portrayed Pete in "Winesburg, Ohio," produced at the Santa Barbara Performing Arts Center in Santa Barbara, California. Alex [Haley] was on the set, and he said, It was very prophetic and I wish that I had written it that way.'. What you care? [37], That year in films, Gossett acted Robert Aldrich's The Choirboys,[38] and Peter Yates's The Deep. Louis Gossett, Jr., (born May 27, 1936, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.), American stage, screen, and television character actor, a respected and prolific performer. Other original casts are popular actors including Roscoe Lee Browne, Cicely Tyson, Charles Gordone, Maya Angelou, James Earl Jones, and Godfrey Cambridge among others. By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. . [67] On March 16, HBO premiered the television film The Josephine Baker Story. [3] The play was selected by The New York Times drama critics as one of the 10 best shows of the year. [72], In 1995, Gossett returned to the role of Chappy and reunited with director Sidney J. Furie for Iron Eagle IV. Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird: Ken Kwapis: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Sandra Bernhard: Family: Warner Bros. 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IMDb's advanced search allows you to run extremely powerful queries over all people and titles in the database. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. When 12 Years a Slave got that much attention, everyone started to copy that. And, in doing so, it sparked a new wave of conversation about race in America. [7] Louis has continued performing in numerous television shows and films; most recently in a 2021 film to raise awareness and funds to fight against Alzheimer's. Moreover, his full name is Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. His parents are mother Hellen Rebecca (ne Wray) and Louis Gossett Sr. His mother is a nurse whereas his father is a porter. Its a business. Although the movie was not a major success at the cinema, it generated $11 million in home video sales, enough to justify a sequel. [11], Signed to Powertree Records, Gossett's single, "Hooka' Dooka'", "Green Green" bw "Goodmornin' Captain" was released in early 1964. He has been in the acting field for over five decades. Corrections? [68] For his acting at the Golden Globes Awards, in the television category, Gossett won "Best supporting actor". [4] They had one son before divorcing in 1974. Shortly after he successfully auditioned for the Broadway play Take a Giant Step. Gossett continued acting in high profile films and television. Louis Gossett Jr. is one of the most respected and beloved actors on stage, screen and television and is also an accomplished writer, producer and director. After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1954, he attended New York University, declining an athletic scholarship. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [12] Later in May, "Red Rosy Bush" bw "See See Rider" was released. His film debut was in 1961 when he appeared in "A Raisin in the Sun". [6], Louis separately adopted a 7-year old son around 1984.[6]. All of a sudden, he did this part so fluently. His high school teacher had encouraged him to audition for a Broadway part, resulting in his selection for a starring role on Broadway in 1953 from among 200 other actors well before he entered NYU. The actor revealed on 9 February 2010 that he had prostate cancer. He moved into television in the 1970's and won and Emmy Award for his role in the popular television miniseries "Roots". The movie, directed by Valerio Zanoli, stars Karen Grassle and 5 Academy Award winners: Louis Gossett Jr., Cloris Leachman, Tatum ONeal, George Chakiris, and Olympia Dukakis. He was selected from among 200 other actors. Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. is an American actor. Louis Gossett Jr. is an Academy-award winning actor who has performed on Broadway, film and television. Gossett has also received numerous other honors throughout his illustrious career. Gossetts second major movie performance was in the social comedy The Landlord (1970), directed by Hal Ashby. Gossett is also well known for his role as Colonel Chappy Sinclair in the Iron Eagle film series (1986-1995). But I didnt tell him not to do Roots, he says. His third marriage, to Star Search champion Cyndi James-Reese, took place on December 25, 1987. [56], In 1987, Gossett acted in Volker Schlndorff's A Gathering of Old Men. Gossett was born in Brooklyn and made his stage debut when he was 17 in "Take a Giant Step," which was selected as one of the 10 best Broadway shows of 1953 by The New York Times. President. [5], During the early 1960s, Gossett was considered to be a talented folk musician. Sadly, the couple divorced in the year 1992. Gossett was among the guest stars. Gossett has also starred in numerous other film productions including A Raisin in the Sun, The Landlord, Skin Game, Travels with My Aunt, The Laughing Policeman, The White Dawn, The Deep, Jaws 3-D, Wolfgang Petersen's Enemy Mine, The Principal, the Iron Eagle series, Toy Soldiers and The Punisher, in an acting career that spans over five decades. After college he was drafted by the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) but chose to fully dedicate himself to acting as a career. He says that executive producer Mark Wolper asked his advice on rebooting the series, and that while he thought revisiting the source material was a good idea he had hoped that would be a chance for moving the story forward. Louis Gossett, Jr. can tell you how bad COVID is . he has it, was hospitalized for it, but left because it's a s*** show inside. [65], In 1991, Gossett acted in Manny Coto's Cover Up,[66] and Daniel Petrie's Toy Soldiers. His performance was well received, and he won the Donaldson Award for best newcomer of the year. Born Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. on 27th May, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, USA, he is famous for Roots, An Officer and a Gentleman. You have reached your limit of free articles. He is best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman, winning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. It was a Cash Box Newcomer Pick and received a good review with the reviewer calling it "Easy-paced blues working and a mighty fine smooth vocal join forces in putting across a tempting r&b reading of the folk standard. Gossett was the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his unforgettable performance as drill Sergeant Emil Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman." [15], In 1966, Gossett acted in the Broadway play My Sweet Charlie. Louis Gossett Jr. has been in 2 on-screen matchups, including BernNadette Stanis in Good Times (1974) and Lonette McKee in For Love of . It ran for 1,408 performances. Programs focus on fostering cultural diversity, historical enrichment, education and anti-violence initiatives. Havens performed it on the Johnny Carson Show which resulted in a standing ovation that lasted through two commercial breaks. Indeed, that legacy of slavery stories largely began with Roots, based on Alex Haleys book of the same name. He hails from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York City, and his zodiac sign is Gemini. Dennis Quaid, Louis Gossett Jr. Science Fiction: Barry B. Longyear story Ewoks: The Battle for Endor: Ken Wheat: Warwick Davis, Wilford Brimley, Aubree Miller: Fantasy, Adventure: Made-for-TV . He has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, one Academy Award, five Images Awards, two Daytime Emmy Awards and in 1992 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was the first black male to win an Oscar in a supporting role,[47] the second black male to win for acting, and the third black actor to win overall. Off-screen he is a social activist, educator and author dedicated to enriching the lives of others. [88] He narrated an audiobook based on Twelve Years a Slave. [93] At the Emmy Awards, he was nominated for "Outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie",[94] and at the Black Reel Awards he received a nomination for "Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series".[95]. The film is produced by Fourth Horizon Cinema, Impact Media Studios and Design Weapons. [25] Also that year he acted in the play Murderous Angels. [69] Gossett returned to the role of Chappy in Aces: Iron Eagle III directed by John Glen,[70] and acted in Michael Ritchie's Diggstown. Gossett states that in 1966 he was handcuffed to a tree for three hours by the police in Beverly Hills. With stories in Watchmen, HBO, Entertainment, Damon Lindelof, Regina King, Jean Smart, Don Johnson, Alan Moore, TV. Veteran actor Louis Gossett Jr. recently contracted the infection. Gossett is recognized as much for his humanitarian efforts as he is for his accomplishments as an actor. [19], In the spring of 1969, Gossett was listed among the actors who could not be determined or uncredited in Stuart Rosenberg's WUSA. He is an alumnus of Mark Twain Intermediate School 239 and Abraham Lincoln High School. In 1953, Gossett acted in the Broadway play Take a Giant Step. He also won an Emmy Award for his role as Fiddler in the 1977 ABC television miniseries Roots. The foundation provides young adults with tools to live a racially diverse and culturally inclusive life. [89] Also that year, he acted in Havre de grace an episode of Boardwalk Empire. An estranged father and son are paroled from the same maximum-security prison with one unusual condition, they must become roommates. [citation needed], In 2008, he filmed the "Keep It Real" series of commercials for the Namibian lager Windhoek. Sharron was born in the year 1977. [61], In 1988, Gossett reunited with director Sidney J. Furie for Iron Eagle II. [48], In 1992, provided additional narration for Bill Miles and Nina Rosenblum's documentary film The Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II. [54] It earned $24,159,872 at the U.S. box office. Louis has been married 3 times; his first marriage to Hattie Glascoe took place in 1964 in Manhattan, New York. [1] Standing 6feet 1inch (1.85m) tall, he was offered the opportunity to play varsity basketball during his college years at NYU; he declined the basketball offer to concentrate on theater. [citation needed], In 2009, Gossett also lent his voice talents in the Thomas Nelson audio Bible production known as The Word of Promise. Magazines, Digital In 1983 Gossett received an Academy Award for best-supporting actor for his portrayal of tough-hearted drill sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982). The aforementioned is the longest-running off-Broadway play of the decade. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [23], In 1971, Gossett acted in Paul Bogart's Skin Game. Gossett was part of the original stage cast of Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun (1959), and he made his movie debut in the 1961 film version. [8], 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. His first marriage was to Hattie Glascoe; it was annulled. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. In 1977, Gossett gained wide recognition for his role of Fiddler in the popular miniseries Roots. Gossett at the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in 2021, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige, Louis Gossett Jr/George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor Miniseries or Television Film, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, Satellite Award for Best Actor Miniseries or Television Film, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Louis_Gossett_Jr._on_screen_and_stage&oldid=1132637900, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Denotes works that have not yet been released, Colonel / Brigadier General Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair, Brigadier General Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair, Brigadier General Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair (Ret. 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Practices in our Privacy Policy Namibian lager Windhoek unlike predecessors that romanticized Civil... Giant Step he did this part so fluently the Emmy Awards, Gossett reunited with Sidney! Talented folk musician Slave got that much attention, everyone started to copy that film debut was 1961! When he appeared in `` a Raisin in the Iron Eagle film series ( 1986-1995 ) he for! That he had prostate cancer made to follow citation style rules, there may some... They must become roommates based on Alex Haleys book of the year moved into television in year... Numerous other honors throughout his illustrious career 9 February 2010 that he had prostate cancer, agree... Recognized as much for his acting at the U.S. box office accomplishments as an actor `` Roots.... Diversity, historical enrichment, education and anti-violence initiatives two commercial breaks 2010 that he had prostate.. 1986-1995 ) in 1987, Gossett acted in the acting field for over five.! 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