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Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Known For Acting
Birthday May 27, 1936
Died Mar 29, 2024 (87)
Birthplace Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Popularity 1 (history)
Updated Aug 10, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

Louis Gossett Jr. (born 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 has won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two ... Golden Globe Awards in an acting career that spans over five decades.

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Filmography

IF

IF

2024

as Lewis (voice)

The Color Purple

The Color Purple

2023

as Ol' Mister

Outlaw Johnny Black

Outlaw Johnny Black

2023

as Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)

Three Months

Three Months

2022

as Benny

Not to Forget

Not to Forget

2021

as Pastor John

I Forgive

I Forgive

2021

as God (voice)

The Reason

The Reason

2020

as Pastor Jim

The Cuban

The Cuban

2020

as Luis Garcia

Miracle in East Texas

Miracle in East Texas

2020

as Irving Tanner Jr.

Foster Boy

Foster Boy

2019

as Judge George Taylor

Supervized

Supervized

2019

as Pendle

Breaking Brooklyn

Breaking Brooklyn

2018

as Miles Bryant

Undercover Grandpa

Undercover Grandpa

2017

as Mother

King of the Dancehall

King of the Dancehall

2017

as The Bishop

Double Play

Double Play

2017

as Coco

Boiling Pot

Boiling Pot

2015

as Detective Haven

The Dependables

The Dependables

2014

as Lou Jones

A Fighting Man

A Fighting Man

2014

as Cubby

Miracle at Gate 213

Miracle at Gate 213

2013

as Roy Peddington

Smitty

Smitty

2012

as Mr. Smith

The Undershepherd

The Undershepherd

2012

as Bishop Redford

The Grace Card

The Grace Card

2011

as George Wright

Dog Jack

Dog Jack

2011

as Grown up Jed

The Least Among You

The Least Among You

2009

as Samuel Benton

The Perfect Game

The Perfect Game

2009

as Cool Papa Bell

Delgo

Delgo

2008

as King Zahn (voice)

Daddy's Little Girls

Daddy's Little Girls

2007

as Willie

Cover

Cover

2007

as Detective Hicks

Stories USA

Stories USA

2007

as Doc (segment "Club Soda")

Solar Attack

Solar Attack

2006

as President Ryan Gordon

All In

All In

2006

as Caps

Club Soda

Club Soda

2006

as Doc

Left Behind: World at War

Left Behind: World at War

2005

as President Geral Fitzhugh

Lackawanna Blues

Lackawanna Blues

2005

as Ol'lem Taylor

The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made

The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made

2004

as Rev. Elija Bliss (archive footage)

Momentum

Momentum

2003

as Raymond Addison

Jasper, Texas

Jasper, Texas

2003

as R.C. Horn

For Love of Olivia

For Love of Olivia

2001

as Daniel Stewart

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

2000

as Lou Hastings

The Highwayman

The Highwayman

2000

as Phil Bishop

Y2K

Y2K

1999

as Morgan

Love Songs

Love Songs

1999

as Reuben

Strange Justice

Strange Justice

1999

as Vernon Jordan

Legend of the Mummy

Legend of the Mummy

1998

as Corbeck

The Inspectors

The Inspectors

1998

as Inspector Frank Hughes

To Dance with Olivia

To Dance with Olivia

1997

as Daniel Stewart

In His Father's Shoes

In His Father's Shoes

1997

as Frank Crosby / Richard

Managua

Managua

1996

as Paul

Inside

Inside

1996

as Questioner

A Father for Charlie

A Father for Charlie

1995

as Walter Osgood

Zooman

Zooman

1995

as Rueben Tate

Iron Eagle on the Attack

Iron Eagle on the Attack

1995

as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

1995

as Ray Alexander

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1994

as Ray Alexander

Flashfire

Flashfire

1994

as Ben Durand

A Good Man in Africa

A Good Man in Africa

1994

as Prof. Sam Adekunle

Blue Chips

Blue Chips

1994

as Father Dawkins (uncredited)

Monolith

Monolith

1993

as Capt. MacCandless

Iron Eagle III

Iron Eagle III

1992

as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Diggstown

Diggstown

1992

as "Honey" Roy Palmer

Keeper of the City

Keeper of the City

1991

as Det. James Dela

Carolina Skeletons

Carolina Skeletons

1991

as James Bragg

Cover-Up

Cover-Up

1991

as Lou Jackson

The Josephine Baker Story

The Josephine Baker Story

1991

as Sidney Williams

Toy Soldiers

Toy Soldiers

1991

as Dean Parker

Sudie and Simpson

Sudie and Simpson

1990

as Simpson

El Diablo

El Diablo

1990

as Van Leek

The Punisher

The Punisher

1989

as Jake Berkowitz

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

1988

as Big John Creed

Iron Eagle II

Iron Eagle II

1988

as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Roots: The Gift

Roots: The Gift

1988

as Fiddler

A Gathering of Old Men

A Gathering of Old Men

1987

as Mathu

The Principal

The Principal

1987

as Jake Phillips

Iron Eagle

Iron Eagle

1986

as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Firewalker

Firewalker

1986

as Leo Porter

Enemy Mine

Enemy Mine

1985

as Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

The Guardian

The Guardian

1984

as John Mack

Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers

1984

as Century

Jaws 3-D

Jaws 3-D

1983

as Calvin Bouchard

Benny's Place

Benny's Place

1982

as Benny Moore

An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman

1982

as Sergeant Emil Foley

Lawman Without a Gun

Lawman Without a Gun

1979

as Tom Hayward

The Lazarus Syndrome

The Lazarus Syndrome

1978

as Dr. MacArthur St. Clair

To Kill a Cop

To Kill a Cop

1978

as Everett Walker

Freeman

Freeman

1977

as Rex

The Choirboys

The Choirboys

1977

as Calvin Motts

Little Ladies of the Night

Little Ladies of the Night

1977

as Russ Garfield

The Deep

The Deep

1977

as Henri Cloche

J.D.'s Revenge

J.D.'s Revenge

1976

as Rev. Elija Bliss

The River Niger

The River Niger

1976

as Dr. Dudley Stanton

Black Bart

Black Bart

1975

as Black Bart

Sidekicks

Sidekicks

1974

as Jason O'Rourke

It's Good to Be Alive

It's Good to Be Alive

1974

as Sam Brockington

The White Dawn

The White Dawn

1974

as Portagee

The Laughing Policeman

The Laughing Policeman

1973

as Insp. James Larrimore SFPD

Travels with My Aunt

Travels with My Aunt

1972

as Wordsworth

Skin Game

Skin Game

1971

as Jason O'Rourke

The Landlord

The Landlord

1970

as Copee Johnson

The Bushbaby

The Bushbaby

1969

as Tembo

Companions in Nightmare

Companions in Nightmare

1968

as Lt. Adam McKay

A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun

1961

as George Murchison

The New Girl

The New Girl

1960

as Mary's Brother

IF

IF

2024

In Memory Of

Love Songs

Love Songs

1999

Director

For Love of Olivia

For Love of Olivia

2001

Executive Producer

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

2000

Executive Producer

In His Father's Shoes

In His Father's Shoes

1997

Executive Producer

To Dance with Olivia

To Dance with Olivia

1997

Executive Producer

Inside

Inside

1996

Executive Producer

A Father for Charlie

A Father for Charlie

1995

Executive Producer

Organization Category Movie
BAFTA Awards Best Supporting Actor Saturday Night Fever Nominated
Television Credits

The Powers of Matthew Star

as Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)

Episodes: 22

First Aired: Sep 17, 1982

The Lazarus Syndrome

as MacArthur St. Clair

Episodes: 10

First Aired: Sep 04, 1979

Watchmen

as Old Man / Will Reeves

Episodes: 7

First Aired: Oct 20, 2019

The Book of Negroes

as Daddy Moses

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Jan 07, 2015

The Spoils Before Dying

as Duke Webster

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Jul 08, 2015

Stargate SG-1

as Gerak

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Jul 27, 1997

Return to Lonesome Dove

as Isom Pickett

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Nov 14, 1993

Backstairs at the White House

as Levi Mercer, Houseman

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Jan 29, 1979

Extant

as Quinn

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Jul 09, 2014

The Batman

as Lucius Fox (voice)

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 11, 2004

Roots

as Fiddler

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jan 23, 1977

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

as Commander Clash (voice)

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 15, 1990

Half & Half

as Ray Willis

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 23, 2002

Sadat

as Anwar al-Sadat

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 31, 1983

The Critical List

as Lem Harper

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 11, 1978

Family Guy

as Drill Sargent (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 31, 1999

The Dead Zone

as Pastor David Lewis

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 16, 2002

The Bill Cosby Show

as Hurricane Smith

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1969

ER

as Leo Malcolm

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1994

Madam Secretary

as Father Laurent Vasseur

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 2014

Psych

as Lloyd Marr

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 07, 2006

Hawaii Five-0

as Lou's father

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 2010

The Good Fight

as Carl Reddick

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 19, 2017

The Six Million Dollar Man

as O'Flaherty

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 18, 1974

Bonanza

as Buck Walter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 12, 1959

Promised Land

as Anderson Walker

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1996

The Rockford Files

as Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1974

The Rockford Files

as Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1974

Hercules

as Chiron (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 31, 1998

Petrocelli

as Kurt Olson, DA

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1974

Petrocelli

as District Attorney Kurt Olson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1974

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

as Lt. Carl Fellows

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1971

The Partridge Family

as Sam Simon

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 25, 1970

Love, American Style

as Freddy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1969

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

as Dr. Karnes

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1969

The Mod Squad

as Smitty

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1968

The Mod Squad

as Lloyd

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1968

The Mod Squad

as Charley Jameson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1968

Cowboy in Africa

as Fulah

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1967

Cowboy in Africa

as Joseph Hemera

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1967

Daktari

as Mkono

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 11, 1966

The Invaders

as Ollie

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 10, 1967

Ellen

as Sgt. Timko

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 29, 1994

Touched by an Angel

as Anderson Walker

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1994

Harry O

as Cleon Jackson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 12, 1974

The Young Rebels

Episodes: 15

First Aired: Sep 20, 1970

Gideon Oliver

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Feb 20, 1989

Black in the 80s

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Feb 01, 2005

Good Times

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Feb 08, 1974

Police Story

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Mar 20, 1973

The Oscars

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Mar 19, 1953

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 01, 1962

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Audience Member

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 20, 1944

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Presenter

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 20, 1944

The Rookies

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1972

Little House on the Prairie

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1974

Early Edition

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 28, 1996

The Jeffersons

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 18, 1975

Alias Smith and Jones

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 05, 1971

The Merv Griffin Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 01, 1962

McCloud

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 17, 1970

Palmerstown, U.S.A.

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 20, 1980

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 02, 1973

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Host

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 11, 1975

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 20, 1948

Celebrity Ghost Stories

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 2009

American Experience

as Self - Narrator

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1988

The Mike Douglas Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 11, 1961

Bitte umblättern

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 20, 1977

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Winner

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 20, 1944

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Host

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 20, 1944

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Nominee / Presenter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 20, 1944

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 29 29 29
2024 6 26 42 17
2024 7 29 41 15
2024 8 17 34 6
2024 9 13 31 6
2024 10 13 24 7
2024 11 13 26 9
2024 12 14 22 10
2025 1 14 23 9
2025 2 12 27 3
2025 3 7 18 1
2025 4 1 4 1
2025 5 2 4 1
2025 6 1 3 1
2025 7 1 1 0
2025 8 2 2 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 901 662
2024 6 495 140

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