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.
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe Awards
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Known For
IF
(2024)
Lewis (voice)
The Color Purple
(2023)
Ol' Mister
An Officer and a Gentleman
(1982)
Sergeant Emil Foley
Enemy Mine
(1985)
Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
The Punisher
(1989)
Jake Berkowitz
Iron Eagle
(1986)
Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Jaws 3-D
(1983)
Calvin Bouchard
The Deep
(1977)
Henri Cloche
Firewalker
(1986)
Leo Porter
Undercover Grandpa
(2017)
Mother
The Perfect Game
(2009)
Cool Papa Bell
The Choirboys
(1977)
Calvin Motts
The Grace Card
(2011)
George Wright
The Principal
(1987)
Jake Phillips
Diggstown
(1992)
"Honey" Roy Palmer
Toy Soldiers
(1991)
Dean Parker
Full Filmography
Acting
The New Girl
(1960)
Mary's Brother
A Raisin in the Sun
(1961)
George Murchison
Companions in Nightmare
(1968)
Lt. Adam McKay
The Bushbaby
(1969)
Tembo
The Landlord
(1970)
Copee Johnson
Skin Game
(1971)
Jason O'Rourke
Travels with My Aunt
(1972)
Wordsworth
The Laughing Policeman
(1973)
Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
It's Good to Be Alive
(1974)
Sam Brockington
Sidekicks
(1974)
Jason O'Rourke
The White Dawn
(1974)
Portagee
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within
(1975)
Otis James
Black Bart
(1975)
Black Bart
The River Niger
(1976)
Dr. Dudley Stanton
J.D.'s Revenge
(1976)
Rev. Elija Bliss
Little Ladies of the Night
(1977)
Russ Garfield
The Deep
(1977)
Henri Cloche
The Choirboys
(1977)
Calvin Motts
Freeman
(1977)
Rex
The Lazarus Syndrome
(1978)
Dr. MacArthur St. Clair
To Kill a Cop
(1978)
Everett Walker
Lawman Without a Gun
(1979)
Tom Hayward
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
(1980)
Leo Garcia
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
(1981)
Leroy 'Satchel' Paige
Benny's Place
(1982)
Benny Moore
An Officer and a Gentleman
(1982)
Sergeant Emil Foley
I Love Liberty
(1982)
Self
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die
(1983)
narrator
Jaws 3-D
(1983)
Calvin Bouchard
The Guardian
(1984)
John Mack
Finders Keepers
(1984)
Century
Enemy Mine
(1985)
Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
Firewalker
(1986)
Leo Porter
Iron Eagle
(1986)
Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
The Principal
(1987)
Jake Phillips
The Father Clements Story
(1987)
A Gathering of Old Men
(1987)
Mathu
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play
(1988)
Sam
Iron Eagle II
(1988)
Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July
(1988)
Big John Creed
Roots: The Gift
(1988)
Fiddler
The Punisher
(1989)
Jake Berkowitz
El Diablo
(1990)
Van Leek
Zora is My Name!
(1990)
Sudie and Simpson
(1990)
Simpson
Cover-Up
(1991)
Lou Jackson
Keeper of the City
(1991)
Det. James Dela
Toy Soldiers
(1991)
Dean Parker
Carolina Skeletons
(1991)
James Bragg
The Josephine Baker Story
(1991)
Sidney Williams
Diggstown
(1992)
"Honey" Roy Palmer
Iron Eagle III
(1992)
Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II
(1992)
Reader
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
(1993)
Monolith
(1993)
Capt. MacCandless
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
(1994)
Ray Alexander
A Good Man in Africa
(1994)
Prof. Sam Adekunle
Curse of the Starving Class
(1994)
Ellis
Blue Chips
(1994)
Father Dawkins (uncredited)
Flashfire
(1994)
Ben Durand
Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing
(1995)
Narrator
Iron Eagle on the Attack
(1995)
Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
Zooman
(1995)
Rueben Tate
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
(1995)
Ray Alexander
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
(1995)
Self
A Father for Charlie
(1995)
Walter Osgood
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story
(1996)
Bob Kersee
Inside
(1996)
Questioner
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
(1996)
James Mink
Managua
(1996)
Paul
In His Father's Shoes
(1997)
Frank Crosby / Richard
To Dance With Olivia
(1997)
Daniel Stewart
The Inspectors
(1998)
Inspector Frank Hughes
Legend of the Mummy
(1998)
Corbeck
Love Songs
(1999)
Reuben
Y2K
(1999)
Morgan
Strange Justice
(1999)
Vernon Jordan
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
(2000)
Lou Hastings
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence
(2000)
Frank
The Highwayman
(2000)
Phil Bishop
For Love of Olivia
(2001)
Daniel Stewart
Deceived
(2002)
Col. David Garrett
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away
(2002)
Dr. Barnes
Jasper, Texas
(2003)
R.C. Horn
Momentum
(2003)
Raymond Addison
Lackawanna Blues
(2005)
Ol'lem Taylor
Left Behind: World at War
(2005)
President Geral Fitzhugh
All In
(2006)
Caps
Solar Attack
(2006)
President Ryan Gordon
Club Soda
(2006)
Doc
Cover
(2007)
Detective Hicks
Stories USA
(2007)
Doc (segment "Club Soda")
Daddy's Little Girls
(2007)
Willie
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
(2007)
Self
A Special Kind of Love
(2008)
Self
Delgo
(2008)
King Zahn (voice)
The Black List: Volume One
(2008)
Himself
A Love Story of Today
(2008)
Self
Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth
(2008)
Self
The Perfect Game
(2009)
Cool Papa Bell
The Least Among You
(2009)
Samuel Benton
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
(2009)
Self
Why Did I Get Married Too?
(2010)
Porter
Dog Jack
(2011)
Grown up Jed
The Grace Card
(2011)
George Wright
Smitty
(2012)
Mr. Smith
The Undershepherd
(2012)
Bishop Redford
Miracle at Gate 213
(2013)
Roy Peddington
And the Oscar Goes To...
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
A Fighting Man
(2014)
Cubby
Pride of Lions
(2014)
Lou Jones
Boiling Pot
(2015)
Detective Haven
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin
(2016)
Himself
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
(2016)
Himself
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
(2017)
Self
King of the Dancehall
(2017)
The Bishop
Undercover Grandpa
(2017)
Mother
Double Play
(2017)
Coco
Breaking Brooklyn
(2018)
Miles Bryant
The Gang Activists
(2019)
Himself
Supervized
(2019)
Pendle
Foster Boy
(2019)
Judge George Taylor
Hal
(2019)
Self
The Cuban
(2020)
Luis Garcia
The Reason
(2020)
Pastor Jim
Miracle in East Texas
(2020)
Irving Tanner Jr.
I Forgive
(2021)
God (voice)
Not to Forget
(2021)
Pastor John
Three Months
(2022)
Benny
Sidney
(2022)
Self
The Color Purple
(2023)
Ol' Mister
Outlaw Johnny Black
(2023)
Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)
IF
(2024)
Lewis (voice)
Production
A Father for Charlie
(1995)
Executive Producer
Inside
(1996)
Executive Producer
In His Father's Shoes
(1997)
Executive Producer
To Dance With Olivia
(1997)
Executive Producer
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
(2000)
Executive Producer
For Love of Olivia
(2001)
Executive Producer
Directing