Louis Gossett Jr.
Biography
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.
Known For
TV
Family Guy
Drill Sargent (voice)
1999
TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
TV
Stargate SG-1
Gerak
1997
TV
Hawaii Five-0
Lou's father
2010
TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
TV
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Audience Member
1944
TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944
TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Host
1944
TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee / Presenter
1944
TV
Psych
Lloyd Marr
2006
TV
ER
Leo Malcolm
1994
TV
Bonanza
Buck Walter
1959
TV
American Experience
Narrator (voice)
1988
TV
The Six Million Dollar Man
O'Flaherty
1974
TV
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
TV
The Good Fight
Carl Reddick
2017
TV
Love, American Style
Freddy
1969
TV
Madam Secretary
Laurent Vasseur
2014
Filmography
2025FilmSinas Elijah2024FilmIFas Lewis (voice)2023FilmThe Color Purpleas Ol' Mister2023FilmOutlaw Johnny Blackas Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)2022FilmSidneyas Self2022FilmThree Monthsas Benny2021FilmNot to Forgetas Pastor John2021FilmI Forgiveas God (voice)2020FilmThe Reasonas Pastor Jim2020FilmThe Cubanas Luis Garcia2020FilmMiracle in East Texasas Irving Tanner Jr.2019TVWatchmenas Old Man / Will Reeves2019FilmFoster Boyas Judge George Taylor2019FilmSupervizedas Pendle2019FilmThe Gang Activistsas Self2019FilmHalas Self2018FilmBreaking Brooklynas Miles Bryant2017FilmLorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heartas Self2017FilmUndercover Grandpaas Mother2017TVThe Good Fightas Carl Reddick2017FilmDouble Playas Coco2017FilmKing of the Dancehallas The Bishop2016FilmMaya Angelou: And Still I Riseas Self2016FilmA.C. Green: Iron Virginas Himself2015FilmBoiling Potas Detective Haven2015TVThe Spoils Before Dyingas Duke Webster2015TVThe Book of Negroesas Daddy Moses2014TVMadam Secretaryas Laurent Vasseur2014TVExtantas Quinn2014FilmThe Dependablesas Lou Jones2014FilmA Fighting Manas Cubby2013FilmMiracle at Gate 213as Roy Peddington2013FilmBreaking at the Edgeas Floyd2012FilmSmittyas Mr. Smith2012FilmThe Undershepherdas Bishop Redford2011FilmDog Jackas Grown up Jed2011FilmThe Grace Cardas George Wright2010TVHawaii Five-0as Lou's father2010FilmWhy Did I Get Married Too?as Porter2009FilmThe Perfect Gameas Cool Papa Bell2009TVCelebrity Ghost Storiesas Self2009FilmAmazing Raceras Max Donovan2009FilmThe Least Among Youas Samuel Benton2009FilmWhy We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedyas Self2008FilmDelgoas King Zahn (voice)2008FilmStanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truthas Self2008FilmA Special Kind of Loveas Self2008FilmA Love Story of Todayas Self2008FilmThe Black List: Volume Oneas Self2007FilmStories USAas Doc (segment "Club Soda")2007FilmCoveras Detective Hicks2007FilmDaddy's Little Girlsas Willie2007FilmThe 50 Greatest Television Dramasas Self2006FilmClub Sodaas Doc2006TVPsychas Lloyd Marr2006FilmSolar Attackas President Ryan Gordon2006FilmAll Inas Caps2005FilmLeft Behind: World at Waras President Geral Fitzhugh2005TVBlack in the 80s2005FilmLackawanna Bluesas Ol'lem Taylor2004TVThe Batmanas Lucius Fox (voice)2003FilmJasper, Texasas R.C. Horn2003FilmMomentumas Raymond Addison2002TVHalf & Halfas Ray Willis2002TVThe Dead Zoneas Pastor David Lewis2002FilmWhat About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Awayas Dr. Barnes2002FilmDeceivedas Col. David Garrett2001FilmFor Love of Oliviaas Daniel Stewart2001FilmDr. Lucille2000FilmThe Color of Love: Jacey's Storyas Lou Hastings2000FilmThe Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidenceas Frank2000FilmThe Highwaymanas Phil Bishop1999FilmStrange Justiceas Vernon Jordan1999FilmY2Kas Morgan1999FilmLove Songsas Reuben1999TVFamily Guyas Drill Sargent (voice)1998FilmThe Inspectorsas Inspector Frank Hughes1998TVHerculesas Chiron (voice)1998FilmThe Wall That Healsas Self - Host1998FilmLegend of the Mummyas Corbeck1998FilmSmall Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywoodas Self1997TVStargate SG-1as Gerak1997FilmIn His Father's Shoesas Frank Crosby / Richard1997FilmTo Dance with Oliviaas Daniel Stewart1996TVEarly Editionas Jim Matthews1996TVPromised Landas Anderson Walker1996FilmInsideas Questioner1996FilmRun for the Dream: The Gail Devers Storyas Bob Kersee1996FilmCaptive Heart: The James Mink Storyas James Mink1996FilmManaguaas Paul1995FilmIron Eagle on the Attackas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair1995FilmThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Moviesas Self1995FilmRay Alexander: A Menu for Murderas Ray Alexander1995FilmZoomanas Rueben Tate1995FilmA Father for Charlieas Walter Osgood1995FilmKings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxingas Narrator1994TVTouched by an Angelas Anderson Walker1994TVERas Leo Malcolm1994FilmFlashfireas Ben Durand1994FilmCurse of the Starving Classas Ellis1994FilmA Good Man in Africaas Prof. Sam Adekunle1994FilmRay Alexander: A Taste For Justiceas Ray Alexander1994TVEllenas Sgt. Timko1994FilmBlue Chipsas Father Dawkins (uncredited)1993TVReturn to Lonesome Doveas Isom Pickett1993FilmMonolithas Capt. MacCandless1993FilmFather & Son: Dangerous Relationsas Leonard Clay1992FilmLiberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War IIas Reader (voice)1992TVPicket Fencesas Rick Jennings1992FilmDiggstownas "Honey" Roy Palmer1992FilmIron Eagle IIIas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair1991FilmKeeper of the Cityas Det. James Dela1991FilmCarolina Skeletonsas James Bragg1991FilmToy Soldiersas Dean Parker1991FilmThe Josephine Baker Storyas Sidney Williams1991FilmCover-Upas Lou Jackson1990TVCaptain Planet and the Planeteersas Commander Clash (voice)1990FilmSudie and Simpsonas Simpson1990FilmEl Diabloas Van Leek1990FilmZora is My Name!1989FilmThe Punisheras Jake Berkowitz1989TVGideon Oliver1988FilmRoots: The Giftas Fiddler1988FilmGoodbye, Miss 4th of Julyas Big John Creed1988FilmIron Eagle IIas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair1988TVAmerican Experienceas Narrator (voice)1988FilmSam Found Out: A Triple Playas Sam1987FilmThe Father Clements Story1987FilmThe Principalas Jake Phillips1987FilmHappy 100th Birthday, Hollywoodas Self1987FilmA Gathering of Old Menas Mathu1986FilmFirewalkeras Leo Porter1986FilmIron Eagleas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair1985FilmEnemy Mineas Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan1984FilmThe Guardianas John Mack1984FilmFinders Keepersas Century1983TVSadatas Anwar al-Sadat1983FilmJaws 3-Das Calvin Bouchard1983FilmThe Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Dieas narrator1982TVThe Powers of Matthew Staras Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)1982FilmAn Officer and a Gentlemanas Sergeant Emil Foley1982FilmBenny's Placeas Benny Moore1982FilmI Love Libertyas Self1981FilmDon't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paigeas Leroy 'Satchel' Paige1980FilmIt Rained All Night the Day I Leftas Leo Garcia1980TVPalmerstown, U.S.A.1979FilmThe Lazarus Syndromeas Dr. MacArthur St. Clair1979TVThe Lazarus Syndromeas MacArthur St. Clair1979FilmLawman Without a Gunas Tom Hayward1979TVBackstairs at the White Houseas Levi Mercer, Houseman1978TVThe Critical Listas Lem Harper1978FilmTo Kill a Copas Everett Walker1978FilmThe Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Rootsas Self1977FilmFreemanas Rex1977FilmThe Choirboysas Calvin Motts1977FilmThe Deepas Henri Cloche1977TVPlease Turn the Pageas Self1977TVRootsas Fiddler1977FilmLittle Ladies of the Nightas Russ Garfield1976FilmJ.D.'s Revengeas Rev. Elija Bliss1976FilmThe River Nigeras Dr. Dudley Stanton1975TVSaturday Night Liveas Self - Host1975FilmDelancey Street: The Crisis Withinas Otis James1975TVThe Jeffersons1975FilmBlack Bartas Black Bart1974TVThe Rockford Filesas Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien1974TVHarry Oas Cleon Jackson1974TVLittle House on the Prairieas Henry Hill1974TVPetrocellias Kurt Olson, DA1974FilmThe White Dawnas Portagee1974FilmSidekicksas Jason O'Rourke1974FilmIt's Good to Be Aliveas Sam Brockington1974TVGood Times1974TVThe Six Million Dollar Manas O'Flaherty1973FilmThe Laughing Policemanas Insp. James Larrimore SFPD1973TVThe American Film Institute Salute to ...as Self1973TVPolice Story1972FilmTravels with My Auntas Wordsworth1972TVThe Rookies1971FilmSkin Gameas Jason O'Rourke1971TVOwen Marshall: Counselor at Lawas Lt. Carl Fellows1971TVAlias Smith and Jones1970TVThe Partridge Familyas Sam Simon1970TVThe Young Rebels1970FilmThe Landlordas Copee Johnson1970TVMcCloud1969TVLove, American Styleas Freddy1969TVThe Bill Cosby Showas Hurricane Smith1969TVThe Bold Ones: The New Doctorsas Dr. Karnes1969FilmThe Bushbabyas Tembo1968FilmCompanions in Nightmareas Lt. Adam McKay1968TVThe Mod Squadas Smitty1967TVCowboy in Africaas Fulah1967TVThe Invadersas Ollie1966TVDaktarias Mkono1962TVThe Merv Griffin Showas Self1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self1961TVThe Mike Douglas Showas Self1961FilmA Raisin in the Sunas George Murchison1960FilmThe New Girlas Mary's Brother1959TVBonanzaas Buck Walter1953TVThe Oscarsas Self1948TVThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Nominee—FilmGridiron Gangas Host—FilmStraight Upas Cosmo—FilmCrimes of Violenceas Self - Host—FilmForget to Remember—FilmUnpluggedas Amos Burton (voice)