Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black actor to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, has died at the age of 87. He gained this accolade for his performance as Sgt Emil Foley, the drilling instructor, in the classic 1982 film, An Officer and a Gentleman. According to reports, he passed away on March 29th at a rehabilitation center in Santa Monica, California.
The announcement of his death was made by his family in an official statement. It reads, “It is with our heartfelt regret to confirm our beloved father passed away this morning. We would like to thank everyone for their condolences at this time. Please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Born in Brooklyn in 1936, Gossett had a long and illustrious career that spanned over five decades in the film industry. He made his Broadway debut in 1953 with the play, Take a Giant Step, and subsequently worked in a number of television shows and films. However, he is still best remembered for his Emmy award-winning performance in the groundbreaking 1977 miniseries, Roots.
Apart from his professional achievements in the field of entertainment, Gossett was also a vocal campaigner for racial equality. He expressed his anguish, in his own written words, about the discrimination and harassment that he faced as a black man during his early years. Most recently, he was nominated for an Emmy for his role in the HBO show, Watchmen, which once again, highlighted his immense talent and versatility.
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black actor to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, has died at the age of 87. He had appeared in a number of popular shows and films such as Roots, An Officer and a Gentleman, Enemy Mine, Iron Eagle, and Watchman, and won several awards. He died in March 2022 at a rehabilitation center in Santa Monica, California, as confirmed in a statement released by his family. Additionally, he was also a vocal campaigner for racial equality and shared his own stories of racial discrimination and police harassment during his early adulthood. Gossett’s impressive legacy and immense contribution to the entertainment industry will be remembered for many years to come
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