Louis Gossett Jr.

Acting

Louis Gossett Jr.

Born May 27, 1936Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA211 credits

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

Sin

Sin

Movie

2025

IF
7.0

IF

Movie

2024

The Color Purple
7.0

The Color Purple

Movie

2023

Outlaw Johnny Black
5.4

Outlaw Johnny Black

Movie

2023

Sidney
7.4

Sidney

Movie

2022

Three Months
7.0

Three Months

Movie

2022

Filmography

Sin
2025Sinas ElijahMovie
IF
2024IFas Lewis (voice)Movie
The Color Purple
2023The Color Purpleas Ol' MisterMovie
Outlaw Johnny Black
2023Outlaw Johnny Blackas Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)Movie
Sidney
2022Sidneyas SelfMovie
Three Months
2022Three Monthsas BennyMovie
Not to Forget
2021Not to Forgetas Pastor JohnMovie
I Forgive
2021I Forgiveas God (voice)Movie
The Reason
2020The Reasonas Pastor JimMovie
The Cuban
2020The Cubanas Luis GarciaMovie
Miracle in East Texas
2020Miracle in East Texasas Irving Tanner Jr.Movie
Watchmen
2019Watchmenas Old Man / Will ReevesTV
Foster Boy
2019Foster Boyas Judge George TaylorMovie
Supervized
2019Supervizedas PendleMovie
T
2019The Gang Activistsas SelfMovie
Hal
2019Halas SelfMovie
Breaking Brooklyn
2018Breaking Brooklynas Miles BryantMovie
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
2017Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heartas SelfMovie
Undercover Grandpa
2017Undercover Grandpaas MotherMovie
The Good Fight
2017The Good Fightas Carl ReddickTV
Double Play
2017Double Playas CocoMovie
King of the Dancehall
2017King of the Dancehallas The BishopMovie
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
2016Maya Angelou: And Still I Riseas SelfMovie
A.C. Green: Iron Virgin
2016A.C. Green: Iron Virginas HimselfMovie
Boiling Pot
2015Boiling Potas Detective HavenMovie
The Spoils Before Dying
2015The Spoils Before Dyingas Duke WebsterTV
The Book of Negroes
2015The Book of Negroesas Daddy MosesTV
Madam Secretary
2014Madam Secretaryas Laurent VasseurTV
Extant
2014Extantas QuinnTV
The Dependables
2014The Dependablesas Lou JonesMovie
A Fighting Man
2014A Fighting Manas CubbyMovie
Miracle at Gate 213
2013Miracle at Gate 213as Roy PeddingtonMovie
Breaking at the Edge
2013Breaking at the Edgeas FloydMovie
Smitty
2012Smittyas Mr. SmithMovie
The Undershepherd
2012The Undershepherdas Bishop RedfordMovie
Dog Jack
2011Dog Jackas Grown up JedMovie
The Grace Card
2011The Grace Cardas George WrightMovie
Hawaii Five-0
2010Hawaii Five-0as Lou's fatherTV
Why Did I Get Married Too?
2010Why Did I Get Married Too?as PorterMovie
For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots
2010For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black PatriotsExecutive ProducerTV
The Perfect Game
2009The Perfect Gameas Cool Papa BellMovie
Celebrity Ghost Stories
2009Celebrity Ghost Storiesas SelfTV
Amazing Racer
2009Amazing Raceras Max DonovanMovie
T
2009The Least Among Youas Samuel BentonMovie
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2009Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedyas SelfMovie
Delgo
2008Delgoas King Zahn (voice)Movie
S
2008Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truthas SelfMovie
A Love Story of Today
2008A Love Story of Todayas SelfMovie
A Special Kind of Love
2008A Special Kind of Loveas SelfMovie
The Black List: Volume One
2008The Black List: Volume Oneas SelfMovie
Stories USA
2007Stories USAas Doc (segment "Club Soda")Movie
Cover
2007Coveras Detective HicksMovie
Daddy's Little Girls
2007Daddy's Little Girlsas WillieMovie
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
2007The 50 Greatest Television Dramasas SelfMovie
Club Soda
2006Club Sodaas DocMovie
Psych
2006Psychas Lloyd MarrTV
Solar Attack
2006Solar Attackas President Ryan GordonMovie
All In
2006All Inas CapsMovie
Left Behind: World at War
2005Left Behind: World at Waras President Geral FitzhughMovie
Black in the 80s
2005Black in the 80sTV
Lackawanna Blues
2005Lackawanna Bluesas Ol'lem TaylorMovie
The Batman
2004The Batmanas Lucius Fox (voice)TV
Jasper, Texas
2003Jasper, Texasas R.C. HornMovie
Momentum
2003Momentumas Raymond AddisonMovie
Half & Half
2002Half & Halfas Ray WillisTV
The Dead Zone
2002The Dead Zoneas Pastor David LewisTV
What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away
2002What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Awayas Dr. BarnesMovie
Deceived
2002Deceivedas Col. David GarrettMovie
For Love of Olivia
2001For Love of Oliviaas Daniel StewartMovie
Dr. Lucille
2001Dr. LucilleMovie
The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
2000The Color of Love: Jacey's Storyas Lou HastingsMovie
The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence
2000The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidenceas FrankMovie
The Highwayman
2000The Highwaymanas Phil BishopMovie
Strange Justice
1999Strange Justiceas Vernon JordanMovie
Y2K
1999Y2Kas MorganMovie
Love Songs
1999Love Songsas ReubenMovie
Family Guy
1999Family Guyas Drill Sargent (voice)TV
The Inspectors
1998The Inspectorsas Inspector Frank HughesMovie
Hercules
1998Herculesas Chiron (voice)TV
The Wall That Heals
1998The Wall That Healsas Self - HostMovie
Legend of the Mummy
1998Legend of the Mummyas CorbeckMovie
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
1998Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywoodas SelfMovie
Stargate SG-1
1997Stargate SG-1as GerakTV
In His Father's Shoes
1997In His Father's Shoesas Frank Crosby / RichardMovie
To Dance with Olivia
1997To Dance with Oliviaas Daniel StewartMovie
Early Edition
1996Early Editionas Jim MatthewsTV
Promised Land
1996Promised Landas Anderson WalkerTV
Inside
1996Insideas QuestionerMovie
R
1996Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Storyas Bob KerseeMovie
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
1996Captive Heart: The James Mink Storyas James MinkMovie
Managua
1996Managuaas PaulMovie
Iron Eagle on the Attack
1995Iron Eagle on the Attackas Charles 'Chappy' SinclairMovie
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Moviesas SelfMovie
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
1995Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murderas Ray AlexanderMovie
Zooman
1995Zoomanas Rueben TateMovie
A Father for Charlie
1995A Father for Charlieas Walter OsgoodMovie
K
1995Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxingas NarratorMovie
Touched by an Angel
1994Touched by an Angelas Anderson WalkerTV
ER
1994ERas Leo MalcolmTV
Flashfire
1994Flashfireas Ben DurandMovie
Curse of the Starving Class
1994Curse of the Starving Classas EllisMovie
A Good Man in Africa
1994A Good Man in Africaas Prof. Sam AdekunleMovie
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
1994Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justiceas Ray AlexanderMovie
Ellen
1994Ellenas Sgt. TimkoTV
Blue Chips
1994Blue Chipsas Father Dawkins (uncredited)Movie
Return to Lonesome Dove
1993Return to Lonesome Doveas Isom PickettTV
Monolith
1993Monolithas Capt. MacCandlessMovie
Father & Son: Dangerous Relations
1993Father & Son: Dangerous Relationsas Leonard ClayMovie
L
1992Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War IIas Reader (voice)Movie
Picket Fences
1992Picket Fencesas Rick JenningsTV
Diggstown
1992Diggstownas "Honey" Roy PalmerMovie
Iron Eagle III
1992Iron Eagle IIIas Charles 'Chappy' SinclairMovie
Keeper of the City
1991Keeper of the Cityas Det. James DelaMovie
Carolina Skeletons
1991Carolina Skeletonsas James BraggMovie
Toy Soldiers
1991Toy Soldiersas Dean ParkerMovie
The Josephine Baker Story
1991The Josephine Baker Storyas Sidney WilliamsMovie
Cover-Up
1991Cover-Upas Lou JacksonMovie
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
1990Captain Planet and the Planeteersas Commander Clash (voice)TV
Sudie and Simpson
1990Sudie and Simpsonas SimpsonMovie
El Diablo
1990El Diabloas Van LeekMovie
Zora is My Name!
1990Zora is My Name!Movie
The Punisher
1989The Punisheras Jake BerkowitzMovie
G
1989Gideon OliverTV
Roots: The Gift
1988Roots: The Giftas FiddlerMovie
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July
1988Goodbye, Miss 4th of Julyas Big John CreedMovie
Iron Eagle II
1988Iron Eagle IIas Charles 'Chappy' SinclairMovie
American Experience
1988American Experienceas Narrator (voice)TV
Sam Found Out: A Triple Play
1988Sam Found Out: A Triple Playas SamMovie
The Father Clements Story
1987The Father Clements StoryMovie
The Principal
1987The Principalas Jake PhillipsMovie
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywoodas SelfMovie
A Gathering of Old Men
1987A Gathering of Old Menas MathuMovie
Firewalker
1986Firewalkeras Leo PorterMovie
Iron Eagle
1986Iron Eagleas Charles 'Chappy' SinclairMovie
Enemy Mine
1985Enemy Mineas Jeriba 'Jerry' ShiganMovie
The Guardian
1984The Guardianas John MackMovie
Finders Keepers
1984Finders Keepersas CenturyMovie
S
1983Sadatas Anwar al-SadatTV
Jaws 3-D
1983Jaws 3-Das Calvin BouchardMovie
The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die
1983The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Dieas narratorMovie
The Powers of Matthew Star
1982The Powers of Matthew Staras Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)TV
An Officer and a Gentleman
1982An Officer and a Gentlemanas Sergeant Emil FoleyMovie
Benny's Place
1982Benny's Placeas Benny MooreMovie
I Love Liberty
1982I Love Libertyas SelfMovie
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
1981Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paigeas Leroy 'Satchel' PaigeMovie
It Rained All Night the Day I Left
1980It Rained All Night the Day I Leftas Leo GarciaMovie
Palmerstown, U.S.A.
1980Palmerstown, U.S.A.TV
The Lazarus Syndrome
1979The Lazarus Syndromeas Dr. MacArthur St. ClairMovie
The Lazarus Syndrome
1979The Lazarus Syndromeas MacArthur St. ClairTV
Lawman Without a Gun
1979Lawman Without a Gunas Tom HaywardMovie
Backstairs at the White House
1979Backstairs at the White Houseas Levi Mercer, HousemanTV
The Critical List
1978The Critical Listas Lem HarperTV
To Kill a Cop
1978To Kill a Copas Everett WalkerMovie
To Kill a Cop
1978To Kill a Copas Everett WalkerTV
T
1978The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Rootsas SelfMovie
Freeman
1977Freemanas RexMovie
The Choirboys
1977The Choirboysas Calvin MottsMovie
The Deep
1977The Deepas Henri ClocheMovie
P
1977Please Turn the Pageas SelfTV
Roots
1977Rootsas FiddlerTV
Little Ladies of the Night
1977Little Ladies of the Nightas Russ GarfieldMovie
J.D.'s Revenge
1976J.D.'s Revengeas Rev. Elija BlissMovie
The River Niger
1976The River Nigeras Dr. Dudley StantonMovie
Saturday Night Live
1975Saturday Night Liveas Self - HostTV
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within
1975Delancey Street: The Crisis Withinas Otis JamesMovie
The Jeffersons
1975The JeffersonsTV
Black Bart
1975Black Bartas Black BartMovie
The Rockford Files
1974The Rockford Filesas Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'BrienTV
Harry O
1974Harry Oas Cleon JacksonTV
Little House on the Prairie
1974Little House on the Prairieas Henry HillTV
Petrocelli
1974Petrocellias District Attorney Kurt OlsonTV
The White Dawn
1974The White Dawnas PortageeMovie
Sidekicks
1974Sidekicksas Jason O'RourkeMovie
It's Good to Be Alive
1974It's Good to Be Aliveas Sam BrockingtonMovie
Good Times
1974Good TimesTV
The Six Million Dollar Man
1974The Six Million Dollar Manas O'FlahertyTV
The Laughing Policeman
1973The Laughing Policemanas Insp. James Larrimore SFPDMovie
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...as SelfTV
Police Story
1973Police StoryTV
Travels with My Aunt
1972Travels with My Auntas WordsworthMovie
The Rookies
1972The RookiesTV
Skin Game
1971Skin Gameas Jason O'RourkeMovie
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at Lawas Lt. Carl FellowsTV
Alias Smith and Jones
1971Alias Smith and JonesTV
The Partridge Family
1970The Partridge Familyas Sam SimonTV
The Young Rebels
1970The Young RebelsTV
The Landlord
1970The Landlordas Copee JohnsonMovie
McCloud
1970McCloudTV
Love, American Style
1969Love, American Styleas FreddyTV
The Bill Cosby Show
1969The Bill Cosby Showas Hurricane SmithTV
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1969The Bold Ones: The New Doctorsas Dr. KarnesTV
The Bushbaby
1969The Bushbabyas TemboMovie
Companions in Nightmare
1968Companions in Nightmareas Lt. Adam McKayMovie
The Mod Squad
1968The Mod Squadas SmittyTV
Cowboy in Africa
1967Cowboy in Africaas Joseph HemeraTV
The Invaders
1967The Invadersas OllieTV
Daktari
1966Daktarias MkonoTV
The Merv Griffin Show
1962The Merv Griffin Showas SelfTV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas SelfTV
The Mike Douglas Show
1961The Mike Douglas Showas SelfTV
A Raisin in the Sun
1961A Raisin in the Sunas George MurchisonMovie
T
1960The New Girlas Mary's BrotherMovie
Bonanza
1959Bonanzaas Buck WalterTV
The Oscars
1953The Oscarsas SelfTV
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948The Ed Sullivan Showas SelfTV
Golden Globe Awards
1944Golden Globe Awardsas Self - NomineeTV
G
—Gridiron Gangas HostMovie
S
—Straight Upas CosmoMovie
C
—Crimes of Violenceas Self - HostMovie
F
—Forget to RememberMovie
Unplugged
—Unpluggedas Amos Burton (voice)Movie