Louis Gossett Jr - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Louis Gossett Jr. is an American actor, best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film "An Officer and a Gentleman," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
- 2. He was born on May 27, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Coney Island. He is of African American and European descent.
- 3. Gossett began his acting career on Broadway in the late 1950s, appearing in plays such as "A Raisin in the Sun" and "Golden Boy."
- 4. He made his film debut in the 1961 film "A Raisin in the Sun," reprising his role from the Broadway production.
- 5. Gossett has appeared in over 100 film and television roles throughout his career, including "The Deep," "Enemy Mine," "Iron Eagle," and "Roots."
- 6. In addition to his Academy Award win, Gossett has also won two Emmy Awards for his roles in the television miniseries "Roots" and "The Josephine Baker Story."
- 7. Gossett is also a talented voice actor, lending his voice to animated films such as "DuckTales: The Movie – Treasure of the Lost Lamp" and "Balto: Wolf Quest."
- 8. In addition to his work in film and television, Gossett is also a passionate advocate for racial equality and social justice. He founded the Eracism Foundation in 2006, which aims to eliminate racism and discrimination through education and advocacy.
- 9. Gossett has been married twice and has two children. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and has been sober since the mid-1980s.
- 10. Despite facing health challenges in recent years, including a battle with prostate cancer, Gossett continues to act and remains a respected and influential figure in the entertainment industry.