Louis Gossett Jr., the pioneering actor who made history as the first Black performer to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, has died at the age of 87.
His family confirmed that Gossett passed away on Friday in Santa Monica, California. They wrote:
“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.”
While no official cause of death was provided, the decorated actor’s impact and groundbreaking legacy in Hollywood is undeniable.
In 1983, Gossett achieved his iconic Oscar moment for his powerful portrayal of the flinty drill instructor in the hit film “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He became just the third Black man ever nominated in the supporting actor category before winning for his critically acclaimed performance opposite Richard Gere.
The Academy Award was a tremendous milestone, but merely one accomplishment in his long, barrier-breaking career on stage and screen. Years earlier, he had earned widespread acclaim and an Emmy for his moving work in the landmark 1977 miniseries “Roots,” which brought the harsh realities of slavery into American living rooms.
Louis Gossett Jr.’s path to success was laced with racism and discrimination. In his 2010 memoir, he recounted disturbing incidents of police harassment and injustice he experienced in Hollywood simply for being a Black man driving an expensive car.
Rather than letting such obstacles deter him, Gossett couched his struggles with dignity, channeling them into a lifelong advocacy against racism through his Eracism Foundation.
“Never mind the awards, never mind the glitz and glamour…it’s about the humanity of the people that he stood for,” Gossett’s cousin Neal L. Gossett told the Associated Press.
Born in Brooklyn in 1936, Gossett discovered acting at an early age, making his Broadway debut at just 16 years old in the play “Take a Giant Step.” He quickly revealed a natural talent and versatility that would lead to countless roles.
In addition to the culture-shifting “Roots,” Gossett’s eclectic career included memorable performances in defining works like the play and film versions of “A Raisin in the Sun,” the sitcom “The Jeffersons,” and movies like “The Siege of Red River” and 2023’s “The Color Purple” remake.
