Louis Gossett Jr., 'An Officer and a Gentleman' Star, Dead at 87

Louis Gossett Jr. has died. The actor, best known for his roles in An Officer and a Gentleman and Roots, died of causes yet to be announced. He was 87.

"Never mind the awards, never mind the glitz and glamor, the Rolls-Royces and the big houses in Malibu," Gossett's cousin, Neal L. Gossett, told The Associated Press. "It's about the humanity of the people that he stood for."

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Gossett's family added, "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."

Gossett, who previously revealed his prostate cancer battle, made his Broadway debut in Take a Giant Step when he was in high school. He went on to star in A Raisin in the Sun, a role that he played first on Broadway and then again in the 1961 film adaptation.

Then, on Roots, a 1977 miniseries about slavery, Gossett earned a Emmy Award for his portrayal of Fiddler. The awards continued in 1983, when he became the first Black man to win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for An Officer and a Gentleman. Throughout his career, Gossett also won two Golden Globes and was nominated for seven additional Emmys.

Gossett's notable film roles include Enemy Mine, Iron Eagle and The Deep. On TV, he appeared on series including Boardwalk Empire, Madam Secretary, ER, Watchmen and Extant.

He last appeared in the 2023 remake of The Color Purple and on the TV series Kingdom Business.

Throughout his life, Gossett was married and divorced three times. He is survived by Satie and Sharron, his adult sons.

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