LJ
Louis Gossett Jr.
Actor, Producer, Director, Additional Credits
Born May 27, 1936Died March 29, 2024 (87 years)
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Louis Gossett Jr. Filmography
| 2025 | SIn · as Elijah |
| 2024 | IF · as Lewis (voice) |
| 2023 | The Color Purple · as Ol' Mister |
| 2023 | Outlaw Johnny Black · as Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited) |
| 2022 | Kingdom Business (TV Series) · as Jeremiah |
| 2022 | Three Months · as Benny |
| 2021 | Not to Forget · as Pastor John |
| 2021 | I FORGIVE · as God (voice) |
| 2020 | The Reason · as Pastor Jim |
| 2020 | Canaan Land · as Talk Show Guest |
| 2019 | Miracle in East Texas · as Irving Tanner Jr. |
| 2019 | Supervized · as Pendle |
| 2019 | |
| 2019 | Watchmen (TV Series) · as Old Man / Will Reeves |
| 2019 | Foster Boy · as Judge George Taylor |
| 2018 | Breaking Brooklyn · as Miles Bryant |
| 2017 | Undercover Grandpa · as Mother |
| 2017 | Double Play · as Coco |
| 2017 | The Good Fight (TV Series) · as Carl Reddick |
| 2016 | King of the Dancehall · as The Bishop |
| 2016 | Hap and Leonard (TV Series) · as Bacon |
| 2015 | Boiling Pot · as Detective Haven |
| 2015 | The Spoils Before Dying (TV Series) · as Duke Webster |
| 2015 | The Book of Negroes (TV Series) · as Daddy Moses |
| 2014 | The Miracle of Tony Davis · as God |
| 2014 | Madam Secretary (TV Series) · as Laurent Vasseur |
| 2014 | Extant (TV Series) · as Quinn |
| 2014 | Pride of Lions · as Lou Jones |
| 2014 | A Fighting Man · as Cubby |
| 2013 | Miracle at Gate 213 · as Roy Peddington |
| 2013 | Breaking at the Edge · as Floyd |
| 2012 | Smitty · as Mr. Smith |
| 2012 | The Undershepherd · as Bishop Redford |
| 2010 | |
| 2010 | The Grace Card · as George Wright |
| 2010 | |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 (TV Series) · as Lou's Father |
| 2010 | Boardwalk Empire (TV Series) · as Oscar Boneau |
| 2010 | Why Did I Get Married Too? · as Porter |
| 2010 | |
| 2009 | The Perfect Game · as Cool Papa Bell |
| 2009 | Amazing Racer · as Max Donovan |
| 2009 | The Least Among You · as Samuel Benton |
| 2009 | |
| 2008 | Delgo · as King Zahn (voice) |
| 2007 | Stories USA · as Doc (segment "club Soda") |
| 2007 | Premio Donostia a Richard Gere · as Sgt. Emil Foley |
| 2007 | Cover · as Detective Hicks |
| 2007 | Daddy's Little Girls · as Willie |
| 2006 | |
| 2006 | Psych (TV Series) · as Lloyd Marr |
| 2006 | Solar Attack · as President Ryan Gordon |
| 2006 | All In · as Caps |
| 2005 | Left Behind III: World at War · as President Geral Fitzhugh |
| 2005 | Lackawanna Blues · as Ol'lem Taylor |
| 2005 | Black in the 80s (TV Series) |
| 2004 | The Batman (TV Series) · as Lucius Fox (voice) |
| 2004 | The Best TV Shows That Never Were · as Marcus Aurelius 'gabby' Hayes |
| 2004 | The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made · as Cast |
| 2003 | Momentum · as Raymond Addison |
| 2003 | Jasper, Texas · as R.c. Horn |
| 2002 | Half & Half (TV Series) · as Ray Willis |
| 2002 | The Dead Zone (TV Series) · as Pastor David Lewis |
| 2002 | What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway · as Dr. Barnes |
| 2002 | Deceived · as Col. David Garrett |
| 2001 | For Love of Olivia · as Daniel Stewart |
| 2001 | |
| 2000 | Resurrection Blvd. (TV Series) · as Ezekiel 'zeke' Grant |
| 2000 | The Highwayman · as Phil Bishop |
| 2000 | The Color of Love: Jacey's Story · as Lou Hastings |
| 2000 | |
| 2000 | Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing · as Narrator |
| 1999 | Strange Justice · as Vernon Jordan |
| 1999 | Terminal Countdown · as Morgan |
| 1999 | Love Songs · as Reuben |
| 1999 | Family Guy (TV Series) · as Drill Sargent (voice) |
| 1998 | The Inspectors · as Inspector Frank Hughes |
| 1998 | Hercules (TV Series) · as Chiron (voice) |
| 1998 | Legend of the Mummy · as Corbeck |
| 1997 | Managua · as Paul |
| 1997 | Stargate SG-1 (TV Series) · as Gerak |
| 1997 | In His Father's Shoes · as Frank Crosby / Richard |
| 1997 | To Dance with Olivia · as Daniel Stewart |
| 1996 | The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century (TV Series) · as W.e.b. Du Bois |
| 1996 | Early Edition (TV Series) · as Jim Matthews |
| 1996 | Promised Land (TV Series) · as Anderson Walker |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story · as Bob Kersee |
| 1996 | Captive Heart: The James Mink Story · as James Mink |
| 1995 | Iron Eagle on the Attack · as Charles 'chappy' Sinclair |
| 1995 | Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder · as Ray Alexander |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | A Father for Charlie · as Walter Osgood |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Anderson Walker |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Leo Malcolm |
| 1994 | Flashfire · as Ben Durand |
| 1994 | Curse of the Starving Class · as Ellis |
| 1994 | A Good Man in Africa · as Prof. Sam Adekunle |
| 1994 | Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice · as Ray Alexander |
| 1994 | Ellen (TV Series) · as Sgt. Timko |
| 1994 | Blue Chips · as Father Dawkins (uncredited) |
| 1993 | Return to Lonesome Dove (TV Series) · as Isom Pickett |
| 1993 | Monolith · as Capt. Maccandless |
| 1993 | On the Streets of L.A. · as Leonard Clay |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | Picket Fences (TV Series) · as Rick Jennings |
| 1992 | Gridiron Gang · as Host |
| 1992 | Diggstown · as "honey" Roy Palmer |
| 1992 | Aces: Iron Eagle III · as Charles 'chappy' Sinclair |
| 1991 | Keeper of the City · as Det. James Dela |
| 1991 | Carolina Skeletons · as James Bragg |
| 1991 | Toy Soldiers · as Dean Parker |
| 1991 | The Josephine Baker Story · as Sidney Williams |
| 1991 | |
| 1990 | Sudie and Simpson · as Simpson |
| 1990 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers (TV Series) · as Commander Clash (voice) |
| 1990 | El Diablo · as Van Leek |
| 1989 | The Punisher · as Jake Berkowitz |
| 1989 | Gideon Oliver (TV Series) |
| 1988 | Roots: The Gift · as Fiddler |
| 1988 | Goodbye, Miss 4th of July · as Big John Creed |
| 1988 | Iron Eagle II · as Charles 'chappy' Sinclair |
| 1987 | |
| 1987 | The Principal · as Jake Phillips |
| 1987 | A Gathering of Old Men · as Mathu |
| 1986 | Firewalker · as Leo Porter |
| 1986 | Iron Eagle · as Charles 'chappy' Sinclair |
| 1985 | Enemy Mine · as Jeriba 'jerry' Shigan |
| 1984 | The Guardian · as John Mack |
| 1984 | Finders Keepers · as Century |
| 1983 | Sadat (TV Series) · as Anwar Al-Sadat |
| 1983 | Jaws 3-D · as Calvin Bouchard |
| 1982 | The Powers of Matthew Star (TV Series) · as Walter "walt" Shepherd (d'hai) |
| 1982 | An Officer and a Gentleman · as Sergeant Emil Foley |
| 1981 | Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige · as Leroy 'satchel' Paige |
| 1980 | American Playhouse (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1980 | It Rained All Night the Day I Left · as Leo Garcia |
| 1980 | Palmerstown, U.S.A. (TV Series) |
| 1979 | The Lazarus Syndrome · as Dr. Macarthur St. Clair |
| 1979 | Backstairs at the White House (TV Series) · as Levi Mercer, Houseman |
| 1978 | Lawman Without a Gun · as Tom Hayward |
| 1978 | To Kill a Cop · as Everett Walker |
| 1977 | The Choirboys · as Calvin Motts |
| 1977 | The Deep · as Henri Cloche |
| 1977 | Roots (TV Series) · as Fiddler |
| 1977 | Little Ladies of the Night · as Russ Garfield |
| 1976 | Visions (1976) (TV Series) · as Rex |
| 1976 | J.D.'s Revenge · as Rev. Elija Bliss |
| 1976 | The River Niger · as Dr. Dudley Stanton |
| 1975 | Black Bart · as Black Bart |
| 1975 | Caribe (TV Series) · as David Wallace |
| 1975 | The Jeffersons (TV Series) |
| 1974 | Petrocelli (TV Series) · as Kurt Olson, Da |
| 1974 | The White Dawn · as Portagee |
| 1974 | Lucas Tanner (TV Series) · as Bobby Koball |
| 1974 | Little House on the Prairie (TV Series) · as Henry Hill |
| 1974 | The Rockford Files (TV Series) · as Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'brien |
| 1974 | Sidekicks · as Jason O'rourke |
| 1974 | It's Good to Be Alive · as Sam Brockington |
| 1974 | Good Times (TV Series) |
| 1974 | The Six Million Dollar Man (TV Series) · as O'flaherty |
| 1973 | The Laughing Policeman · as Insp. James Larrimore Sfpd |
| 1973 | Police Story (TV Series) |
| 1973 | Harry O (TV Series) · as Cleon Jackson |
| 1972 | Travels with My Aunt · as Wordsworth |
| 1972 | The Rookies (TV Series) |
| 1971 | Skin Game · as Jason O'rourke |
| 1971 | Owen Marshall, Counselor At Law (TV Series) · as Lt. Carl Fellows |
| 1971 | Longstreet (TV Series) · as Sergeant Cory |
| 1971 | Alias Smith and Jones (TV Series) |
| 1970 | The Partridge Family (TV Series) · as Sam Simon |
| 1970 | The Young Rebels (TV Series) |
| 1970 | The Landlord · as Copee Johnson |
| 1970 | McCloud (TV Series) |
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) · as Freddy |
| 1969 | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (TV Series) · as Dr. Karnes |
| 1969 | The Bill Cosby Show (TV Series) · as Hurricane Smith |
| 1969 | The Bushbaby · as Tembo |
| 1968 | The Mod Squad (TV Series) · as Lloyd |
| 1967 | Cowboy in Africa (TV Series) · as Fulah |
| 1967 | The Invaders (TV Series) · as Ollie |
| 1966 | Daktari (TV Series) · as Mkono |
| 1963 | East Side/West Side (TV Series) · as Martin Powers |
| 1962 | The Doctors and the Nurses (TV Series) · as William Taylor |
| 1961 | A Raisin in the Sun · as George Murchison |
| 1960 | Insight (TV Series) · as The Man |
| 1959 | |
| 1949 | The Big Story (TV Series) · as Jamie Goodwin |
| 2022 | Sidney · as Self |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 | Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age · as Self |
| 2020 | The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2019 | The Gang Activists · as Self |
| 2018 | Hal · as Self |
| 2017 | Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart · as Self |
| 2017 | 25th Annual Trumpet Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2016 | Maya Angelou and Still I Rise · as Self |
| 2016 | The Oscars · as Self - Presenter |
| 2016 | The 47th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2015 | 23rd Annual Trumpet Awards · as Self |
| 2015 | The 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2014 | BET Awards 2014 · as Self |
| 2014 | The Oscars · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2014 | And the Oscar Goes to... · as Self |
| 2014 | 45th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2013 | The Queen Latifah Show (2013) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2012 | Home & Family (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | The 84th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2012 | 43rd NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2011 | Dish Nation (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | Half in the Bag (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | 42nd NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2011 | The 83rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2010 | Celebrity Close Calls (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | Life After (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | 17th Annual Trumpet Awards · as Self |
| 2009 | The 81st Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2009 | The 40th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2009 | |
| 2009 | Bring Your 'A' Game · as Self - Actor |
| 2008 | Celebrity Ghost Stories (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | The Wendy Williams Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2008 | The 80th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2008 | The Black List: Volume One · as Self |
| 2008 | Pioneers of Television (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | |
| 2007 | Manufacturing Dissent · as Self - 75th Annual Academy Awards |
| 2007 | Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush · as Self |
| 2007 | The 5th Annual TV Land Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2007 | 38th NAACP Image Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2007 | The 79th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2007 | Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2007 | The 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2006 | |
| 2006 | The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2006 · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2005 | The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2005 | The 77th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2005 | The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2005 · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2004 | The 76th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 2004 | Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2003 | A Century of Black Cinema · as Self |
| 2003 | The 75th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Past Winner |
| 2002 | Gylne tider (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2001 | The John Kerwin Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2001 | The 73rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1998 | The 70th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Past Winner |
| 1997 | The View (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1996 | The 68th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | 25th Anniversary Essence Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | E! Live from the Red Carpet (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1995 | The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1994 | The Jackson Family Honors · as Self |
| 1994 | 26th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1993 | The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1992 | 7th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards · as Self |
| 1991 | A Party for Richard Pryor · as Self |
| 1991 | The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1991 | The 63rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1990 | 7th Annual American Cinema Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1990 | 22nd NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1989 | The 3rd Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1989 | Pat Sajak Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1989 | The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1988 | American Experience (TV Series) · as Self - Narrator |
| 1988 | Later with Bob Costas (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1988 | The 60th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1988 | 20th NAACP Image Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1987 | The 39th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1987 | Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood · as Self |
| 1987 | The 59th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1987 | Ein Aufstand alter Männer · as Self |
| 1986 | The 58th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1986 | The 43rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 1986 · as Self - Presenter |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Self - Actor |
| 1983 | Wheel of Fortune (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant |
| 1983 | The 55th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1983 | The 15th Annual NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1982 | I Love Liberty · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | SAG Foundation Conversations (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | The 31st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee & Presenter |
| 1979 | CBS Sunday Morning With Jane Pauley (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1978 | The 30th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1977 | The 29th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Presenter & Winner |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1973 | AFI Life Achievement Award (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1968 | What's My Line? (1968) (TV Series) · as Self - Mystery Guest |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1953 | The Academy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | The Red Buttons Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1944 | Golden Globe Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Presenter |
| 2010 | For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots · as Executive Producer |
| 2001 | For Love of Olivia · as Executive Producer |
| 2000 | The Color of Love: Jacey's Story · as Executive Producer |
| 2000 | The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence · as Executive Producer |
| 1998 | The Inspectors · as Executive Producer |
| 1997 | Managua · as Co-Producer |
| 1997 | In His Father's Shoes · as Executive Producer |
| 1997 | To Dance with Olivia · as Executive Producer |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story · as Executive Producer |
| 1995 | A Father for Charlie · as Executive Producer |
| 1999 | |
| 1982 | The Powers of Matthew Star (TV Series) |
| 1994 | Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice · as Co-Executive Producer |
| 1993 | On the Streets of L.A. · as Co-Executive Producer |