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.
2025SinMovieas Elijah2024IFMovieas Lewis (voice) · In Memory Of2023The Color PurpleMovieas Ol' Mister
2023Outlaw Johnny BlackMovieas Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)
2022SidneyMovieas Self
2022Three MonthsMovieas Benny
2022African Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus GarveyMovieas Self
2021Not to ForgetMovieas Pastor John
2021I ForgiveMovieas God (voice)
2020The ReasonMovieas Pastor Jim
2020The CubanMovieas Luis Garcia
2020Miracle in East TexasMovieas Irving Tanner Jr.2019WatchmenTV showas Old Man / Will Reeves · 7 episodes
2019Foster BoyMovieas Judge George Taylor
2019SupervizedMovieas Pendle
2019HalMovieas Self
2018Breaking BrooklynMovieas Miles Bryant
2017Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling HeartMovieas Self
2017Undercover GrandpaMovieas Mother
2017The Good FightTV showas Carl Reddick · 1 episodes
2017Double PlayMovieas Coco
2017King of the DancehallMovieas The Bishop
2016Maya Angelou: And Still I RiseMovieas Self
2016A.C. Green: Iron VirginMovieas Himself
2015Boiling PotMovieas Detective Haven
2015The Spoils Before DyingTV showas Duke Webster · 6 episodes
2015The Book of NegroesTV showas Daddy Moses · 6 episodes
2014Madam SecretaryTV showas Laurent Vasseur · 1 episodes2014ExtantTV showas Quinn · 4 episodes
2014The DependablesMovieas Lou Jones
2014A Fighting ManMovieas Cubby
2013Miracle at Gate 213Movieas Roy Peddington
2013Breaking at the EdgeMovieas Floyd
2012SmittyMovieas Mr. Smith
2012The UndershepherdMovieas Bishop Redford
2011Dog JackMovieas Grown up Jed
2011The Grace CardMovieas George Wright2010Hawaii Five-0TV showas Lou's father · 1 episodes
2010Why Did I Get Married Too?Movieas Porter
2010For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black PatriotsTV showExecutive Producer · 2 episodes
2009The Perfect GameMovieas Cool Papa Bell
2009Celebrity Ghost StoriesTV showas Self · 1 episodes
2009Amazing RacerMovieas Max Donovan
2009Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black ComedyMovieas Self
2008DelgoMovieas King Zahn (voice)
2008A Love Story of TodayMovieas Self
2008A Special Kind of LoveMovieas Self
2008The Black List: Volume OneMovieas Self
2007Stories USAMovieas Doc (segment "Club Soda")
2007CoverMovieas Detective Hicks
2007Daddy's Little GirlsMovieas Willie
2007The 50 Greatest Television DramasMovieas Self
2006Club SodaMovieas Doc2006PsychTV showas Lloyd Marr · 1 episodes
2006Solar AttackMovieas President Ryan Gordon
2006All InMovieas Caps
2005Left Behind: World at WarMovieas President Geral Fitzhugh
2005Black in the 80sTV showas Self · 3 episodes
2005Lackawanna BluesMovieas Ol'lem Taylor2004The BatmanTV showas Lucius Fox (voice) · 3 episodes
2003Jasper, TexasMovieas R.C. Horn
2003MomentumMovieas Raymond Addison
2002Half & HalfTV showas Ray Willis · 2 episodes
2002The Dead ZoneTV showas Pastor David Lewis · 1 episodes
2002What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-AwayMovieas Dr. Barnes
2002DeceivedMovieas Col. David Garrett
2001For Love of OliviaMovieas Daniel Stewart · Executive Producer
2001Dr. LucilleMovie
2000The Color of Love: Jacey's StoryMovieas Lou Hastings · Executive Producer
2000The Inspectors 2: A Shred of EvidenceMovieas Frank
2000The HighwaymanMovieas Phil Bishop
1999Strange JusticeMovieas Vernon Jordan
1999Y2KMovieas Morgan
1999Love SongsMovieas Reuben · Director1999Family GuyTV showas Drill Sargent (voice) · 1 episodes
1998The InspectorsMovieas Inspector Frank Hughes
1998HerculesTV showas Chiron (voice) · 1 episodes
1998The Wall That HealsMovieas Self - Host
1998Legend of the MummyMovieas Corbeck
1998Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in HollywoodMovieas Self1997Stargate SG-1TV showas Gerak · 5 episodes
1997In His Father's ShoesMovieas Frank Crosby / Richard · Executive Producer
1997To Dance with OliviaMovieas Daniel Stewart · Executive Producer
1996Early EditionTV showas Jim Matthews · 1 episodes
1996Promised LandTV showas Anderson Walker · 1 episodes
1996InsideMovieas Questioner · Executive Producer
1996Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryMovieas James Mink
1996ManaguaMovieas Paul
1995Iron Eagle on the AttackMovieas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American MoviesMovieas Self
1995Ray Alexander: A Menu for MurderMovieas Ray Alexander
1995ZoomanMovieas Rueben Tate
1995A Father for CharlieMovieas Walter Osgood · Executive Producer
1994Touched by an AngelTV showas Anderson Walker · 1 episodes1994ERTV showas Leo Malcolm · 1 episodes
1994FlashfireMovieas Ben Durand
1994Curse of the Starving ClassMovieas Ellis
1994A Good Man in AfricaMovieas Prof. Sam Adekunle
1994Ray Alexander: A Taste For JusticeMovieas Ray Alexander
1994EllenTV showas Sgt. Timko · 1 episodes
1994Blue ChipsMovieas Father Dawkins (uncredited)
1993Return to Lonesome DoveTV showas Isom Pickett · 4 episodes
1993MonolithMovieas Capt. MacCandless
1993Father & Son: Dangerous RelationsMovieas Leonard Clay
1992Picket FencesTV showas Rick Jennings · 1 episodes
1992Gridiron GangMovieas Host
1992DiggstownMovieas "Honey" Roy Palmer
1992Iron Eagle IIIMovieas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
1991Keeper of the CityMovieas Det. James Dela
1991Carolina SkeletonsMovieas James Bragg1991Toy SoldiersMovieas Dean Parker
1991The Josephine Baker StoryMovieas Sidney Williams
1991Cover-UpMovieas Lou Jackson
1990Captain Planet and the PlaneteersTV showas Commander Clash (voice) · 2 episodes
1990Sudie and SimpsonMovieas Simpson
1990El DiabloMovieas Van Leek
1990Zora is My Name!Movie1989The PunisherMovieas Jake Berkowitz
1989Gideon OliverTV show5 episodes
1988Roots: The GiftMovieas Fiddler
1988Goodbye, Miss 4th of JulyMovieas Big John Creed
1988Iron Eagle IIMovieas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair
1988American ExperienceTV showas Narrator (voice) · 1 episodes
1988Sam Found Out: A Triple PlayMovieas Sam
1987The Father Clements StoryMovie
1987The PrincipalMovieas Jake Phillips
1987Happy 100th Birthday, HollywoodMovieas Self
1987A Gathering of Old MenMovieas Mathu
1986FirewalkerMovieas Leo Porter1986Iron EagleMovieas Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair1985Enemy MineMovieas Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
1984The GuardianMovieas John Mack
1984Finders KeepersMovieas Century1983Jaws 3-DMovieas Calvin Bouchard
1983The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't DieMovieas narrator
1982The Powers of Matthew StarTV showas Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai) · Director · 22 episodes1982An Officer and a GentlemanMovieas Sergeant Emil Foley
1982Benny's PlaceMovieas Benny Moore
1982I Love LibertyMovieas Self
1982American PlayhouseTV show1 episodes
1981Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" PaigeMovieas Leroy 'Satchel' Paige
1980It Rained All Night the Day I LeftMovieas Leo Garcia
1980Palmerstown, U.S.A.TV show1 episodes
1979The Lazarus SyndromeMovieas Dr. MacArthur St. Clair
1979The Lazarus SyndromeTV showas MacArthur St. Clair · 10 episodes
1979Lawman Without a GunMovieas Tom Hayward
1979Backstairs at the White HouseTV showas Levi Mercer, Houseman · 4 episodes
1978The Critical ListTV showas Lem Harper · 2 episodes
1978To Kill a CopTV showas Everett Walker · 2 episodes
1978To Kill a CopMovieas Everett Walker
1977FreemanMovieas Rex
1977The ChoirboysMovieas Calvin Motts
1977The DeepMovieas Henri Cloche
1977RootsTV showas Fiddler · 3 episodes
1977Little Ladies of the NightMovieas Russ Garfield
1976J.D.'s RevengeMovieas Rev. Elija Bliss
1976The River NigerMovieas Dr. Dudley Stanton1975Saturday Night LiveTV showas Self - Host · 1 episodes
1975Delancey Street: The Crisis WithinMovieas Otis James
1975The JeffersonsTV show1 episodes
1975Black BartMovieas Black Bart
1974The Rockford FilesTV showas Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien · as Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes · 1 episodes
1974Harry OTV showas Cleon Jackson · 1 episodes1974Little House on the PrairieTV showas Henry Hill · 1 episodes
1974PetrocelliTV showas District Attorney Kurt Olson · as Kurt Olson, DA · 1 episodes
1974The White DawnMovieas Portagee
1974SidekicksMovieas Jason O'Rourke
1974It's Good to Be AliveMovieas Sam Brockington
1974Good TimesTV show2 episodes1974The Six Million Dollar ManTV showas O'Flaherty · 1 episodes
1973The Laughing PolicemanMovieas Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...TV showas Self · 1 episodes
1973Police StoryTV show2 episodes
1972Travels with My AuntMovieas Wordsworth
1972The RookiesTV show1 episodes
1971Skin GameMovieas Jason O'Rourke
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at LawTV showas Lt. Carl Fellows · 1 episodes
1971Alias Smith and JonesTV show1 episodes
1970The Partridge FamilyTV showas Sam Simon · 1 episodes
1970The Young RebelsTV show15 episodes
1970The LandlordMovieas Copee Johnson
1970McCloudTV show1 episodes
1969Love, American StyleTV showas Freddy · 1 episodes
1969The Bill Cosby ShowTV showas Hurricane Smith · 1 episodes
1969The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsTV showas Dr. Karnes · 1 episodes
1969The BushbabyMovieas Tembo
1968Companions in NightmareMovieas Lt. Adam McKay
1968The Mod SquadTV showas Smitty · as Charley Jameson · as Lloyd · 1 episodes
1967Cowboy in AfricaTV showas Joseph Hemera · as Fulah · 1 episodes
1967The InvadersTV showas Ollie · 1 episodes
1966DaktariTV showas Mkono · 1 episodes
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonTV showas Self · 2 episodes
1962The Merv Griffin ShowTV showas Self · 1 episodes
1961The Mike Douglas ShowTV showas Self · 1 episodes
1961A Raisin in the SunMovieas George Murchison1959BonanzaTV showas Buck Walter · 1 episodes
1953The OscarsTV showas Self · 2 episodes
1948The Ed Sullivan ShowTV showas Self · 1 episodes
1944Golden Globe AwardsTV showas Self - Nominee · as Self - Audience Member · as Self - Presenter · as Self - Host · as Self - Nominee / Presenter · 2 episodes
—UnpluggedMovieas Amos Burton (voice)