Louis Gossett, Jr.

Louis Gossett, Jr.

Lanky actor equally able to play the hero or the villain, Gossett won an Emmy for his appearance in the TV mini-series Roots (1977) and an Oscar for An Officer and a Gentleman (1982). His film debut came in 1961 when he reprised his stage role as George Murchison for A Raisin in the Sun. He continued stage work through the '60s, then returned to celluloid in the '70s, appearing frequently on both the large and small screen. Television roles include The Lazarus Syndrome (1978), Backstairs at the White House (1979), Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy “Satchel” Paige (1981), The Josephine Baker Story (1991), and Jasper, Texas (2003). On the big screen, he appeared in Jaws 3-D (1983), Firewalker (1986), and Iron Eagle (1986, sequel 1988). He appeared in the last season of Showtime's Hispanic series Resurrection Boulevard (2000–2002). He was in the acclaimed 2005 HBO film, Lackawanna Blues.