Louis Gossett Jr., who was the first Black man to receive the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his part in the 1982 movie “An Officer and a Gentleman,” passed away on Thursday night in Santa Monica, as reported by his nephew. APThe actor was 87.
The reason for his death was not revealed. He had previously disclosed in 2010 that he had prostate cancer.
Originally from Brooklyn, Gossett Jr. began his career on stage in the 1950s and 60s before gaining recognition for his role as Fiddler in the 1977 miniseries “Roots,” for which he earned an Emmy.
In 1982, he achieved a historic milestone with his award-winning performance in “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
Gossett Jr. had a diverse and extensive career, with appearances in classic sitcoms such as “The Jeffersons” and roles in films by directors like Hal Ashby, George Cukor, and Wolfgang Peterson. He received seven Emmy nominations throughout his career, including for his role in the critically acclaimed “Watchmen” miniseries on HBO in 2020.
Most recently, Gossett Jr. starred in the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple.” His final role was a voice part in John Krasinski’s upcoming family film “IF,” set to be released in May.
