Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his iconic role in the seminal TV miniseries "Roots," has died. He was 87.
Gossett's cousin, Neal L. Gossett, confirmed to The Associated Press that the actor had died in Santa Monica, California. The family announced Gossett's passing Friday morning in a public statement.
A cause of death was not revealed.
In 2010, Gossett announced he had prostate cancer, which he said was caught in the early stages. In 2020, he was hospitalized with COVID-19.
He is survived by sons Satie and Sharron.
The cousin recalled a man who walked with Nelson Mandela, was a great jokester, and a relative who faced and fought racism with dignity and humor.
"Never mind the awards, never mind the glitz and glamor, the Rolls-Royces, and the big houses in Malibu. It's about the humanity of the people that he stood for," his cousin told AP.
Louis Gossett often saw his early career as a reverse Cinderella story, where success found him from a young age, leading him to his Academy Award for "An Officer and a Gentleman."
Gossett's nomination for an Oscar in the supporting actor category marked a significant milestone in 1983, making him the third Black actor to achieve this feat.
His portrayal of the commanding Marine drill instructor in "An Officer and a Gentleman," starring alongside Richard Gere and Debra Winger, secured him the coveted award.
He also took home a Golden Globe for his exceptional performance in the same role.
"More than anything, it was a huge affirmation of my position as a Black actor," he wrote in his 2010 memoir, "An Actor and a Gentleman."
"I was hooked - and so was my audience," he wrote.
It was his high school English teacher who pushed him to try out for "Take a Giant Step" in Manhattan. He won the role and made his Broadway debut in 1953 at age 16.
"I knew too little to be nervous," Gossett penned.
"In retrospect, I should have been scared to death as I walked onto that stage, but I wasn't."
Gossett attended New York University on a basketball and drama scholarship.
He soon found himself acting and singing on TV shows hosted by David Susskind, Ed Sullivan, Red Buttons, Merv Griffin, Jack Paar, and Steve Allen.
Gossett eventually founded the Eracism Foundation to help create a world where racism doesn't exist.
