Oscar-Winning Actor from ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ Passes Away at 87

Louis Gossett Jr., famous for his roles in ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and the TV series ‘Roots’, has died at 87.

He was the first Black man to receive an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Gossett’s work included over 200 Hollywood projects, with 12 more waiting to be released, as listed on IMDb. Sadly, he will not witness these future releases.

According to NPR, he passed away in Santa Monica, California, on March 28, 2024. A death certificate TMZ got reveals chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the main reason for his death, along with heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Gossett had fought COPD for a long time, and his remains will be cremated.

Before shining in TV and movies, Gossett started his acting on stage. He performed on Broadway with stars like Marilyn Monroe and Sidney Poitier.

When he moved to Hollywood, people treated Gossett with great respect, but he also encountered severe racism. He shared an incident where a trip to his hotel took four and a half hours instead of 20 minutes because the police detained him, wanting to know his identity. He also mentioned being handcuffed to a tree for three hours just for being in Beverly Hills after 9 pm.

Despite these challenges, Gossett built a notable career. He felt it might have been more distinguished had he been white. He compared his achievements to Clint Eastwood and mentioned overcoming issues with drugs and alcohol, similar to Robert Downey Jr.

Gossett openly talked about his past drug and alcohol problems, which made him seek rehab 20 years earlier. He completed a 12-step program, focusing on overcoming resentment, which he called a “killer.”

Gossett was married three times; his first marriage was annulled, and the other two ended in divorce. He leaves behind two children, Satie and Sharron.

Louis Gossett Jr.’s legacy includes significant achievements and his role in advancing racial equality in Hollywood. His contributions to the arts will be honored for many years.