Louis Gossett Jr., the legendary actor known for his standout roles in An Officer and a Gentleman and the TV mini-series Roots, has passed away at the age of 87.
Gossett made history as the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards, a milestone that paved the way for many others.
Over his remarkable career, Gossett worked on an incredible 200 projects in Hollywood, with 12 more in the works according to IMDb. Unfortunately, he won’t see these final projects completed.
NPR reported that Gossett died in Santa Monica, California, on March 28, 2024. His death certificate, obtained by TMZ, listed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the main cause of death, with heart failure and atrial fibrillation as contributing factors. Gossett had struggled with COPD for many years and will be cremated.
Before becoming a Hollywood star, Gossett started his career on stage. He dazzled audiences on Broadway, sharing the spotlight with legends like Marilyn Monroe and Sidney Poitier.
When he first arrived in Hollywood, Gossett described being “treated like a king,” but he also faced harsh racism. He recounted a troubling experience where a drive to his hotel, which should have taken 20 minutes, ended up taking four and a half hours because “the police stopped me and wanted to know who the hell I was.” He also recalled being handcuffed to a tree for three hours just for walking in Beverly Hills after 9 pm.
Despite these challenges, Gossett built an illustrious career. However, he often felt it could have been even more spectacular if he had been white. Reflecting on this, he said, “You look at my track record over a 55-year period of all the awards.
Maybe I should be kind of closer to Clint Eastwood, don’t you think? If you think about the drugs and alcohol, then maybe I should be more like Robert Downey Jr.”
Gossett was open about his battles with drug and alcohol addiction, leading him to rehab 20 years ago. He completed a 12-step program and spoke about overcoming resentment, which he called the “killer” for anyone. “For me, that killer was resentment,” he explained.
In his personal life, Gossett was married three times. His first marriage ended in annulment, and the other two in divorce. He is survived by his two children, Satie and Sharron.
Louis Gossett Jr.’s legacy is one of groundbreaking achievements and resilience. His contributions to the arts and his role in breaking racial barriers in Hollywood will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
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