Louis Gossett Jr., a distinguished actor celebrated for his roles in "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Roots," has passed away at the age of 87, as confirmed by his family. Gossett made history as the first African American man to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1983 for his performance in "An Officer and a Gentleman." Richard Gere, his co-star in the film, praised Gossett for his commitment to his craft, noting that he remained in character even off-camera.
Aside from his award-winning role, Gossett was renowned for his portrayal of Fiddler in the groundbreaking miniseries "Roots" and for his performances in movies like "Diggstown" and "Enemy Mine." Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gossett credited a high school teacher with sparking his interest in acting. Throughout his career, he portrayed various historical figures, including Anwar Sadat and Satchel Paige.
Off the screen, Gossett was a staunch advocate for combating racism, founding the Eracism Foundation in the 1990s. Despite being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, he continued to work, appearing in projects such as "The Color Purple" and "Watchmen" well into his 80s.