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| Louis Gossett Jr in An Officer And A Gentlemen |
Few people have made as big an impression on the world as Louis Gossett Jr, the first ever African American to be named Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars, an extraordinarily prolific performer on the big screen, the small screen and the stage, and a man who invested heavily in bettering the lives of others. His family revealed today that he has died at the age of 87, in Santa Monica.
A strikingly tall, athletic man who narrowly missed out on a sports career when an injury prompted him to explore acting instead, Gossett Jr was one of those performers who was always attracted first and foremost to the role, rather than to the fame or career advancement it might offer. Although he attracted most attention for his work as Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley in An Officer And A Gentleman, he was just as capable of bringing gravitas to less conventional films, delivering a memorable performance as an alien opposite Dennis Quaid in Enemy Mine and even bringing some dynamism to a conventional bad guy role in Jaws 3D. Most recently, he appeared in Blitz Bazawule's multi-award winning adaptation of The Color Purple.
Offscreen, Gosset Jr was committed to improving opportunities for young people and improving community cohesion. He set up the Eracism Foundation, an organisation dedicated to ending racism through educational initiatives.
The cause of Gossett Jr's death is not known, although he had previously suffered from prostate cancer, which often recurs in older men. He is survived by his sons Satie and Sharron. The family has asked for privacy at this time.
