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Louis Gossett, Jr. (born May 27, 1936) is the voice actor for the Vortigaunts in Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One. He was replaced by Tony Todd for Episode Two. He is best known for his role in the Iron Eagle film series, as well as his Academy Award-winning role in An Officer and a Gentleman.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Gossett was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, to Hellen Rebecca (née Wray), a nurse, and Louis Gossett Sr., a porter. He is an alumnus of Mark Twain Intermediate School 239 and Abraham Lincoln High School. His stage debut came at the age of 17, in a school production of You Can't Take It with You when a sports injury resulted in the decision to take an acting class. Polio had already delayed his graduation.

After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1954, he attended New York University, declining an athletic scholarship. Standing 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall, he was offered the opportunity to play varsity basketball during his college years at NYU, which he declined to concentrate on theater. His high school teacher had encouraged him to audition for a Broadway part, which resulted in his selection for a starring role on Broadway in 1953 from among 200 other actors well before he entered NYU.

Career[]

Gossett replaced Bill Gunn as Spencer Scott in Broadway's Take a Giant Step,[1] which was selected by The New York Times drama critics as one of the 10 best shows of the year. He was 17, and still a student at Abraham Lincoln High School, with no formal drama training.

Gossett's Broadway theatre credits include A Raisin in the Sun (1959). Gossett stepped into the world of cinema in the Sidney Poitier vehicle A Raisin in the Sun in 1961. This was the beginning of a lengthy and successful film career.

Also in 1961, Gossett appeared in the original cast of Jean Genet's The Blacks, the longest running off-Broadway play of the decade, running for 1,408 performances. The original cast also featured James Earl Jones, Roscoe Lee Browne, Cicely Tyson, Godfrey Cambridge, Maya Angelou and Charles Gordone.[2]

In 1965, Gossett appeared in the musical play The Zulu and the Zayda on Broadway as Paulus with music and lyrics by Harold Rome.

Gossett wrote the antiwar folk song "Handsome Johnny" with Richie Havens which Havens recorded in 1966.

His Emmy Award-winning role of Fiddler in the 1977 television miniseries Roots first brought Gossett to the audience's attention.

In 1983, he was cast in the title role in Sadat, a miniseries which chronicled the life and assassination of Anwar Sadat. While filming An Officer and a Gentleman, Gossett was also starring in the 1982–1983 science fiction series, The Powers of Matthew Star. His role as drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was the first black male to win an Oscar in a supporting role, the second black male to win for acting, and the third black actor to win overall.

In 1986, Gossett starred in another role as a military man (Colonel Chappy Sinclair) in the film Iron Eagle. It was followed by three sequels.

Gossett in 1987

Gossett in 1987

In 1989, Gossett co-starred in the Marvel Comics adaptation The Punisher, with Dolph Lundgren in the title role. The film was directed by Mark Goldblatt, with a screenplay by Boaz Yakin. The Punisher was filmed in Sydney, Australia and also featured Jeroen Krabbé, Kim Miyori, and Barry Otto.[3]

In 1991, Gossett starred in Manny Coto's action film Cover Up opposite Dolph Lundgren.[4]

Gossett is the voice of the Vortigaunts in the video game Half-Life 2 and is the Free Jaffa Leader Gerak in Season 9 of the sci-fi television series Stargate SG-1. He provides the voice of Lucius Fox in The Batman animated series. He recorded several commercials for a Nashville-based diabetic company, AmMed Direct, LLC. In 1997, Gossett presented When Animals Attack! 4, a one-hour special on Fox.

He played the role of fictional U.S. President Gerald Fitzhugh in the 2005 film Left Behind: World at War. In 2008, he filmed the "Keep It Real" series of commercials for the Namibian lager Windhoek.

In 2009, Gossett also lent his voice talents in the Thomas Nelson audio Bible production known as The Word of Promise. In this dramatized audio, Gossett played the character of John the Apostle. The project also featured a large ensemble of well known Hollywood actors including Jim Caviezel, John Rhys-Davies, Jon Voight, Gary Sinise, Jason Alexander, Christopher McDonald, Marisa Tomei and John Schneider.[5][6]

In 2013, Gossett starred in the controversial drama Boiling Pot, which is based on true events of racism that occurred on college campuses across the US during the 2008 Presidential election. The film, written and directed by the Ashmawey brothers under AshmaweyFilms, also stars Danielle Fishel, Keith David, M. Emmet Walsh, and John Heard. Gossett plays a detective attempting to decipher a murder case that was fueled by racism, all while putting aside his own prejudices. Boiling Pot was released in 2014. Gossett returned to television in the CBS All Access series, The Good Fight, guest starring as founding partner Carl Reddick of Diane Lockhart's new firm.[7] He narrated an audiobook based on Twelve Years a Slave.[8]

Personal life[]

Gossett has been married three times and fathered one son and adopted one son. His first marriage was to Hattie Glascoe; it was annulled. His second, to Christina Mangosing, took place on August 21, 1973. Their son Satie was born in 1974. Gossett and Mangosing divorced in 1975. His third marriage, to Star Search champion Cyndi James-Reese, took place on December 25, 1987. They adopted a son, Sharron (born 1977). Gossett and James-Reese divorced in 1992.[9]

Louis is the first cousin of actor Robert Gossett who starred on TNT's The Closer.

Gossett states that in 1966 he was handcuffed to a tree for three hours by the police in Beverly Hills.[10]

On February 9, 2010, Gossett announced that he had prostate cancer. He added the disease was caught in its early stages, and he expected to make a full recovery.[11][12]

On July 18, 2016, Gossett cohosted as a guest programmer on Turner Classic Movies' primetime lineup. Allowed to choose four movies to air, he selected Blackboard Jungle, Lifeboat, Touch of Evil and The Night of the Hunter.

Works[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1961 A Raisin in the Sun George Murchison
1969 The Bushbaby Tembo
1970 The Landlord Copee
1971 Skin Game Jason O'Rourke
1972 Travels with My Aunt Zachary/'Wordsworth'
1973 The Fuzz Brothers Francis Fuzz
1973 The Laughing Policeman Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
1974 The White Dawn Portagee
1976 The River Niger Dr. Dudley Stanton
1976 J. D.'s Revenge Rev. Elija Bliss
1977 The Deep Henri Cloche
1977 The Choirboys Calvin Motts
1980 It Rained All Night the Day I Left Leo Garcia
1982 An Officer and a Gentleman Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor

Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

1983 Jaws 3-D Calvin Bouchard Nominated — Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor
1984 Finders Keepers Century
1985 Enemy Mine Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actor
1986 Iron Eagle Chappy Sinclair
1986 Firewalker Leo Porter
1987 The Principal Jake Phillips
1987 A Gathering of Old Men Mathu
1988 Iron Eagle II Chappy Sinclair
1989 The Punisher Jake Berkowitz
1991 Cover Up CIA boss Lou Jackson
1991 Toy Soldiers Dean Parker
1992 Aces: Iron Eagle III Chappy Sinclair
1992 Diggstown 'Honey' Roy Palmer
1993 Monolith Capt. MacCandless
1994 Flashfire Ben Durand
1994 Blue Chips Father Dawkins
1994 A Good Man in Africa Prof. Sam Adekunle
1994 Curse of the Starving Class Ellis
1995 Iron Eagle on the Attack Chappy Sinclair
1996 Managua Paul
1997 The Wall That Heals Narrator
1997 Legend of the Mummy Corbeck
1999 Y2K [it] Morgan
2000 The Highwayman Phil Bishop
2002 Deceived Col. David Garrett Direct-to-video release
2005 Window Ralph Stanley Included as part of African American Short Films
2005 Left Behind: World at War President Gerald Fitzhugh
2006 All In Caps
2006 Club Soda Doc
2007 Daddy's Little Girls Willie
2007 Cover Det. Hicks
2008 The Perfect Game Cool Papa Bell
2008 Delgo Zahn Voice only
2009 Dog Jack Grown up Jed
2009 Shannon's Rainbow Max
2009 The Least Among You Samuel Benton
2010 Smitty Mr. Smith
2010 Why Did I Get Married Too? Porter
2011 The Grace Card George Wright
2011 A Fonder Heart Glen
2011 The Lamp The Genie
2012 The Undershepherd Bishop Redford
2014 A Fighting Man Cubby
2014 The Dependables Lou Jones
2015 Boiling Pot Detective Haven
2017 Undercover Grandpa Mother
2017 Double Play Coco
2017 Breaking Brooklyn Miles Bryant
2019 Foster Boy Judge
2019 The Cuban Luis Garcia
2019 Supervized Pendle


Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1958 The Big Story Jamie Goodwin Episode: "The Stubbornest Man"
1962 The Nurses William Taylor Episode: "The Prisoner"
1967–68 Cowboy in Africa Fulah

Hemera

Episode: "Fang and Claw"

Episode: "The Quiet Death"

1968 The Invaders Ollie Episode: "The Vise"
1968 Daktari Mkono Episode: "Adam and Jenny"
1968 Companions in Nightmare Lt. Adam McKay NBC television film
1968 The Mod Squad Sgt William Smith (Smithy) Episode: "When Smitty Comes Marching Home"
1970 The Bill Cosby Show Hurricane Smith Episode: "The Return of Big Bad Bubba Bronson"
1970–71 The Young Rebels Isak Poole
1971 Big Fish, Little Fish Jimmie Luton
1971 The Partridge Family Sam Episode: "Soul Club"
1971 Bonanza Buck Walter Episode: "The Desperado"
1971 Longstreet Sergeant Cory Episode: "The Way of the Intercepting Fist"
1971 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Dr. Karnes Episode: "One Lonely Step"
1971 Alias Smith and Jones Joe Sims Episode: "The Bounty Hunter"
1971 Cade's County Episode: "The Alien Land"
1972 Insight Episode: "The Man from Inner Space"
1972 The Living End Doug Newman CBS television pilot
1972 The Rookies Toby Jones Episode: "Covenant with Death"
1972 Love, American Style Freddy Segment: "Love and the Christmas Punch..."
1968–69,

1972

The Mod Squad Smitty

Lloyd Charley Jameson

Episode: "When Smitty Comes Marching Home"

Episode: "The Uptight Town" Episode: "Can You Hear Me Out There?"

1973 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Episode: "An Often and Familiar Ghost"
1974 It's Good to Be Alive Sam Brockington CBS television film
1974 Sidekicks Jason O'Rourke TV remake of Gossett's 1971 Skin Game

CBS television film

1974 The White Dawn Portagee ABC television film
1974 McCloud Dewey Justin Episode: Shivaree on Delancy Street
1974 The New Land Simon York Episode: "The Word is: Dignity" (never aired)
1974–75 Petrocelli D.A. Kurt Olson Episode: "A Very Lonely Lady" and "A Fallen Idol"
1974–75 Good Times Donald Knight

Uncle Wilbert

Episode: "Thelma's Young Man"

Episode: "Michael's Big Fall"

1975 Lucas Tanner Bobby Koball Episode: "Bonus Baby"
1975 Black Bart Black Bart CBS television film
1975 Delancey Street: The Crisis Within Otis James NBC television film
1975 Caribe David Wallace Episode: "The Assassin"
1975 Harry O Cleon Jackson Episode: "Shades"
1975 The Jeffersons Wendell Brown Episode: "George's Best Friend"
1975 The Six Million Dollar Man O'Flaherty Episode: "Clark Templeton O'Flaherty"
1975–76 Police Story Freddie

Virgil Barnes

Episode: "The Cut Man Caper"

Episode: "50 Cents-First Half Hour, $1.75 All Day"

1976 Little House on the Prairie Henry Hill Episode: "The Long Road Home"
1976 The Rebels
1976–77 The Rockford Files Marcus 'Gabby' Hayes Episode: Foul on the First Play and Just Another Polish Wedding
1977 Little Ladies of the Night Russ Garfield ABC television film
1977 Roots Fiddler ABC miniseries

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series TV Land Award

1977 Visions Rex Episode: "Freeman"
1978 The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
1978 To Kill a Cop Everett Walker Uncredited Role

NBC television film

1978 The Critical List Lem Harper NBC television film
1979 Backstairs at the White House Levi Mercer NBC miniseries

Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special

1979 Lawman Without a Gun Tom Hayward NBC television film
1979 The Lazarus Syndrome Dr. MacArthur St. Clair ABC television film
1980 Palmerstown, USA Fredrick Douglas Jackson Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1981 Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige Leroy 'Satchel' Paige ABC television film
1982 American Playhouse Episode: "Zora Is My Name!"
1982 Benny's Place Benny Moore ABC television film
1982 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Louis Gossett Jr/George Thorogood & the Destroyers"
1982–83 The Powers of Matthew Star Walter 'Walt' Shepherd/D'Hai
1983 Sadat Anwar al-Sadat Television film

Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film

1984 The Guardian John Mack Nominated — CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Movie or Miniseries

HBO television film

1987 A Gathering of Old Men Mathu CBS television film

Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

1987 The Father Clements Story Father Clements NBC television film
1988 Sam Found Out: A Triple Play ABC television film
1988 Goodbye, Miss 4th of July Big John Creed Disney Channel television film
1988 Roots: The Gift Fiddler ABC television film
1989 Gideon Oliver Gideon Oliver
1990 El Diablo Van Leek HBO television film
1990 Sudie and Simpson Simpson Television film
1991–92 Captain Planet and the Planeteers Commander Clash Voice role (3 episodes)
1991 The Josephine Baker Story Sidney Williams HBO television film

Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film

1991 Carolina Skeletons James Bragg NBC television film
1992 Keeper of the City Det. James Dela Television film
1993 Story of a People Host Miniseries
1993 Gridiron Gang Host Documentary film
1993 Father & Son: Dangerous Relations NBC television film
1993 Return to Lonesome Dove Isom Pickett Miniseries
1994 Picket Fences Rick Jennings Episode: "Terms of Estrangement"
1994 Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice Ray Alexander NBC television film
1995 A Father for Charlie Walter Osgood
1995 Zooman Rueben Tate
1995 Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder Ray Alexander
1996 Captive Heart: The James Mink Story James Mink Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

Television film

1996 Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story Bob Kersee Television film
1996 Inside Questioner Television film
1997 Touched by an Angel Anderson Walker Episode: "Amazing Grace"

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

1997 To Dance with Olivia Daniel Stewart CBS television film
1997 In His Father's Shoes Frank Crosby/Richard Showtime television film

Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special Nominated —CableACE Award for Best Children's Special - 7 and Older Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special

1997 Early Edition Jim Matthews Episode: "The Medal"
1997 Ellen Sgt. Timko Episode: "G.I. Ellen"
1998 The Inspectors Inspector Frank Hughes Showtime television film
1999 Love Songs Reuben Segment: "A Love Song for Dad"; Showtime television film

Black Reel Award for Best Director: T.V. Movie/Cable Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Actor: T.V. Movie/Cable

1999 Strange Justice Vernon Jordan Showtime television film
2000 Dr. Lucille David Mulera Television film
2000 The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence Inspector Frank Hughes Showtime television film
2000 The Color of Love: Jacey's Story Lou Hastings CBS television film

Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film

2001 For Love of Olivia Daniel Stewart CBS television film
2002 Opening Ceremony Salt Lake Paralympic Winter Games Narrator Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Special
2002 What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway Dr. Barnes UPN television film
2002 Resurrection Blvd. Ezekiel 'Zeke' Grant Episode: "En Un Momento" and "Esperando Lagrimas"
2003 The Dead Zone Pastor David Lewis Episode: "Zion"
2003 Jasper, Texas R.C. Horn Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

Showtime television film

2003 Momentum Raymond Addison SCI FI television film
2004 Half & Half Ray Willis Episode: "The Big Lover, My Brother Episode" and "The Big Thanks for Nothing Episode"
2005 Solar Attack President Ryan Gordon Direct-to-DVD release
2005 Lackawanna Blues Ol'lem Taylor HBO television film
2005–06 Stargate SG-1 Gerak 5 episodes
2006 Family Guy Sergeant Angryman Voice role

Episode: "Saving Private Brian"

2007 The Batman Lucius Fox Voice role
2009 ER Leo Malcolm Episode: "The Family Man"
2012 Psych Lloyd Episode: "Heeeeere's Lassie"
2013 Boardwalk Empire Oscar Boneau Episode: "Havre de Grace"
2014–15 Extant Quinn Recurring; 4 episodes
2014 Madam Secretary Father Laurent Vasseur Episode: "The Call"
2015 The Book of Negroes Daddy Moses 2 episodes
2015 The Spoils Before Dying Duke Webster Episode: "The Trip Trap"
2017 The Good Fight Carl Reddick Episode: "Reddick v Boseman"
2018 Hap and Leonard Bacon 6 episodes
2018 Hawaii Five-0 Percy Grover Sr. Episode: "Lele pū nā manu like" (Hawaiian for: "Birds of a Feather...")
2019 Watchmen Will Reeves/Hooded Justice 7 episodes

Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie


Theatre[]

  • 1964: Supporting role in the Broadway musical adaptation of Odets' Golden Boy.
  • 2006: Dvorak's New World: Chamber Music Plus. Louis Gossett Jr., narrator, with Aubrey Allicock (Baritone), Sanda Schuldmann (piano), and Harry Clark (writer).[13][14]

References[]

External links[]


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