Louis Gossett, Jr. Biography (1936-)

Born May 27, 1936, in Brooklyn, NY; son of Louis (a porter) and Helen (a nurse; maiden name, Wray) Gossett; married Hattie Glascoe (a journalist; marriageannulled); married Christina Mangosing (an actress; divorced); married CyndiJames-Reece (an actress), December 25, 1987 (divorced, 1992); children: (second marriage) Satie (son); Sharron Anthony (son). Addresses: Agent: Writers & Artists Agency, 8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550, Los Angeles, CA 90211.; Publicist: JAG Entertainment, 4265 Hazeltine Ave., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, producer, director
Birth Details: May 27, 1936; Brooklyn, New York, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
George Murchison, A Raisin in the Sun, Columbia, 1961
(As Lou Gossett) Copee, The Landlord, United Artists, 1970
Tembo, The Bushbaby, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1970
(As Lew Gossett) Roscoe, Leo the Last, United Artists, 1970
Jason O'Rourke, The Skin Game, Warner Bros., 1971
(As Lou Gossett) Wordsworth, Travels with My Aunt, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1972
(As Lou Gossett) Inspector James Larrimore SFPS, The Laughing Policeman (also known as An Investigation of Murder), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973
(As Lou Gossett) Portagee, The White Dawn, Paramount, 1974
Dr. Dudley Stanton, The River Niger, Cine Artists, 1975
(As Lou Gossett) Reverend Bliss, J. D.'s Revenge, American International Pictures, 1976
Calvin Potts, The Choirboys (also known as Anglarna), Universal, 1977
(As Louis Gossett) Henri Cloche, The Deep, Columbia, 1977
Leo Garcia, It Rained All Night the Day I Left (also known as Deux affreux sur le sable), 1980
Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, An Officer and a Gentleman, Paramount, 1982
Calvin Bouchard, Jaws 3-D (also known as Jaws 3 and JawsIII), Universal, 1983
Century, Finders Keepers, Warner Bros., 1984
Jeriba "Jerry" Shiban, Enemy Mine, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985
Col. Charles "Chappy" Sinclair, Iron Eagle, TriStar, 1985
Leo Porter, Firewalker, Cannon, 1986
Jake Phillips, The Principal, TriStar, 1987
Charles "Chappy" Sinclair, Iron Eagle II (also known as Iron Eagle II: The Battle Beyond the Flag), TriStar, 1988
Jake Berkowitz, The Punisher, New World, 1989
Lou Jackson, Cover-Up, Live Home Video, 1991
Dean Parker, Toy Soldiers, TriStar, 1991
Charles "Chappy" Sinclair, Aces: Iron Eagle III, New Line Cinema,1992
"Honey" Roy Palmer, Diggstown (also known as Midnight Sting), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1992
Captain McCandless, Monolith, EGM Film International, 1993
Professor Sam Adekunle, A Good Man in Africa, Gramercy Pictures, 1994
(Uncredited) Father Dawkins, Blue Chips, Paramount, 1994
Chappy Sinclair, Iron Eagle IV, 1995
Paul Gleason, Managua, Cabin Fever Entertainment, 1997
Corbeck, Legend of the Mummy (also known as Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy and Bram Stroker's The Mummy), A-pix Entertainment,1997
Narrator, The Wall That Heals, 1997
Morgan, Y2K (also known as Terminal Countdown), PM Entertainment Group, 1999
Phil Bishop, The Highwayman, Sterling Home Entertainment, 1999
Col. David Garrett, Deceived, 2002
Momentum, 2003
Film Work
Co-producer, Managua, Cabin Fever Entertainment, 1997
Television Appearances
Series
Isak Poole, The Young Rebels, ABC, 1970-1971
Dr. MacArthur St. Clair, The Lazarus Syndrome, ABC, 1979
Palmerstown, U.S.A. (also known as Palmerstown), 1980
Walt Shepherd/Dehay and narrator, The Powers of Matthew Star, NBC,1982-1983
Title role, Gideon Oliver, 1989
Voice of Commander Clash, Captain Planet and the Planeteers (alsoknown as The New Adventures of Captain Planet; animated), 1990
Voice of Chiron: The God of Teaching, Hercules (also known as Disney's Hercules; animated), ABC and syndicated, 1998
Walking After Midnight, 1999
Ezekiel "Zeke" Grant, Resurrection Blvd., Showtime, 2002-
Miniseries
Fiddler, Roots, ABC, 1977
(Uncredited) Everett Walker, To Kill a Cop, NBC, 1978
Lem Harper, The Critical List, 1978
Levi Mercer, Backstairs at the White House, NBC, 1979
Anwar Sadat, Sadat, syndicated, 1983
Isom Pickett, Return to Lonesome Dove, CBS, 1993
Voice of W. E. B. DuBois, The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century, PBS, 1996
Movies
Lieutenant Adam McKay, Companions in Nightmare, NBC, 1968
Sam Brockington, It's Good to Be Alive, CBS, 1974
Otis James, Delancey Street: The Crisis Within, NBC, 1975
Russ Garfield, Little Ladies of the Night (also known as Diamond Alley), ABC, 1977
Tom Hayward, Lawman Without a Gun, 1977
Tom Hayward, This Man Stands Alone, NBC, 1979
Satchel Paige, Don't Look Back (also known as Don't Look Back:The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige), ABC, 1981
Benny Moore, Benny's Place, ABC, 1982
John Mack, The Guardian, HBO, 1984
Mathu, A Gathering of Old Men (also known as Murder on the Bayou and Ein Aufstand alter Manner), CBS, 1987
Father George Clements, The Father Clements Story, NBC, 1987
Fiddler, Roots: The Gift (also known as Roots Christmas andRoots: Kunta Kinte's Gift), ABC, 1988
Big John Creed, Goodbye, Miss 4th of July (also known as Goodbye, Miss Liberty), The Disney Channel, 1989
Thomas Van Leek, El Diablo, HBO, 1990
Simpson, Sudie & Simpson, Lifetime, 1990
Sidney Williams, The Josephine Baker Story, HBO, 1991
Major James Bragg, Carolina Skeletons, NBC, 1991
James Dela, Keeper of the City, Showtime, 1992
Leonard Clay, Father & Son: Dangerous Relations (also known asDangerous Relations and On the Streets of L.A.), NBC, 1993
Title role, Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice (also known as Ray Alexander: Murder in Mind), NBC, 1994
Ben Durand, Flashfire (also known as August Fires), 1994
Walter Osgood, A Father for Charlie (also known as High Lonesome), CBS, 1995
Reuben Tate, Zooman (also known as Zooman and the Sign), Showtime, 1995
Ray Alexander, Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder, 1995
Ellis, Curse of the Starving Class, Showtime, 1995
Questioner, Inside, Showtime, 1996
Charles "Chappy" Sinclair, Iron Eagle IV, HBO, 1996
James Mink, Captive Heart: The James Mink Story, CBS, 1996
Bob Kersee, Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story, Showtime, 1996
Frank Crosby and Richard Crosby, In His Father's Shoes, Showtime,1997
Daniel Stewart, To Dance with Olivia, CBS, 1997
Frank Hughes, The Inspectors, Showtime, 1998
Reuben, "A Love Song for Dad," Love Songs, Showtime, 1999
Vernon Jordan, Strange Justice, Showtime, 1999
Inspector Frank Hughes, The Inspector 2: A Shred of Evidence, 2000
Lou Hastings, The Color of Love: Jacey's Story, CBS, 2000
David Mulera, Dr. Lucille (also known as Dr. Lucille-Un reve pour le vie), 2000
Daniel Stewart, For Love of Olivia, CBS, 2001
Dr. Barnes, What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway, 2002
Specials
The Day They Shot Lincoln, CBS, 1955
Ben Vereen--His Roots (also known as The Sentry Collection Presents: Ben Vereen), ABC, 1978
Ringmaster, Circus of the Stars #8, CBS, 1983
Welcome Home, HBO, 1987
National AIDS Awareness Test: What Do You Know about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome?, syndicated, 1987
Happy Birthday, Hollywood!, ABC, 1987
Frederick Douglass, The Blessings of Liberty, ABC, 1987
Sam, Liza Minnelli in Sam Found Out: A Triple Play (also known asSam Found Out), ABC, 1988

Host and narrator, Crimes of Violence, syndicated, 1988
Cosmo, Straight Up, PBS, 1988
From the Heart ... the First International Very Special Arts Festival, NBC, 1989
There Really is a Santa Claus, 1989
Starathon '90 Weekend with the Stars for Cerebral Palsy, syndicated, 1990
Himself, A Party for Richard Pryor, 1991
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, 1991
Gladys Knight's Holiday Family Reunion Concert, syndicated, 1991
What about Me? I'm Only 3!, CBS, 1992
Voice of Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom, PBS, 1992
A Day in the Life of Hollywood, 1992
AFI Salute to Hollywood, 1992
Host, Story of a People: A Dream Deferred, syndicated, 1993
Host, Great Television Moments: What We Watched, ABC, 1993
Host, "Caribbean Cool," World of Audubon Specials, PBS, 1993
Host/star, Gridiron Gang, 1993
The Jackson Family Honors, NBC, 1994
Troubadours of Folk Music, PBS, 1994
The Opening Ceremonies of the 1995 Special Olympics World Games, NBC, 1995
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies, CBS, 1995
Narrator, The Ultimate Athlete: Pushing the Limit, The Discovery Channel, 1996
Host, When Animals Attack 4, Fox, 1997
Host, I Survived a Disaster, ABC, 1997
True Stories from Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1998
Narrator, Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood (also known as Hollywood: Real to Reel and Small Steps, Big Strides), American Movie Classics, 1998
Host, An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence Benefiting the United Negro College Fund, Black Entertainment Television, 1998
Narrator, The Port Chicago Mutiny, TLC, 1999
An Evening of the Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence,NBC and syndicated, 2000
(Archive footage from Jaws 3-D) Himself, Jaws: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2002
Awards Presentations
Presenter, The 58th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1986
The 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1987
The 14th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1988
The 20th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1988
The 3rd Annual Soul Train Music Awards, syndicated, 1989
The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990
The 7th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, syndicated, 1992
The AFI Salute to Sidney Poitier (also known as The 20th AnnualAmerican Film Institute Life Achievement Award), NBC, 1992
The 13th Annual ACE Awards, TNT, 1992
Presenter, The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1992
Presenter, The 18th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1992
Host, The 20th International Emmy Awards, PBS, 1992
The Great Ones: The National Sports Awards, NBC, 1993
Presenter, The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1993
Host, The 50th Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1993
The Golden Globe's 50th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1994
The 26th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1994
Presenter, The 51st Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1994
Presenter, The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, 1995
Presenter, The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards, 1995
Presenter, The 1996 Emmy Awards, ABC, 1996
The Fifth Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 1997
The 70th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1998
The Television Academy of Hall of Fame, UPN, 1999
Pilots
Recording Engineer, The Happeners, syndicated, 1967
Doug Newman, The Living End, CBS, 1972
Detective Francis Buchanan, The Fuzz Brothers, ABC, 1973
Jason O'Rourke, Sidekicks, CBS, 1974
Sheriff Black Bart, Black Bart, CBS, 1975
Dr. MacArthur St. Clair, The Lazarus Syndrome, ABC, 1979
Episodic
Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1954
The Big Story, NBC, 1954
Goodyear Theatre, NBC, 1957
"The Prisoner," The Nurses, CBS, 1962
Best of Broadway, ABC, 1964
The Ed Sullivan Show, CBS, 1964
The Defenders, CBS, 1964
"Fang and Claw," Cowboy in Africa, ABC, 1967
"The Quiet Death," Cowboy in Africa, ABC, 1968
Smitty, "When Smitty Comes Marching Home," Mod Squad, ABC, 1968
"Adam and Jenny," Daktari, CBS, 1968
(As Louis Gossett) Ollie, "The Vise," The Invaders, 1968
"The Uptight Town," The Mod Squad, 1969
Hurricane Smith, "The Return of Big Bad Bubba Bronson," The Bill CosbyShow, NBC, 1970
"Big Fish, Little Fish," Hollywood Television Theater, PBS, 1971
(As Lou Gossett) Sam, "Soul Club," Partridge Family, ABC, 1971
(As Lou Gossett) Buck Walter, "The Desperado," Bonanza, NBC, 1971
"The Way of the Intercepting Fists," Longstreet, ABC, 1971
"One Lonely Step," The Bold Ones: The Doctors, NBC, 1971
Joe Sims, "The Bounty Hunter," Alias Smith and Jones, ABC, 1971
"The Alien Land," Cade's Country, 1971
(As Lou Gossett) Toby Jones, "Covenant with Death," Rookies, ABC,1972
"Can You Hear Me Out There?," Mod Squad, ABC, 1972
"Love and the Mystic," Love, American Style, ABC, 1972
"An Often and Familiar Ghost," Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, ABC, 1973
Donald Knight, "Thelma's Young Man," Good Times, CBS, 1974
Justin, "Shivaree on Delancey Street," McCloud, NBC, 1974
"A Very Lonely Lady," Petrocelli, NBC, 1974
"The Man from Inner Space," Insight, syndicated, 1975
"Bonus Baby," Lucas Tanner, NBC, 1975
"A Fallen Idol," Petrocelli, NBC, 1975
"The Assassin," Caribe, ABC, 1975
(As Lou Gossett) Cleon Jackson, "Shades," Harry O, ABC, 1975
Uncle Wilbert, "Michael's Big Fall," Good Times, CBS, 1975
Freddy, "The Cut Man Caper," Police Story, NBC, 1975
Wendell Brown, "George's Best Friend," The Jeffersons, CBS, 1975
Clark Templeton O'Flaherty, "Clark Templeton O'Flaherty," Six MillionDollar Man, ABC, 1975
Barnes, "Fifty Cents One Half-Hour--One Dollar and Seventy-Five Cents AllDay," Police Story, NBC, 1976
(As Lou Gossett) Henry Hill, "The Long Road Home," Little House on thePrairie, NBC, 1976
Marcus Hayes/O'Brien, "Foul on the First Play," The Rockford Files, NBC, 1976
The Jeffersons, CBS, 1976
Marcus "Gabby" Hayes, "Just Another Polish Wedding," The Rockford Files, 1977
"Dirty Money, Black Light," The Rockford Files, NBC, 1977
Rex, "Freemen," Visions, PBS, 1977
Everett Walker, "To Kill a Cop (Parts 1 & 2)," Eischied, 1978
"Future City," Palmerstown, CBS, 1981
Himself, Saturday Night Live, NBC, 1982
Gideon Oliver, "Tongs," ABC Mystery Movie, ABC, 1989
Gideon Oliver, "Sleep Well, Professor Oliver," ABC Mystery Movie,ABC, 1989
Gideon Oliver, "The Last Plane from Coramaya," ABC Mystery Movie,ABC, 1989
Gideon Oliver, "Kennonite," ABC Mystery Movie, ABC, 1989
"Zora Is My Name!," American Playhouse, PBS, 1990
Captain Planet and the Planeteers (animated), syndicated, 1990
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1991
Nitecap, ABC, 1992
Narrator, "Liberators--Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II," The American Experience, PBS, 1992
Rick Jennings, Jimmy's ex-partner, "Terms of Estrangement," Picket Fences, CBS, 1994
Anderson Walker, "Amazing Grace (Parts 1 & 2)," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1996
Sergeant Timko, "G.I. Ellen," Ellen, ABC, 1997
Jim Matthews, "The Medal," Early Edition, CBS, 1997
Voice, Disney's Hercules (animated; also known as Herculesand Hercules: The Wonder Boy Years), ABC, 1998
Ezekiel "Zeke" Grant, "Esperando Lagrimas," Resurrection Blvd., 2002
Also appeared in East Side/West Side, CBS; Kraft Theatre, NBC; You Are There.
Television Work
Movies
Co-executive producer, Father & Son: Dangerous Relations (alsoknown as Dangerous Relations and On the Streets of L.A.), 1993
Co-executive producer, Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice (also known as Ray Alexander: Murder in Mind), NBC, 1994
Executive producer, A Father for Charlie (also known as High Lonesome), CBS, 1995
Co-executive producer, Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder, 1995
Executive consultant, Captive Heart: The James Mink Story, CBS, 1996
Executive producer, Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story, 1996
Executive producer, Inside, 1996
Executive producer, To Dance with Olivia, 1997
Executive producer, In His Father's Shoes, 1997
Executive producer, The Inspectors, 1998
Director, "A Love Song for Champ," Love Songs, Showtime, 1999
Executive producer, The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence, 2000
Executive producer, The Color of Love: Jacey's Story, CBS, 2000
Executive producer, For Love of Olivia, 2001
Episodic
Directed The Powers of Matthew Star.
Stage Appearances
Spencer Scott, Take a Giant Step, Lyceum Theatre, New York City, 1953
Kenny, The Desk Set, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1955
Absalom Kumalo, Lost in the Stars, City Center Theatre, New York City, 1957
George Murchison, A Raisin in the Sun, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1959
Edgar Alas Newport News, Archibald Wellington, and Deodatus Village, The Blacks, St. Mark's Playhouse, New York City, 1961
Big-Eyed Buddy Lomax, Tambourines to Glory, Little Theatre, New York City, 1963
Prophet, Telemachus Clay, Writers Stage Theatre, New York City, 1963
Zachariah Peterson, The Blood Knot, Cricket Theatre, New York City, 1964
Frank, Golden Boy, Majestic Theatre, New York City, 1964
Paulus, The Zulu and the Zayda, Cort Theatre, New York City, 1965
Charles Roberts, My Sweet Charlie, Longacre Theatre, New York City, 1966
Willie Nurse, Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights, John Golden Theatre, 1968
Patrice Lumumba, Murderous Angels, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles,CA, 1970, then Playhouse Theatre, New York City, 1971
Henderson Josephs, The Charlatans, Mark Taper Forum, 1974
Billy Flynn, Chicago, Broadway production, 2002
Also appeared in productions of Roots and Tell Pharoah.
WRITINGS
Wrote protest song, "Handsome Johnny," performed by Richie Havens at Woodstock music festival, 1969.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

Daily News Magazine, February 5, 1989, p. 22
Ebony, December, 1982, p. 142; March, 1988, p. 86
Jet, March 27, 1995, p. 34; June 19, 1995, p. 32
New York Times, February 19, 1989
Parade, July 17, 1988, p. 4; February 19, 1989, pp. 33, 40
People Weekly, May 6, 1991, p. 59; April 24, 1995, p. 104
Washington Post, August 23, 1982, p. 1

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