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First black man to win a Supporting Actor Oscar award, Gosset Jr dies at the age of 87

First black man to win a Supporting Actor Oscar award, Gosset Jr dies at the age of 87

By Mosese Raqio
30/03/2024
Louis Gossett Jr Source: CBS news

Louis Gossett Jr, the first black man to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, has died at the age of 87.

The New York-born actor won the Academy Award in 1982 for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman.

Gossett also won an Emmy in 1978 for his role in Roots, the ground-breaking TV mini-series about slavery.

His death was confirmed by his family and no cause of death was given.

Gossett made his Broadway debut as a teenager and later starred in shows such as A Raisin in the Sun and Golden Boy.

He went on to gain critical acclaim across a six-decade career.

Gossett continued acting into later life and his last role was in the 2023 musical remake of The Color Purple.

Gossett also starred in Backstairs At The White House, The Story Of Satchel Paige, The Josephine Baker Story, for which he won a Golden Globe and Roots Revisited.

He also starred in the cult 1980s science fiction film Enemy Mine as the alien Jeriba Shigan, alongside Dennis Quaid.

Source: BBC News

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