Louis Gossett Jr.: Biography in Details
Who is Louis Gossett Jr.?
Louis Gossett Jr. is an American stage, screen, and television character actor.
He is best recognized for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film, An Officer and a Gentleman.
Who are the parents of Louis Gossett Jr.?
Louis was born on May 27, 1936, as Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. He hails from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
He is the son of Louis Gossett Sr. (father) and Hellen Rebecca (mother). His father is a porter whereas his mother is a nurse by profession.
He is of American nationality and belongs to the African-American ethnicity.
Education
Talking about his academics, Louis Gossett Jr. went to Mark Twain Intermediate School 239 and later transfer to Abraham Lincoln High School, graduating in 1954. Louis then joined New York University.
Louis Gossett Jr.: Professional Life, Career
- At the age of 17, Louis made his stage debut in a school production of You Can’t Take It with You. He played the role of Spencer Scott in Broadway’s Take a Giant Step, replacing Bill Gunn.
- In 1958, he made his first television appearance in an episode of The Big Story as Jamie Goodwin. He made a big-screen debut through Daniel Petrie’s film, A Raisin in the Sun where he portrayed the role of George in 1961.
- In the following years, he guest-starred in several TV shows such as The Nurses, Cowboy in Africa, The Invaders, Saktari, and more.
- Louis Gossett Jr. played Paulus in the Broadway musical play ‘The Zulu and the Zayda’ in 1965. In 1968, he was cast in the role of Lieutenant Adam McKay in the NBC television film, Companions in Nightmare.
- Furthermore, he has featured in the films like An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Jaws 3-D (1983), Finders Keepers (1984), Enemy Mine (1985), A Gathering of Old Men (1987), Left Behind: World at War (2005), and more.
- Recently, Louis Gossett Jr. made an appearance in the film, Not To Forget which aims to raise awareness and funds for the fight against Alzheimer’s in 2021.
Awards, Nomination
Louis has been nominated and won numerous awards throughout his career till date. Some of them are,
| Years | Awards | Category | Result |
| 2001 | Satellite Awards | Best Performance in a Miniseries, The Color of Love: Jacey’s Story | Nominated |
| 2004 | Temecula Valley International Film Festival | Lifetime Achievement Award | Won |
| 2004 | Image Awards (NAACP) | Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie, Jasper, Texas | Nominated |
| 2012 | Image Awards (NAACP) | Outstanding Actor in a TV movie, The Least Among You | Nominated |
| 2012 | WorldFest Houston | Remi Lifetime Achievement | Won |
| 2020 | INOCA | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
Rumors, Controversy
As of now, Louis Gossett Jr. hasn’t been part of any sorts of rumors and scandals that create headlines in the media. He stays miles away from such controversial matters.
How much is the net worth of Louis Gossett Jr.?
The actor is living a lavish lifestyle. As of 2023, he has accumulated an estimated net worth of $5 million throughout his successful acting career.
He sold a 2800-square-foot house in Malibu for $3.25 million in September 2018.
Body Measurement: Height, Weight
Talking about Louis’s physical appearance, he has a dark complexion. Likewise, he has a towering height of 6 feet 1 inch. He is bald and he has a brown pair of eyes.
However, his weight and other body measurement are still under review.
Social Media
The actor is active on Instagram under the username @iamlouisgossettjr where he has more than 2.9k followers. He has a verified Twitter account with 9.6k followers.
Louis Gossett Jr. is also active on Facebook with 1k followers. He has also shared his phone number +1 310-457-5799.
Trivia
- His nickname is Lou.
- As of 2021, Louis is 85 years old.
- His Sun sign is Gemini.
- Throughout his acting career, he often plays military commanders and authority figures.
- In 1990, he was named as “King of Brooklyn” at the Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival.
- Louis is the first cousin of Robert Gossett.
- He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on February 8, 2010.
- Louis is a good friend of John Amos, Esther Rolle, and Cicely Tyson.
- He has founded the foundation, Eracism which is devoted to eradicating racism.
Louis Gossett Jr.’s Birthday Dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | May | Monday |
| 2025 | May | Tuesday |
| 2026 | May | Wednesday |
| 2027 | May | Thursday |
| 2028 | May | Saturday |