Oscar-Winning Actor Louis Gossett Jr Dies At 87
NDTV
He was the second black man to win an acting Oscar, following Sidney Poitier in 1964
Louis Gossett Jr, who won an Emmy for Roots and an Academy Award for An Officer and a Gentleman, has passed away. He was 87, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The actor died at a rehabilitation centre in Santa Monica, California. Although Gossett's exact cause of death is unknown, he had recently battled respiratory illness and prostate cancer.
In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, his family said, "It is with our heartfelt regret to confirm our beloved father passed away this morning. We would like to thank everyone for their condolences at this time. Please respect the family's privacy during this difficult time."
Gossett was menacing in a variety of tough roles, most notably in Taylor Hackford's Officer and a Gentleman (1982), where he played Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley and rode Richard Gere's character mercilessly (but for his own good) at an officer candidate school before engaging in an unforgettable martial arts duel. Gossett had a sleek, bald pate and an athlete's physique.
