Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. was born on May 27, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York City. He made his professional acting debut at age 17, winning the Donaldson Award as best newcomer to theatre. He went to New York University on a basketball scholarship and was invited to try out for the New York Knicks, yet he decided to continue his acting career with a role in the Broadway production of "A Raisin in the Sun". Gossett stepped into the world in cinema in the 'Sidney Poitier' and its sequels.
Conceived and co-wrote the well known song "Handsome Johnny" with Richie Havens. As the opening act for the original Woodstock, Havens performed "Handsome Johnny," as the 8th song in that historic first set. According to Havens, "...(Gossett) had gotten it up to the Dunkirk war...I brought it up to date..." (From liner notes in The Best of Richie Havens CD, 1993).
Was named as "King of Brooklyn" at the Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival in 1990.
He and his ex-wife Cyndi James Gossett have an adopted son.
Along with Stacy Keach , he was one of two actors considered for the role of the SGCs new commanding officer, General Hank Landry, on "Stargate SG-1" . The role instead went to Beau Bridges , however Gossett was cast as a Jaffa leader named Gerak.
He was the first male to be shown giving birth on screen, as Jeriba "Jerry" Shigan in Enemy Mine .
Was considered for the role of Lieutenant Ted Traxler in The Terminator , which went to Paul Winfield.
Was originally cast as Gale Sayers in the television movie Brians Song . Just days before shooting began, Gossett tore his Achilles tendon while working out for the film. The studio execs scrambled and quickly hired Billy Dee Williams as a replacement. Gossett, depressed over missing his "shot", was promised by producer David L. Wolper the first great role that came along. About six years later, Wolper called Gossett to play Fiddler in "Roots" , the Emmy Award-winning role that made him a star.
First cousin of Robert Gossett.
His foundation, Eracism, is devoted to eradicating racism.
(February 8, 2010) Diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Attended Woodstock. He said, "I wanted to be in the now. There were a whole bunch of us there, in the now. Anywhere anything exciting was happening, we were there.".
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 20, 1992.
In the early 1990s, Rich Little offered him the chance to be his opening act in Las Vegas, but he turned it down, a move that he deeply regrets. He sent his wife, Cyndi James Gossett , in his place.
Father of Satie Gossett.
He was cast in his Oscar winning role in An Officer and a Gentleman after Jack Nicholson turned down the role, and none of the other actors who the producers wanted proved available at the time. Screenwriter Douglas Day Stewart then did research on a Navy base in Pensacola, Florida and found out the top drill instructors they had there were African-American. Upon realizing this, Gossett was cast in what can now arguably be his best remembered role.
Gossett was drafted by the New York Knickerbockers.
Attended Brooklyns Abraham Lincoln High School.
He was awarded the 1970 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Performance for the play, "Murderous Angels" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Friends with John Amos , Esther Rolle , and Cicely Tyson.
I can do more than anyone suspects. I pride myself on my versatility. It,took 32 years of difficult parts, second leads, villains and juveniles.
The Oscar changed the quality of the roles I was being offered.
[on his receiving an Academy Award] The only Oscar I ever knew was a,cousin.
[on about his absence from 1970s blaxploitation films] Sometimes it was,by choice, sometimes by coincidence. I did have other jobs during that,entire era.
