Remembering Louis Gossett Jr.: A Tribute to a Legendary Career and Iconic Roles
Hello everybody. Louis Gossett Jr. was born in 1936 in Brooklyn NY. When I discovered Gossett passed away on March 29th I didn’t recognize the name but I saw he was gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman. I immediately recognized the face and remembered the wonderful job he did in that movie. As a young boy this was one of my favorite movies and I loved Gossett in this movie. A movie I have not seen in 30 years or so and his roll in this film flooded back into my memory banks. As I dove into Gossett’s work I realized just how much he has done over the years and how many rolls I recognized. Gossett who took up drama in high school in the fifties was in the school play and pursued productions on Broadway.
He actually was offered a chance to try out for the New York Knicks but declined thinking back of being injured in high school and not wanting to pursue a path in athletics. Gossett would chase his dream and perform on Broadway instead. In the late fifties and sixties Gossett would find himself in a number of movies and TV shows. In the seventies he would pick up small parts in shows like Bonanza, The Jefferson’s, and The partridge Family. The eighties were one of the best decades I lived through and Gossett would strike gold with movies such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Jaws 3-D, and another favorite movie franchise of mine Iron Eagle where he played Colonel Charles ‘Chappy’ Sinclair. Gossett would also host Saturday Night Live in 1982. Over the next few decades Gossett would have a great number of rolls including voice work in popular shows like Family Guy and The Batman.
Gossett also is part of a number of works due to release this year or next year. I personally did not realize how much Gossett had done over the past 70 years. His mark will be left on our world for years to come. Friends, family, and fans will miss Gossett dearly. RIP Mr Louis Gossett Jr.
