
In late March, we reported that An Officer and a Gentleman star Louis Gossett Jr died in Santa Monica, California. At the time, the cause of his death was unknown, but it has now been revealed. According to a recent report from the coroner, he died of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
In his six-decade career, Gossett Jr starred in films such as Iron Eagle, The Landlord, Enemy Mine, and The Laughing Policeman. In 1983, he made Hollywood history as the first actor of colour to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for An Officer and A Gentleman. He played the role of Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the film directed by Taylor Hackford.
The actor also bagged a Best Actor Emmy for the miniseries Roots. Following the actor's death, his An Officer and A Gentleman co-star Richard Gere said, “As tough as Foley was, you always felt this warm heart beating in him. That’s why Lou was so effective in that role: He wasn’t just a ‘tough guy’; he was someone who cared about all those kids that he was mentoring."
Gossett Jr appeared in the recent remake of The Color Purple as he finished his portions in the film. His final role was in John Krasinski’s family film IF, which opens in May. He is known to the current generation due to his part as Will Reeves in HBO’s acclaimed TV show Watchman.