Louis Gossett Jr. was the 1st Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar award in 1983. On Friday morning (March 29), he died. He was 87 year old.
Louis’ 1st cousin, Neal L. Gossett, announced of his passing to the Associated Press. At this time, the reason of death is not revealed yet, but the family statement authenticated Louis Gossett Jr. died in San Monica, California.
Gossett’s cousin remembered a man who walked with Nelson Mandela and who also was a great joke teller, a relative who faced and fought racism with dignity and humor.
“Never mind the awards, never mind the glitz and glamor, the Rolls-Royces and the big houses in Malibu. It’s about the humanity of the people that he stood for,” Neal said.
Louis Gossett Jr. received his 1st acting credit in his Brooklyn high school’s production of ‘You Can’t Take It with You’ while he was sidelined from the basketball team with an injury.
He was “hooked” on the craft afterward. At the motivation of his teacher, he auditioned for ‘Take A Giant Step’ in Manhattan. He ended up getting the part and made his Broadway debut In 1953 at only 16. He eventually appeared New York University on a basketball and drama scholarship.
In 1959, Gossett received critical acclaim for his character in the Broadway production of ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ along with Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee and Diana Sands.
He went on to become ” star on Broadway, replacing Billy Daniels in ‘Golden Boy’ with Sammy Davis Jr. in 1964. A few years before, in 1961, he goes to Hollywood for the 1st time.
His rise to success also added the breakthrough TV character of Fiddler in the 1977 series ‘Roots.’