“Top” Ten Losses of 2024: Louis Gossett, Jr. (#4)

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Along with music, this year I’m looking at others in the world who left us last year. This seems to be going well, so I’ll — sadly — repeat it next year. That’s the bad thing, we’re already losing people. Today’s actor would be here for one line. Here he is. #4: Louis Gossett, Jr. My grandmama wants to fly jets! My favorite line in An Officer and a Gentleman. Louis Gossett Jr. became the first black actor to win the “Best Supporting Actor” Academy Award category with his role as Gunnery Sergeant Foley in that great movie. SO, SO deserved. He was absolutely brilliant in that film. I mentioned this when he passed away: he dabbled in music, too! He co-wrote a protest song with Richie Havens (“Handsome Johnny”). While Gossett was acting in plays he was also playing in folk clubs in New York. Obviously, the acting won out. Lucky for us. He went from plays to TV (trivia: there was actually a TV version of Blazing Saddles, called Black Bart, and Gossett played the black sheriff). There he started picking up awards, such as an Emmy for his role in Roots. He ended up with two Emmy awards (a daytime Emmy), Golden Globe trophies, and that coveted Oscar. After years of bad health Gossett died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in March. What a talent we lost. Louis Gossett, Jr. Born Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr., May 27, 1936, Brooklyn, New York Died March 29, 2024, Santa Monica, California (COPD/heart failure) (age 87) Here’s that great line from An Officer and a Gentleman: