American actor Louis Gossett Jr., who became the first black person to receive an Oscar for best supporting actor in 1983, has died. Gossett died at the age of 87, American media such as CNN and NBC reported on Friday. statement from his family. “It is with great regret that we confirm that our father passed away this morning,” the media quoted the statement as saying. “We would like to thank everyone for their condolences. Please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
The New York Times also reported on Gossett’s death and quoted his cousin. A request from the German press agency to the actor’s management initially went unanswered. Gossett worked to the end; he was only seen last year in the film “The Color Purple”.
Before Gossett, only two blacks had won the acting Oscar: Hattie McDaniel (1940) for best supporting actress in “Gone with the Wind” and Sidney Poitier as lead in “Lilies of the Field” (1964). In April 1983, at the age of 46, Gossett became the first black supporting actor to receive the gold-plated trophy for his role in the film “An Officer and a Gentleman.” In it, he played a terrifying instructor in the US Navy who subjects his students to brutal exercises. The young Richard Gere celebrated his breakthrough as the leading actor in the film. In his short speech on the Oscar stage, Gossett thanked his old acting agent and his parents. He didn’t talk about the disadvantages black actors face in Hollywood.
He later became more explicit, joining the storm of outrage over the failure to nominate black talent and advocating for diversity. “You don’t have to look black or Latino, we’re all part of one family,” said Gossett, who has been married three times and has two children. The actor campaigned against discrimination and racism with a foundation.
The New York native was already on the theater stage at the age of 17. He made his first film appearance in 1961 opposite Sidney Poitier in the drama “A Spot in the Sun”. His television role as a slave in the Southern series “Roots” (1977) earned him an Emmy trophy. Later he played a gangster in the adventure film ‘The Deep’ with Jacqueline Bisset and Nick Nolte, an alien in Wolfgang Petersen’s science fiction film ‘Enemy Mine’ and in the action series ‘The Steel Eagle’. was seen as a fighter pilot. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
