An Officer and a Gentleman’s Oscar-winning performer has passed away at the age of 87.

Actor Louis Gossett Jr., renowned for his iconic roles in An Officer and a Gentleman and the TV mini-series Roots, has passed away at the age of 87.

Breaking Barriers
Gossett made history as the first Black man to win an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category at the Academy Awards.

A Prolific Career
With a career spanning 200 projects in Hollywood and 12 more in the pipeline, Gossett’s influence is undeniable. Tragically, he will not see these upcoming projects come to fruition.

Passing and Health Struggles
Gossett died in Santa Monica, California, on March 28, 2024. According to TMZ, his death certificate lists chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the primary cause of death, with heart failure and atrial fibrillation as contributing conditions. Gossett had battled COPD for many years and will be cremated.

Early Career and Challenges
Gossett began his career on stage, starring on Broadway alongside luminaries like Marilyn Monroe and Sidney Poitier. Upon arriving in Hollywood, he described being “treated like a king,” but also faced significant racism. Recounting one such experience, he said the drive to his hotel took four and a half hours because “the police stopped me and wanted to know who the hell I was.” He recalled being handcuffed to a tree for three hours for simply walking in Beverly Hills after 9 pm.