ALBAWABA - The first black man to win an Oscar for the best-supporting actor, Louis Gossett Jr., passes away at the age of 87.
The Brooklyn-born actor, who attended New York University and rose to fame as one of the most well-known black actors of his era, won an Emmy for "Roots" and an Academy Award for "An Officer and a Gentleman," both times portraying an older man guiding a younger actor taking on a new role, albeit under very different circumstances. The actor passed away early on Friday in Santa Monica, California. He was eighty-seven.
Gossett Jr. developed into a theatrical and cinematic talent spanning several generations throughout time. Throughout his career, he received eight nominations for Primetime Emmys for his appearances in "Roots. Ben Vereen: His Roots is presented by The Sentry Collection. "A Gathering of Old Men," "Backstairs at the White House," "Palmerstown, U.S.A.," "Sadat," "Touched by an Angel," and most recently in 2020 for the HBO limited series "Watchmen."
The Associated Press was informed by Gossett's first cousin, Neal L. Gossett, that the actor passed away in Santa Monica, California. According to a family statement, Gossett passed away on Friday morning. The cause of death remained a mystery.
Gossett's cousin recounted a man who was a terrific joker who strolled with Nelson Mandela; this relative dealt with racism head-on and did it with humor and dignity.
Never mind the lavish homes in Malibu and the Rolls-Royces; never mind the accolades. According to his cousin, it's all about the humanity of the individuals he stood for.
