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Louis Gossett Jr.

Although he was picked to play for the New York Knicks, Louis Gossett Jr. decided instead to pursue an acting career, making his Broadway debut in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun in 1959. In 1983, he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in An Officer and a Gentleman. Gossett has also had great success on television, earning an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe.

Born Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. on May 27, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York. He began acting in high school after being sidelined with a sports injury and attended New York University where he was a star basketball player. Though he was picked to play for the New York Knicks, he decided instead to pursue an acting career, making his Broadway debut in Lorraine Hansberry's acclaimed A Raisin in the Sun in 1959.

Gossett continued to nurture his stage career, gaining notice for his eloquence and quiet authority. He parlayed this success onto the big screen; notable films include The Deep, Enemy Mine and The Punisher. In 1983, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman.

Gossett has also had great success on television, earning an Emmy Award for his role in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots in 1977. He also took the title role in the critically acclaimed biography Sadat. In 1991, he won a Golden Globe for his work in HBO's The Josephine Baker Story.