Louis Gossett Jr, First Black Man To Win An Oscar, Dies At 87 [Video]

In a shocking turn of events, Louis Gossett Jr, first Black man to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’, died at the age of 87. Gossett Jr’s family statement read, “With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our dear father this morning. We appreciate the outpouring of sympathy during this challenging time and ask for privacy as we mourn.”

Born in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, Louis Gossett Jr made his stage debut at 17 and soon landed roles in Broadway plays like Take a Giant Step. Gossett gained fame for his performances in plays such as ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ and ‘The Blacks’. In 1977, he starred in Roots, winning an Emmy. Gossett’s success continued with an Academy Award for his role in An Officer and a Gentleman. He’s known for his work in films, TV shows like ‘Touched by an …