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Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Actor, also producer and director · Died March 29, 2024, aged 87 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Oscar winner · Primetime Emmy winner · 2 Golden Globes · 1 other major award body

Louis Gossett Jr. (May 27, 1936 – March 29, 2024) was an American film and television actor, best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" and as Fiddler in the television miniseries "Roots". He won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards in an acting career that spanned over five decades.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 27, 1936
Died
March 29, 2024 (aged 87)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and director
Titles
117 on MovieCove · 182 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 2% in 30 days

What are Louis Gossett Jr.'s films like?

Across their 87 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama34 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 5th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
22%
Bonds
22%
Survival
15%
Self
14%
Society
12%
Power
12%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds25 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice21 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival20 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption8 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 84 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 21 · Serious 34 · Dark 29

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 68 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 15 · Charged 42 · Intense 27

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 37 · Shifting 43 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 55 · Some laughs 22 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 35 · Even-paced 44 · Relentless 5

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 43 · Engaged 40 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 24 · Affecting 34 · Heavy 26

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 70 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

76 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 34 of 76 analyzed roles.

Mentor
34 of 76
Hero
16 of 76
Ally
13 of 76
Threshold guardian
5 of 76
Shadow
4 of 76
Trickster
2 of 76
Shapeshifter
1 of 76
Herald
1 of 76
Show the 76 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
59
Hopeful
39
Melancholic
30
Warm
20
Thrilling
14
Other
62

How their films linger

Hopeful45 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy35
  • Bittersweet38
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous13

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Louis Gossett Jr.'s films?

As of October 24, 2026, 78 of their 117 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (42).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Louis Gossett Jr.'s titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

182 credits, 117 with a MovieCove page; 32 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Sin(2025)

    as Elijah

  • IF(2024)

    In Memory Of · as Lewis (voice)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Color Purple(2023)

    as Ol' Mister

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Outlaw Johnny Black(2023)

    as Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Three Months(2022)

    as Benny

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Not to Forget(2021)

    as Pastor John

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • I FORGIVE(2021)

    as God (voice)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Reason(2020)

    as Pastor Jim

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Cuban(2019)

    as Luis Garcia

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Miracle in East Texas(2019)

    as Irving Tanner Jr.

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Watchmen(2019)

    Show 7 episodes · as Old Man / Will Reeves

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Foster Boy(2019)

    as Judge George Taylor

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Supervized(2019)

    as Pendle

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Breaking Brooklyn(2018)

    as Miles Bryant

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Undercover Grandpa(2017)

    as Mother

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Good Fight(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Reddick

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Double Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Coco

  • King of the Dancehall(2016)

    as The Bishop

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Boiling Pot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Detective Haven

  • The Spoils Before Dying(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Duke Webster

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • The Book of Negroes(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Daddy Moses

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Laurent Vasseur

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Extant(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Quinn

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • The Dependables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Lou Jones

  • A Fighting Man(2014)

    as Cubby

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Miracle at Gate 213 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Roy Peddington

  • Breaking at the Edge(2013)

    as Floyd

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Smitty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Mr. Smith

  • The Undershepherd(2012)

    as Bishop Redford

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Dog Jack(2010)

    as Grown up Jed

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Grace Card(2010)

    as George Wright

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Lou's father

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Why Did I Get Married Too?(2010)

    as Porter

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · Executive Producer

  • The Perfect Game(2009)

    as Cool Papa Bell

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Racer(2009)

    as Max Donovan

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Least Among You(2009)

    as Samuel Benton

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Delgo(2008)

    as King Zahn (voice)

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Stories USA(2007)

    as Doc (segment "Club Soda")

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Cover(2007)

    as Detective Hicks

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Daddy's Little Girls(2007)

    as Willie

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Club Soda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Doc

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Lloyd Marr

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Solar Attack(2006)

    as President Ryan Gordon

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • All In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Caps

  • Left Behind III: World at War(2005)

    as President Geral Fitzhugh

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Lackawanna Blues(2005)

    as Ol'lem Taylor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Batman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lucius Fox (voice)

  • Jasper, Texas(2003)

    as R.C. Horn

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Momentum(2003)

    as Raymond Addison

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Half & Half(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ray Willis

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Dead Zone(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Pastor David Lewis

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Dr. Barnes

  • Deceived(2002)

    as Col. David Garrett

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • For Love of Olivia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Executive Producer · as Daniel Stewart

  • Dr. Lucille (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • The Color of Love: Jacey's Story(2000)

    Executive Producer · as Lou Hastings

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence(2000)

    Producer · as Frank

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Highwayman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Phil Bishop

  • Strange Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Vernon Jordan

  • Y2K(1999)

    as Morgan

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Love Songs(1999)

    Director · as Reuben

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Drill Sargent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Inspectors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Inspector Frank Hughes

  • Hercules(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Chiron (voice)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Legend of the Mummy(1998)

    as Corbeck

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Stargate SG-1(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · as Gerak

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • In His Father's Shoes(1997)

    Executive Producer · as Frank Crosby / Richard

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • To Dance with Olivia(1997)

    Executive Producer · as Daniel Stewart

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Early Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Matthews

  • Promised Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Anderson Walker

  • Inside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Executive Producer · as Questioner

  • Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story(1996)

    Producer · as Bob Kersee

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Captive Heart: The James Mink Story(1996)

    as James Mink

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Managua (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Paul

  • Iron Eagle on the Attack(1995)

    as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder(1995)

    as Ray Alexander

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Zooman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Rueben Tate

  • A Father for Charlie(1995)

    Executive Producer · as Walter Osgood

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Narrator

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Anderson Walker

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Leo Malcolm

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Flashfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Ben Durand

  • Curse of the Starving Class(1994)

    as Ellis

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • A Good Man in Africa(1994)

    as Prof. Sam Adekunle

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice(1994)

    Producer · as Ray Alexander

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ellen(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Timko

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Chips(1994)

    as Father Dawkins (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Return to Lonesome Dove(1993)

    Show 4 episodes · as Isom Pickett

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Monolith(1993)

    as Capt. MacCandless

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Father & Son: Dangerous Relations(1993)

    Producer · as Leonard Clay

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Reader (voice)

  • Picket Fences(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick Jennings

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Gridiron Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Host

  • Diggstown(1992)

    as "Honey" Roy Palmer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Aces: Iron Eagle III(1992)

    as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Keeper of the City(1991)

    as Det. James Dela

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Carolina Skeletons(1991)

    as James Bragg

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Toy Soldiers(1991)

    as Dean Parker

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Josephine Baker Story(1991)

    as Sidney Williams

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Cover-Up(1991)

    as Lou Jackson

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Captain Planet and the Planeteers(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Commander Clash (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Sudie and Simpson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Simpson

  • El Diablo(1990)

    as Van Leek

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Zora is My Name! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • The Punisher(1989)

    as Jake Berkowitz

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Gideon Oliver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Roots: The Gift(1988)

    as Fiddler

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Goodbye, Miss 4th of July(1988)

    as Big John Creed

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Iron Eagle II(1988)

    as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Sam Found Out: A Triple Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Sam

  • Straight Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Cosmo

  • The Father Clements Story(1987)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Principal(1987)

    as Jake Phillips

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • A Gathering of Old Men(1987)

    as Mathu

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Firewalker(1986)

    as Leo Porter

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Iron Eagle(1986)

    as Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Enemy Mine(1985)

    as Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Guardian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as John Mack

  • Finders Keepers(1984)

    as Century

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Sadat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 2 episodes · as Anwar al-Sadat

  • Jaws 3-D(1983)

    as Calvin Bouchard

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as narrator

  • The Powers of Matthew Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 22 episodes · Director · as Walter "Walt" Shepherd (D'Hai)

  • An Officer and a Gentleman(1982)

    as Sergeant Emil Foley

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Benny's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Benny Moore

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige(1981)

    as Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • It Rained All Night the Day I Left (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Leo Garcia

  • Palmerstown, U.S.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Lazarus Syndrome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Dr. MacArthur St. Clair

  • The Lazarus Syndrome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 10 episodes · as MacArthur St. Clair

  • Lawman Without a Gun(1978)

    as Tom Hayward

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Backstairs at the White House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as Levi Mercer, Houseman

  • The Critical List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lem Harper

  • To Kill a Cop(1978)

    as Everett Walker

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • To Kill a Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Everett Walker

  • Freeman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Rex

  • The Choirboys(1977)

    as Calvin Motts

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Deep(1977)

    as Henri Cloche

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Roots(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · as Fiddler

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Little Ladies of the Night(1977)

    as Russ Garfield

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • J.D.'s Revenge(1976)

    as Rev. Elija Bliss

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The River Niger(1976)

    as Dr. Dudley Stanton

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Delancey Street: The Crisis Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Otis James

  • The Jeffersons(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Black Bart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Black Bart

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Marcus Aurelius 'Gabby' Hayes · as Marcus Aurelius Hayes / O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Harry O (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Cleon Jackson

  • Little House on the Prairie(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Hill

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Petrocelli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as District Attorney Kurt Olson · as Kurt Olson, DA

  • The White Dawn(1974)

    as Portagee

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Sidekicks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jason O'Rourke

  • It's Good to Be Alive(1974)

    as Sam Brockington

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Good Times(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as O'Flaherty

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Laughing Policeman(1973)

    as Insp. James Larrimore SFPD

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Travels with My Aunt(1972)

    as Wordsworth

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Skin Game(1971)

    as Jason O'Rourke

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Carl Fellows

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Partridge Family(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Simon

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • The Young Rebels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 15 episodes · Actor

  • The Landlord(1970)

    as Copee Johnson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Freddy

  • The Bill Cosby Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Hurricane Smith

  • The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Karnes

  • The Bushbaby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Tembo

  • Companions in Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Lt. Adam McKay

  • The Mod Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Charley Jameson · as Lloyd · as Smitty

  • Cowboy in Africa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Fulah · as Joseph Hemera

  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Ollie

  • Daktari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Mkono

  • A Raisin in the Sun(1961)

    as George Murchison

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The New Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Mary's Brother

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Buck Walter

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Forget to Remember (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Unplugged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Amos Burton (voice)

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 182 titles, 180 of them dated from 1959 to 2025; peak year 1985.

Biggest box office

IF (2024)

$191M worldwide

Highest rated

A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Watchmen (2019)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19592025

Peak 1985 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 23 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting181 of 182: 172 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting2 of 182: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleProducing7 of 182: 1 only producing, 6 with another roleOther crew1 of 182: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

182 titles, 9 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s11 · acting1970s37 · acting1980s26 · 26 acting · 1 crew1990s46 · 46 acting · 5 crew2000s25 · 25 acting · 2 crew2010s24 · 23 acting · 1 crew2020s10 · 10 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 12% of 42 roles
617686910111

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

an Oscar, a Primetime Emmy and 2 Golden Globes from 13 major nominations, 1977–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  2. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
  3. 1997
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
  4. 1992
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  5. 1987
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
  6. 1984
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  7. 1983
    • Oscar, won · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture
  8. 1981
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Show 3 earlier years
  1. 1979
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
  2. 1978
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music
  3. 1977
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Louis Gossett Jr.'s films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of the 87 of 88 with a score; across their 84 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 84

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 84

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 84

Midcredits score across 116 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up29
  • 50th to 74th33
  • 25th to 49th28
  • Below 25th26

Shape of the crowd

45 of their 116 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned5
  • Divisive6
  • Cult Classic11
  • Crowd Pleaser37
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed45

Most divisive · actor

Miracle in East Texas (2019)

99th percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 70 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Louis Gossett Jr.'s work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles42–85 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles10–66 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles30–81 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles3–48 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles22–87 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Louis Gossett Jr. work with?

People who share at least 2 of Louis Gossett Jr.'s MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Dennis Considine shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles