Louis Gossett Jr., First Black Man to Win Supporting Actor Oscar, Dies at 87

Louis Gossett Jr. in 2018.
Photographer: Rob Latour/Variety/Penske Media/Getty Images

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By Associated Press

March 29, 2024 at 12:57 PM UTC

Updated on

March 29, 2024 at 8:23 PM UTC

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots,” has died. He was 87.

Gossett's first cousin Neal L. Gossett told The Associated Press that the actor died in Santa Monica, California. A statement from the family said Gossett died Friday morning. No cause of death was revealed.