Groundbreaking Oscar Winner Louis Gossett Jr. Dies At 87

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Special Guest Louis Gossett Jr. attends the screening of 'A Raisin in the Sun' at the 2019 TCM 10th Annual Classic Film Festival on April 13, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for TCM)

Actor Louis Gossett Jr. has died at the age of 87. Gossett broke barriers in Hollywood as the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar, winning in 1983 for An Officer and a Gentleman. He also won an Emmy in 1977 for the miniseries Roots. Gossett’s final film role was in last year’s remake of The Color Purple.

What was Gossett’s most memorable film role?