Louis Gossett Jr., the primary Black man to win a Supporting Actor Oscar, has died.

The actor’s nephew mentioned Gossett handed away Thursday evening in Santa Monica. No explanation for demise has been revealed.

Gossett had a celebrated profession, most noticeably incomes his groundbreaking Academy Award for 1982’s “An Officer and a Gentleman”… which he mentioned was an enormous affirmation of his place as a Black actor in his 2010 memoir, “An Actor and a Gentleman.”

The trophy had been a very long time coming. The NYC-born actor had been working laborious within the film biz, receiving vital approval for his 1964 function in Broadway’s “A Raisin within the Solar” and cementing his stage presence by changing Billy Daniels in “Golden Boy.”

His Hollywood break got here when he bagged an Emmy for his function within the 1977 TV sequence, “Roots.”

Louis additionally gained a Golden Globe for the 1991 TV film, “The Josephine Baker Story.’

He is additionally starred within the film, “Enemy Mine,” the TV sequence “Sadat” and for his function as Colonel Chappy Sinclair within the Iron Eagle movie sequence.

His final credit score got here within the function of Ol’ Mister within the 2023 remake of The Coloration Purple.

Gossett revealed in 2010 he had prostate most cancers, which was caught within the early levels.

He was married 3 occasions and is survived by sons Satie, from his second marriage, and Sharron, a chef he adopted after seeing him as a younger youngster on TV throughout a section on youngsters in determined conditions.

He was 87. RIP.