Whenever there's a story where African-Americans have made history, nine times out of ten those characters have been played by Caucasian actors. A god of mine, the late George C. Scott, got an Oscar by playing PATTON. And I had three uncles in the tank battalion that Patton commandeered. And they cut a swatch to Berlin and rescued the Jews from Buchenwald, Auschwitz and Dachau. Those were Patton's men. So I'm watching PATTON. There's only one African-American actor. And he's playing Patton's valet. 
-- Lou Gossett
Lou Gossett Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York and stayed true to his New York roots all the way through college. In 1954, he attended New York University on a basketball scholarship. At 6'4", Gossett's talent drew the attention of the New York Knicks. The team offered him a contract after graduation and he played with them briefly in 1958.
After leaving the Knicks, Lou made a dramatic professional change and focused on acting. In 1961, he made his debut in Sidney Poitier's A Raisin in the
Sun. 1977 brought Gossett an Emmy for his role as Fiddler in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1983 for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman. This role also brought him an Image Award and a Golden Globe.
Gossett's talents extend beyond the hardwood and silver screen. He has spent time on Broadway starring in A Raisin in the Sun, Golden Boy and most recently Chicago.
After leaving the Knicks, Lou made a dramatic professional change and focused on acting. In 1961, he made his debut in Sidney Poitier's A Raisin in the
Sun. 1977 brought Gossett an Emmy for his role as Fiddler in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1983 for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman. This role also brought him an Image Award and a Golden Globe.
Gossett's talents extend beyond the hardwood and silver screen. He has spent time on Broadway starring in A Raisin in the Sun, Golden Boy and most recently Chicago.
