Oscar-winning star Louis Gossett Jr., who won an Academy Award for his role in “An Officer and a Gentleman” has died, according to a statement from his family. He was 87.
“It is with our heartfelt regret to confirm our beloved father passed away this morning,” the statement from his family read, which was shared by Gossett’s longtime publicist, CNN reported.
“We would like to thank everyone for their condolences at this time,” the statement added. “Please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
On Friday, Gossett’s first cousin Neal L. Gossett told the Associated Press that the actor died in Santa Monica, California. However, a cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Gossett’s breakout role came when he landed the part of Fiddler in the 1977 TV mini-series “Roots.” The cast included LeVar Burton, John Amos, and Ben Vereen, the AP noted. The…
