Legendary Actor and Oscar Pioneer Louis Gossett Jr. Dies

From Brooklyn Beginnings to Broadway

Born in New York City, Gossett showed an early gift for performance that would soon open unexpected doors. While still a student at Abraham Lincoln High School, he was cast in the Broadway production Take a Giant Step in 1953—his first professional role. Producers at the time had been searching high schools for a young Black lead, unable to find what they needed through traditional industry channels.

In a later interview, Gossett recalled the moment simply: they called his mother and asked her to bring him in. That invitation launched a lifelong career.

After studying at New York University, he returned to Broadway, earning recognition in productions such as The Desk Set. His transition to film came in 1961 with A Raisin in the Sun, where he appeared alongside Sidney Poitier in a performance that would later be preserved in the National Film Registry.

Choosing Art Over Everything Else

In the early 1960s, Gossett’s talents extended beyond acting. He sang professionally and excelled in athletics—so much so that he was invited to attend rookie training with the New York Knicks. But when playwright Lorraine Hansberry called with an offer to join A Raisin in the Sun, Gossett made a defining choice.

The acting job paid $700 per diem. He took it—and never returned to basketball.

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