Louis Gossett Jr. won an Oscar as a supporting actor for his role as Richard Gere's tough instructor in 1982's Challenge of Destiny.
He was the first African-American to win an Academy Award for that role. He also won an Emmy for playing the violinist in the famous miniseries Roots. His family announced his death in a statement, writing: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that our beloved father passed away this morning. Please respect the family's privacy during this difficult time"