Louis Gossett Jr.

LOUIS GOSSETT JR. is one of the most respected African American actors of stage, screen, and television. He made his Broadway debut at age seventeen in Take a Giant Step, winning the Donaldson Award as the year's best newcomer. His Emmy-winning 1977 performance in the landmark miniseries Roots made him a star, and in 1982 he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in An Officer and a Gentleman. In 2006 he started Eracism, a foundation dedicated to eradicating racism, violence, and ignorance and especially to creating programs to give children at risk a helping hand. He was heavily involved in campaigning for Barack Obama, especially raising money and involving other celebrities in the campaign.