What the absolute hell happened to this talented actor? The man gives a legendary performance in "An Officer and a Gentleman", the best, non R. Lee Ermey drill seargent ever in cinema, and follows it up with movies that would sink anyone's career, "Jaws 3D" and the infamous "Enemy Mine". Mr. Gossett wins an Oscar, has any number of scripts to look at and picks "Jaws 3D", which, okay, I kinda get this. It was a sequel to the mega-hit "Jaws", Dennis Quaid also agreed to do it...you know, he just didn't know the movie was going to suck as bad as it did. But "Enemy Mine"...that is unforgiveable.

Here is how this was piched to him, I'm sure.

Movie Producer: "Okay, we have got a great role for you...we want you to play a sexually ambiguous alien who teaches Dennis Quaid about life on your planet before you have a baby and die."

LGJ: "Sounds great...anything else I should know."

Movie Producer: "Yes we need you to gargle all of your lines in the movie, like you have saltwater in your mouth."

LGJ: "That's great, where do I sign?"

You don't sign, Louis, you don't. Because that movie sealed his fate as an also-ran and he NEVER had a good role again.

Follow ups to Enemy Mine:Firewalker,El Diablo, The "Iron Eagle" trilogy, Flashfire, Monolith,and, coming soon, Delgo and Solar Strike.

At least he is still working and his house is probably 10 times bigger than mine so I won't feel too sorry for him. But he just could have done so much more quality work based on his performance in "An Officer and a Gentleman."

(Note: Mr. Gossett has been acting since the age of 17, according to IMBD, and did have several prestigious roles before "Officer and a Gentleman", including a role in the excellent "Roots")


The Sublime



The Ridiculous

I remember him in those iron eagle films. No. 2 was stupid. Yet another USA VS Russia thang but they have to work together. Sign of the times so at least it does have some historical value.

He makes good speeches.

Mr. Gossett has just called. He told me that being mentioned as a GottaLetitgo hero is 10 times more embarrassing than appearing in Enemy Mine. Excuse me, dude, I was just trying to get you some pub.

Seriously, I love how he gave Richard Gere the business in Officer.

"I ain't got no place else to go."(Gere as he is being physically berated by Gossett to drop out.)

And the fight between the two where Gossett kicks Gere's ass...classic.

Love that movie!

There are 100 more lines that are quotable in the film but the most quotable line in "Enemy Mine" goes something like:

"Glak, bloggle glook, moggle gloogle, human."

yay....your threads are back.

I used to watch Captain Planet all the time and I didn't even know he was a voice on there. He was Commander Clash.