A charismatic black actor with a flair for projecting quiet authority, Louis Gossett Jr has scored well personally in a string of diverse and challenging stage, film and TV roles. Sidelined by a sports injury in high school, Gossett decided to try acting at the suggestion of one of his teachers. Success in a school production led to a Broadway audition for "Take a Giant Step" (1953), where, the 16-year-old Gossett beat out 400 other aspiring actors and landed the lead. His acting career soon flourished with parts on TV and a return to Broadway supporting Shirley Booth in "The Desk Set" (1955),
