News

We are sad to report that legendary African-American actor Louis Gossett Jr. passed away on March 28, 2024 in Santa Monica, CA. He was 87 years old at the time of death, and was on his way to celebrate his 88th birthday in May this year. No official cause of death has been given, but Gosset has had health issues in the recent decade, being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010 and being hospitalized for Covid-19 during the pandemic. The news was confirmed by Gossett’s first cousin Neal L. Gossett.

A true acting legend, Louis Gossett Jr. was born in New York on May 27, 1936. His mother was a nurse, and his father was a porter. Although he was proficient in sports as well, after his stage debut at the age of 17, his teacher encouraged him to pursue an acting career. Although he obtained a sports scholarship at the NYU and was offered to play basketball,...

Feature films Dirty Pretty Things, Finding Nemo and Seabiscuit and TV series Joan of Arcadia and The Bernie Mac Show were among the top the finalists announced Wednesday for the 2004 Humanitas Prize. The Humanitas Prize, now in its 30th year, honors writers whose work "honestly explores the complexities of the human experience and sheds light on the positive values of life." In announcing the finalists Humanitas Prize president Frank Desiderio opined that the award has become "all the more important since television has taken a de-humanizing turn with some of the so-called reality shows." In the feature film category, which awards a $25,000 prize, the finalists are Steven Knight for Miramax's Dirty Pretty Things; Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds for the Pixar/Walt Disney Co.'s Finding Nemo; and Gary Ross for Universal's Seabiscuit. HBO leads the 90-minute TV category, which also carries a $25,000 prize. Finalists in that race are Tony Kushner for HBO's Angels in America; Sally Robinson and Eugenia Bostwick Singer & Raymond Singer and Jennifer Friedes for HBO's Iron Jawed Angels; and Jonathan Estrin for Showtime's Jasper, Texas.