Throughout his life, Gossett worked on more than 200 Hollywood projects, with 12 more still waiting to be released, according to IMDb. Sadly, he won’t be able to see these future works come to life.

On March 28, 2024, Gossett died in Santa Monica, California. NPR reported his passing, and a death certificate obtained by TMZ revealed that he suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which, along with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, led to his death. He had battled COPD for years, and it was announced that his remains would be cremated.

Before he became a Hollywood icon, Gossett began his acting career on the stage. He performed on Broadway alongside greats like Marilyn Monroe and Sidney Poitier, laying the foundation for his remarkable career in film and television.

When Gossett transitioned to Hollywood, he was greeted with respect but also faced brutal racism. He once shared a troubling story about being detained by the police for hours while trying to reach his hotel. “It should’ve taken 20 minutes,” he explained, “but it turned into a four-and-a-half-hour ordeal just because they didn’t believe I belonged.”

In another instance, Gossett recounted being handcuffed to a tree for three hours simply for being in Beverly Hills after 9 p.m. It was a stark reminder of the challenges he faced as a Black man in a predominantly white industry.

Despite these painful experiences, Gossett’s career flourished. However, he often reflected on how it might have been different if he were white. He compared his accomplishments to Clint Eastwood’s and spoke openly about overcoming personal struggles, much like Robert Downey Jr. “If I were white,” he once said, “I think my career would’ve looked a lot like Eastwood’s.”

Gossett also battled with drug and al