"Vanishing Point" isn't exactly a mainstream classic, but for a portion of moviegoers who like to see cars go fast and people do drugs, it's pretty much unmissable. Based on that description alone, it makes sense that the cult film's audience grew when it was directly referenced in Quentin Tarantino's 2007 road slasher film "Death Proof." Other directors who are major fans of the film include Edgar Wright and Steven Spielberg, who once told Entertainment Weekly it was one of his favorite movies.
The 1971 film didn't feature many stars, but did include a handful of actors who would become famous for other projects in the years following the film. Cleavon Little, who played radio DJ Super Soul in the film, went on to star in Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" three years later, while actress Charlotte Rampling, who was Oscar nominated for her work in "45 Years" in 2016, apparently appeared as...
The 1971 film didn't feature many stars, but did include a handful of actors who would become famous for other projects in the years following the film. Cleavon Little, who played radio DJ Super Soul in the film, went on to star in Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" three years later, while actress Charlotte Rampling, who was Oscar nominated for her work in "45 Years" in 2016, apparently appeared as...
- 5/15/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Exclusive: NBC’s Suits: L.A. drama pilot will feature guest appearances by John Amos, Victoria Justice and Kevin Weisman (Alias). The project is an expansion of the Suits universe from Aaron Korsh.
Suits L.A. centers on Ted Black (Stephen Amell), a former federal prosecutor from New York, who has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles after joining forces with his old buddy Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt) to build Black Lane Law, which specializes in criminal and entertainment law.
The firm is at a crisis point and to survive Ted must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. He is surrounded by a group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives. All of this is going on while events from years ago slowly unravel,...
Suits L.A. centers on Ted Black (Stephen Amell), a former federal prosecutor from New York, who has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles after joining forces with his old buddy Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt) to build Black Lane Law, which specializes in criminal and entertainment law.
The firm is at a crisis point and to survive Ted must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. He is surrounded by a group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives. All of this is going on while events from years ago slowly unravel,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
American actor best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman
The actor Lou Gossett Jr, who has died aged 87, is best known for his performance in An Officer and A Gentleman (1982) as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, whose tough training transforms recruit Richard Gere into the man of the film’s title. He was the first black winner of an Academy Award for best supporting actor, and only the third black actor (after Hattie McDaniel and Sidney Poitier) to take home any Oscar.
The director, Taylor Hackford, said he cast Gossett in a role written for a white actor, following a familiar Hollywood trope played by John Wayne, Burt Lancaster, Victor McLaglen or R Lee Ermey, because while researching he realised the tension of “black enlisted men having make-or-break control over whether white college graduates would become officers”. Gossett had already...
The actor Lou Gossett Jr, who has died aged 87, is best known for his performance in An Officer and A Gentleman (1982) as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, whose tough training transforms recruit Richard Gere into the man of the film’s title. He was the first black winner of an Academy Award for best supporting actor, and only the third black actor (after Hattie McDaniel and Sidney Poitier) to take home any Oscar.
The director, Taylor Hackford, said he cast Gossett in a role written for a white actor, following a familiar Hollywood trope played by John Wayne, Burt Lancaster, Victor McLaglen or R Lee Ermey, because while researching he realised the tension of “black enlisted men having make-or-break control over whether white college graduates would become officers”. Gossett had already...
- 4/1/2024
- by Michael Carlson
- The Guardian - Film News
Louis Gossett Jr., the esteemed actor known for his remarkable performances in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman and the groundbreaking miniseries Roots, has died at the age of 87, according to a statement released by his family.
Gossett made history in 1983 when he became the first black man to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a tough drill instructor in An Officer and a Gentleman, opposite Richard Gere.
In a statement, Gere remembered, “Lou was a sweetheart. He took his job very seriously. He did his research. He stayed in character the whole time…He was the drill sergeant 24 hours a day, and it showed clearly in his performance. He drove every scene he was in. A tough guy with a heart of gold.”
Prior to his Oscar-winning performance, Gossett captivated audiences in the miniseries adaptation of Alex Haley’s Roots, where he portrayed Fiddler,...
Gossett made history in 1983 when he became the first black man to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a tough drill instructor in An Officer and a Gentleman, opposite Richard Gere.
In a statement, Gere remembered, “Lou was a sweetheart. He took his job very seriously. He did his research. He stayed in character the whole time…He was the drill sergeant 24 hours a day, and it showed clearly in his performance. He drove every scene he was in. A tough guy with a heart of gold.”
Prior to his Oscar-winning performance, Gossett captivated audiences in the miniseries adaptation of Alex Haley’s Roots, where he portrayed Fiddler,...
- 3/29/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Louis Gossett Jr., best known for his acclaimed roles in An Officer and a Gentleman and Roots, has died at 87 years old. He was the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Gossett’s first cousin Neal L. Gossett revealed to The Associated Press that the actor died on Thursday night (March 28th) in Santa Monica. No cause of death was given, but Gossett announced that he had prostate cancer in 2010.
Born May 27th, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, Gossett Jr. began acting in high school and debuted on Broadway when he was just 17 years old. In 1959, he played the role of George Murchison in A Raisin in the Sun, making his feature film debut a few years later in the movie adaptation of the play.
After returning to New York City and becoming a Broadway star, Gossett Jr. landed a breakout TV role in the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots.
Gossett’s first cousin Neal L. Gossett revealed to The Associated Press that the actor died on Thursday night (March 28th) in Santa Monica. No cause of death was given, but Gossett announced that he had prostate cancer in 2010.
Born May 27th, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, Gossett Jr. began acting in high school and debuted on Broadway when he was just 17 years old. In 1959, he played the role of George Murchison in A Raisin in the Sun, making his feature film debut a few years later in the movie adaptation of the play.
After returning to New York City and becoming a Broadway star, Gossett Jr. landed a breakout TV role in the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots.
- 3/29/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Film News
Few actors could hold your attention like Louis Gossett Jr. He exploded to fame in the landmark 1977 miniseries “Roots” as Fiddler, a slave who helps teach Kunta Kinte. Gossett’s pinnacle came just five years later, when he became the first Black actor to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “An Officer and a Gentleman.” More recently, he played a pivotal role in the 2019 HBO “Watchmen” series.
If you’d like to relive the greatest roles of this outstanding actor, we’ve compiled some of his best works and where to stream them.
The Best of Louis Gossett Jr. Roots January 23, 1977
The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley’s ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia,...
If you’d like to relive the greatest roles of this outstanding actor, we’ve compiled some of his best works and where to stream them.
The Best of Louis Gossett Jr. Roots January 23, 1977
The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley’s ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia,...
- 3/29/2024
- by Ben Bowman
- The Streamable
Louis Gossett Jr., the tough guy with a sensitive side who won an Oscar for his portrayal of a steely sergeant in An Officer and a Gentleman and an Emmy for his performance as a compassionate slave in the landmark miniseries Roots, has died. He was 87.
Gossett’s nephew told the Associated Press that the actor died Thursday night in Santa Monica. The cause of death is unknown, but Gossett announced in 2010 that he had prostate cancer.
With his sleek, bald pate and athlete’s physique, Gossett was intimidating in a wide array of no-nonsense roles, most notably in Taylor Hackford’s Officer and a Gentleman (1982), where as Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley he rides Richard Gere’s character mercilessly (but for his own good) at an officer candidate school and gets into a memorable martial arts fight.
He was the second Black man to win an acting Oscar, following Sidney Poitier in 1964.
For the role,...
Gossett’s nephew told the Associated Press that the actor died Thursday night in Santa Monica. The cause of death is unknown, but Gossett announced in 2010 that he had prostate cancer.
With his sleek, bald pate and athlete’s physique, Gossett was intimidating in a wide array of no-nonsense roles, most notably in Taylor Hackford’s Officer and a Gentleman (1982), where as Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley he rides Richard Gere’s character mercilessly (but for his own good) at an officer candidate school and gets into a memorable martial arts fight.
He was the second Black man to win an acting Oscar, following Sidney Poitier in 1964.
For the role,...
- 3/29/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ahead of the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, the Television Academy has compiled a list of the 75 Most Impactful TV Moments.
In collaboration with a group of academic professionals, the Television Academy scoured eight decades on television in search of the moments that have made the most impact on viewers, the industry and culture.
Chosen were classic moments (from the late 1940s until the 2020s) of TV’s most beloved programs, as well as news events that brought the U.S. and the world together to watch them in real time. Many of the selected televised events influenced politics and shifted the common wisdom about race, Lgtbq+ representation and more.
At the top of the list is the Apollo 11 moon landing, followed by coverage of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade center and the Beatles’ 1964 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
You can read the entire list here and watch a video compilation above.
In collaboration with a group of academic professionals, the Television Academy scoured eight decades on television in search of the moments that have made the most impact on viewers, the industry and culture.
Chosen were classic moments (from the late 1940s until the 2020s) of TV’s most beloved programs, as well as news events that brought the U.S. and the world together to watch them in real time. Many of the selected televised events influenced politics and shifted the common wisdom about race, Lgtbq+ representation and more.
At the top of the list is the Apollo 11 moon landing, followed by coverage of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade center and the Beatles’ 1964 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
You can read the entire list here and watch a video compilation above.
- 1/12/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
When Star Trek returned to television screens after two decades in 1987, it looked very different from its predecessor. Gone were James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Bones, most of whom planned to return in the original sequel series Star Trek: Phase II. In their place stood a bald Shakespearean actor, the breakout star of the television miniseries Roots, and a member of Muppet creator Jim Henson’s team.
From those unlikely beginnings, Star Trek: The Next Generation grew to match and, for some, exceed the original series. Much of that success came from the cast, who had a far easier camaraderie than their predecessors and, some might argue, a more impressive resume. Before and after Trek, these actors became beloved figures in genre cinema and television, proving that they are even more than the crew who boldly went where no one had gone before.
Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier...
From those unlikely beginnings, Star Trek: The Next Generation grew to match and, for some, exceed the original series. Much of that success came from the cast, who had a far easier camaraderie than their predecessors and, some might argue, a more impressive resume. Before and after Trek, these actors became beloved figures in genre cinema and television, proving that they are even more than the crew who boldly went where no one had gone before.
Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier...
- 12/6/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
In July, TV legend John Amos’ 53-year-old son, K.C., ended up in a New Jersey jail after his 57-year-old daughter, Shannon, claimed that K.C. had sent her “terroristic” threats over text message that made her believe that her life was in danger, according to a police report. These included a photo of a rifle with a caption explaining that it “can clean a turkey out from 3 football fields away.”
It was the latest in a series of sensational, headline-grabbing episodes involving the siblings this year. They’ve been locked in a bitter dispute over their father’s care, with accusations of elder abuse slung in each direction. Yet behind the scenes, The Hollywood Reporter has learned through discussions with all three Amoses that the situation is both more and less than it seems.
The painful saga goes back decades and provides an unsettling X-ray on the family life...
It was the latest in a series of sensational, headline-grabbing episodes involving the siblings this year. They’ve been locked in a bitter dispute over their father’s care, with accusations of elder abuse slung in each direction. Yet behind the scenes, The Hollywood Reporter has learned through discussions with all three Amoses that the situation is both more and less than it seems.
The painful saga goes back decades and provides an unsettling X-ray on the family life...
- 11/10/2023
- by Gary Baum
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The game show "Jeopardy" may have bungled its chance to have LeVar Burton take over as host, but at least we'll get to see him again as Geordi La Forge in "Star Trek: Picard" season 3. It's been over 20 years since Burton last appeared in live-action as Geordi, with the 2002 film "Star Trek: Nemesis" having served as the previous swan song for him and the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" crew. That leaves a lot of undocumented time and backstory to fill in for Geordi, who appeared as the captain of his own ship in the "Star Trek: Voyager" episode "Timeless".
We know from pre-release interviews and trailers that Geordi is a family man now, having finally found a healthy relationship and raised two daughters. One of them is a helm officer aboard the USS Titan in "Picard" season 3, and the other is an ensign played by Burton's real-life daughter, Mica Burton.
We know from pre-release interviews and trailers that Geordi is a family man now, having finally found a healthy relationship and raised two daughters. One of them is a helm officer aboard the USS Titan in "Picard" season 3, and the other is an ensign played by Burton's real-life daughter, Mica Burton.
- 2/13/2023
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Viola Davis, Tyler Perry, Justin Timberlake and Questlove were among the Hollywood notables sharing reactions on social media about Tyre Nichols, who died earlier this month following an altercation with Memphis Police Department officers during a traffic stop in Tennessee.
Body camera and surveillance video of the Jan. 7 stop was released Friday, showing the beating that led to the 29-year-old’s hospitalization and death from his injuries. Included in the footage is Nichols telling the officers, “I’m just trying to get home,” and also screaming for his mother. On Thursday, the five police officers, who had been fired, were charged with murder.
Perry took to Instagram to share a photo of Nichols and describe his own conflicted feelings about whether to watch the footage of the incident. “Many people can’t imagine it happening to them because honestly, it never will,” he wrote about himself initially wanting to avoid the video.
Body camera and surveillance video of the Jan. 7 stop was released Friday, showing the beating that led to the 29-year-old’s hospitalization and death from his injuries. Included in the footage is Nichols telling the officers, “I’m just trying to get home,” and also screaming for his mother. On Thursday, the five police officers, who had been fired, were charged with murder.
Perry took to Instagram to share a photo of Nichols and describe his own conflicted feelings about whether to watch the footage of the incident. “Many people can’t imagine it happening to them because honestly, it never will,” he wrote about himself initially wanting to avoid the video.
- 1/28/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Best Man: The Final Chapters brought the laughs (and many tears) as its core group adjusted to the curveballs thrown their way.
In the eighth and final episode of Peacock’s limited series, the beloved ensemble learned that the key to healing and moving forward was to finally let go of the past. For Lance, that meant accepting that while his life might not have turned out how he planned, he could still build a different and hopeful future with his family.
More from TVLineDays of Our Lives Honors John Aniston in Victor Kiriakis' Final EpisodeCommunity: The Movie: Dan Harmon...
In the eighth and final episode of Peacock’s limited series, the beloved ensemble learned that the key to healing and moving forward was to finally let go of the past. For Lance, that meant accepting that while his life might not have turned out how he planned, he could still build a different and hopeful future with his family.
More from TVLineDays of Our Lives Honors John Aniston in Victor Kiriakis' Final EpisodeCommunity: The Movie: Dan Harmon...
- 12/28/2022
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
Variety will celebrate achievements in executive leadership, creative storytelling and franchise building of entertainment that connects with fans of all ages on Dec. 8 for the Variety Family Entertainment Awards sponsored by Kidoodle.tv.
Pete Docter
Chief Operating Officer, Pixar Animation Studios
Leadership Award
Docter is one of Pixar’s most important team members, having applied his talents to films including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Up,” “Inside Out” and “Soul,” among others. He’s worked as an animator, screenwriter, voice actor, producer and director, and currently serves as chief creative officer. Keeping the entertainment landscape fertile with family-friendly offerings is one of his highest priorities. “Though there’s more to watch than ever in history, it feels like there is less and less that everybody can enjoy together. Shows are either too violent for kids, too insipid for parents or not emotionally engaging for all audience members. It’s really hard to do all that,...
Pete Docter
Chief Operating Officer, Pixar Animation Studios
Leadership Award
Docter is one of Pixar’s most important team members, having applied his talents to films including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Up,” “Inside Out” and “Soul,” among others. He’s worked as an animator, screenwriter, voice actor, producer and director, and currently serves as chief creative officer. Keeping the entertainment landscape fertile with family-friendly offerings is one of his highest priorities. “Though there’s more to watch than ever in history, it feels like there is less and less that everybody can enjoy together. Shows are either too violent for kids, too insipid for parents or not emotionally engaging for all audience members. It’s really hard to do all that,...
- 12/7/2022
- by Nick Clement
- Variety Film + TV
It’s been quite a few years since the heyday of TV miniseries in the ’70s and ’80s, but their legacies continue even now. Whether it’s the harrowing dramatization of Alex Haley’s family line in Roots, starting with Kunta Kinte’s (LeVar Burton) enslavement and reaching into the future with his descendants’ liberation, or the gripping and forbidden love story unfolding between Richard Chamberlain‘s Father Ralph and Rachel Ward’s Meggie Cleary in The Thorn Birds, there’s something for everyone. But with all the years gone by, how well do you really remember these titles and the details about them? Well, we’re giving you the chance to test your knowledge! Below, scroll through the ultimate trivia quiz that will determine your level of expertise when it comes to knowing classic TV miniseries of the ’70s and ’80s. Plus, sound off in the comment section to...
- 10/15/2022
- TV Insider
Sounds like the joke might have been on Danica Patrick at Wednesday night’s Espy Awards show.
Former IndyCar Series and Nascar driver Patrick, who’s hosting this year’s event, took to the stage to kick off the show with a barrage of jokes in her opening monologue.
Unfortunately for Patrick, most people on Twitter laughed at Patrick’s awkward delivery rather than at her jokes.
Also Read: Tom Brady, LeBron James Lead 2018 Espys Nominations
During the monologue, Patrick made light of baseball player Jose Altuve’s height; Odell Beckham Jr.’s hair; and newly minted Los Angeles Laker LeBron James’ lack of hair (“And now LeBron is the newest Los Angeles transplant. ‘Los Angeles transplant’ is also what he Googles when he needs new hair”).
Reaction to Patrick’s comedic efforts were largely brutal on social media.
“Danica Patrick trying to roast LeBron at the Espys…gets awkward silence from the crowd…...
Former IndyCar Series and Nascar driver Patrick, who’s hosting this year’s event, took to the stage to kick off the show with a barrage of jokes in her opening monologue.
Unfortunately for Patrick, most people on Twitter laughed at Patrick’s awkward delivery rather than at her jokes.
Also Read: Tom Brady, LeBron James Lead 2018 Espys Nominations
During the monologue, Patrick made light of baseball player Jose Altuve’s height; Odell Beckham Jr.’s hair; and newly minted Los Angeles Laker LeBron James’ lack of hair (“And now LeBron is the newest Los Angeles transplant. ‘Los Angeles transplant’ is also what he Googles when he needs new hair”).
Reaction to Patrick’s comedic efforts were largely brutal on social media.
“Danica Patrick trying to roast LeBron at the Espys…gets awkward silence from the crowd…...
- 7/19/2018
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
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