NPR reports that Gossett died in Santa Monica, California, on March 28, 2024. A death certificate obtained by TMZ lists chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the primary cause of death, with heart failure and atrial fibrillation as contributing conditions. Gossett had battled COPD for many years, and his body is to be cremated.
Before making his mark on television and film, Gossett began his career on stage. He was a star on Broadway, sharing the stage with luminaries like Marilyn Monroe and Sidney Poitier.
Upon his arrival in Hollywood, Gossett described being “treated like a king,” but he also faced significant racism as a newcomer. Recounting one such experience, he said the drive to his hotel should have taken 20 minutes but ended up taking four and a half hours because “the police stopped me and wanted to know who the hell I was.” He further recalled being handcuffed to a tree for three hours for simply walking in Beverly Hills after 9 pm.
