Actor Louis Gossett Jr., Oscar winner for 'An Officer and a Gentleman', dies at 87. The New Yorker played the intimidating marine instructor who made life impossible for Richard Gere's character.

He was also very popular for the Steel Eagle war film franchise. The actor's death has been confirmed by his nephew to the TMZ news portal and later verified by his family in a statement collected by CNN. “We are with all our hearts sorry to confirm that our beloved father passed away this morning,” the actor's family said, but has not reported the cause of death.