Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., who broke barriers in Hollywood when he became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for best supporting actor, has died at age 87. Gossett's cousin, Neal L. Gossett, first reported to the Associated Press that the actor had died in Santa, Monica, Calif. The AP reported that no cause of death has been revealed yet.
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE Friday, Gossett's family said, "It is with our heartfelt regret to confirm our beloved father passed away this morning. We would like to thank everyone for their condolences at this time. Please respect the family's privacy during this difficult time."
