Academy and Emmy Award -winning actor Louis Gossett Jr has been given the honour of starting this year's Long Distance Comet Race.The American has accepted an invitation to be a guest of race hosts West End Sailboat Club (WESC) and is looking forward to the big occasion.The race, to commence in St George's Harbour and conclude in the Great Sound, will be held June 18.“Mr Lou Gossett has agreed to be our guest and shall be on the water that day and at the club after the race to meet and greet the people of Bermuda,” confirmed WESC Commodore Emily Deshields.“He's actually coming here for another engagement. But someone affiliated with the club told him about the event and asked him if he wanted to attend, and he agreed. He's looking forward to it very much, and we are letting him start the race.“I think his involvement will help raise the profile of the regatta, which, of course, is one of our objectives. He will certainly spark interest from the older people.”In an acting career spanning five-decades, Mr Gossett is perhaps best known for his Academy Award -winning role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman as well as his Emmy Award-winning role as Fiddler in the 1977 ABC television miniseries Roots.Mr Gossett is the first African-American male to win an Oscar in a supporting role, second black male to win for acting and the third African-American actor to win overall.Other films he has starred include The Deep, which was filmed in Bermuda, Iron Eagle, Jaws 3-D and The Punisher to name a few.Mr Gossett, who celebrated his 76th birthday last month, began acting at age 17 in a school production and never looked back.Born in Brooklyn, New York, he attended Abraham Lincoln High School before moving on to New York University where he declined an athletic scholarship to play basketball in favour of theatre.Two years ago Mr Gossett was diagnosed with prostate cancer. But early detection of the disease has enhanced his chances of making a full recovery.Mrs Deshields, the first female commodore of WESC, said her club has gone to great lengths to ensure this year's Long Distance Race for the coveted Edward Cross Cup runs smoothly as planned.She added: “In actual fact we have been planning and meeting weekly for the last three months and are now honing in on the finer details.“This year we are hoping to have a few more features such as a fun castle, hot dog cart and cotton candy to name a few. We looking forward to a large turnout of spectators this year.”The Long Distance Race was first held in 1944.Late WESC sailor Kanute Lambert won the inaugural race while Rockal Evans was crowned champion last year.