Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr. moving to Atlanta

Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., who has warm memories spending childhood summers at his great uncle’s farm in Watkinsville, recently shot an episode of “Hap & Leonard” in Atlanta and a film in Augusta.

And he was cast earlier this year in HBO’s big-budget super hero TV series “Watchmen,” which is shooting in metro Atlanta as well and also stars Don Johnson, Regina King and Jeremy Irons.

Seeing how business is booming in Georgia courtesy of its generous film and TV tax credits, Gossett sold his home in Malibu and is now on the hunt to buy a sustainable farm in metro Atlanta.

“A new, more diverse world is here,” said Gossett Monday evening outside WSB Radio studios before joining host Mark Arum on his evening show on News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB. “My recent jobs gave me an incentive to come to Georgia and sell my home I had for 30 years.”

Earlier that day, Gossett — who won an Oscar in 1982 for his role in “An Officer and a Gentleman” — received the prestigious Phoenix Award from Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms at Atlanta City Hall. Former Atlanta mayor and U.N. ambassador Andrew Young showed up as well.

This wasn’t happenstance. When word got around he was considering a move to Atlanta, some of his friends in town decided to honor him. Monday became “Louis Gossett Jr. Day.”

The 81-year-old New York native said he used to hang out with Bottoms’ father Major Lance, a 1960s R&B singer. “Small world,” he mused.