The veteran actor with more than 100 film and television credits combined died on Aug. 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes.
John Amos, best known for his starring roles in “Good Times” and “Roots,” has died at the age of 84.
Amos died on Aug. 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes, his publicist, Belinda Foster,
confirmed on Oct. 1.
In a
statement to the Hollywood Reporter, his son, Kelly Christopher Amos (K.C.), expressed his “heartfelt sadness” but remembered the legacy his father left behind.
“He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold ... and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor,” he
wrote.
John Amos, a TV writer turned Emmy-nominated actor, played James Evans Sr. on “Good Times,” which featured one of television’s first Black two-parent families.
The CBS sitcom ran for six seasons from 1974 to 1979, but Amos’s character was killed off after the actor was fired after three seasons for voicing his displeasure with the writing direction of the show.
Amos also got an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Toby, the older version of Kunta Kinte, on the acclaimed 1977 ABC miniseries “Roots.”
Both shows received critical acclaim and skyrocketing ratings, with “Roots” drawing more than 130 million viewers across the nation. The series won nine Emmys, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody Award.
Early Career
Born on Dec. 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, Amos earned a sociology degree from Colorado State University, where he also played football.In 1967, he was offered a free-agent contract and suited up for the NFL off-season with the Kansas City Chiefs, before ultimately pursuing his passion for writing.
Amos held jobs in advertising and as a comedy writer before moving to showbiz after landing a gig to play WJN-TV weatherman Gordy Howard on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
He also frequently appeared on “The Tim Conway Comedy Hour” in 1970 and had other television stints before he rose to prominence on “Good Times.”
Amos also had guest appearances in “The West Wing,” “Two and a Half Men,” “All About the Andersons,” and “The Ranch,” with his final TV role being in the forthcoming series “Suits LA,” which is
set to debut in 2025.
His career on the big screen was propelled by his breakout role in the 1971 thriller “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” and his role as the manager of a fast-food restaurant in “Coming to America” with Eddie Murphy.
He holds a wide array of other film
credits including “The World’s Greatest Athlete,” “The Beastmaster,” “Die Hard 2,” ”The Players Club,” and “Coming to America 2,” among many others.
Outside of TV and film, Amos appeared
on Broadway in “Tough to Get Help,” directed by Carl Reiner, and “Gem of the Ocean.” He also produced and starred in a one-man play, titled “Halley’s Comet.”
In 2020, Amos was
inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, notably in part for his service with the 50th Armored Division of the New Jersey National Guard and as honorary master chief of the U.S. Coast Guard.
In addition to his son, K.C., a Grammy-nominated video music director and editor, Amos is survived by his daughter, Shannon Amos, a former entertainment executive.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
