John Amos

John Allen Amos Jr. was born in Newark, New Jersey on December 27, 1939. He was the son of John A. Amos Sr., an auto mechanic, and Annabelle Amos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/john-amos-iconic-screen-actor-from-good-times-to-roots-to-the-west-wing-dies-at-84|title=John Amos, iconic screen actor from 'Good Times' to 'Roots' to 'The West Wing,' dies at 84|date=October 1, 2024|website=PBS News}}{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/john-amos-life-in-photos-8721455|title=John Amos' Life in Photos|website=People.com|last=Sengwe |first=Stephanie|date=October 1, 2024}} Amos grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, and graduated from East Orange High School in 1958.{{cite web |author=Patrick Lombardi |url=https://bestofnj.com/black-history-nj-john-amos |title=Black History NJ: John Amos − Best of NJ: NJ Lifestyle Guides, Features, Events, and More |publisher=Best of NJ|date= December 9, 2016|access-date=March 20, 2017 |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329224108/https://bestofnj.com/black-history-nj-john-amos |url-status=dead }} He attended Long Beach Community College{{cite web|title=Pro-Football archives - John Amos |url= https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/a/amos00600.html |work= profootballarchives.com|access-date= October 3, 2024}} and graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in sociology; he played for both schools' football teams.

Amos worked as a social worker in New York City.

In 1964, Amos signed a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos (AFL 1964).{{cite web|title= John Amos: Biography|url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/john-amos/bio/3000200604/ |publisher=TV Guide|access-date= October 3, 2024}} Unable to run the 40-yard dash because of a pulled hamstring, he was released on the second day of training camp.{{Cite web|title=Chiefs Kingdom: John Amos|url=https://www.chiefs.com/video/chiefs-kingdom-john-amos-12067514|access-date=March 31, 2021|publisher=Kansas City Chiefs}} He played for various teams during his career, the Canton Bulldogs (UFL 1964), Joliet Chargers (UFL 1964), Norfolk Neptunes (COFL 1965), Wheeling Ironmen (COFL 1965), Jersey City Jets (ACFL 1966), Waterbury Orbits (ACFL 1966), and the Victoria Steelers (COFL 1967). In 1967, Amos signed a free agent contract with the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs (AFL 1967). Coach Hank Stram told him, "You're not a football player, you're a man who is trying to play football."{{Cite web |last=Rovell |first=Darren |date=March 3, 2021|title=The Football Story of 'Coming 2 America' Star John Amos |url=https://www.actionnetwork.com/news/football-story-coming-2-america-john-amos-cut |website=Action Network |access-date=March 31, 2021}}

File:Good Times the Evans family 1974.JPG (1974), L–R: Ralph Carter, BernNadette Stanis, Jimmie Walker, Esther Rolle, and Amos]]

Amos became first known in 1971 when he appeared with Anson Williams in a commercial for McDonald's. That same year, he had a small part in the cult film Vanishing Point, playing a radio engineer alongside Cleavon Little.{{cite web|title= John Amos Credits|url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/john-amos/credits/3000200604/ |publisher=TV Guide|access-date= October 3, 2024}}

Amos' first major TV role was as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, from 1970 until 1973. After the death of Betty White in 2021, Amos and Joyce Bulifant (who played Marie Slaughter) were the last surviving cast members of the show, excluding child actors.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Amos is best known for his portrayal of James Evans Sr., the husband of Florida Evans, on the American sitcom Good Times (1974–1976). He had previously appeared in the same role three times on the sitcom Maude before continuing it in 61 episodes of Good Times.{{Cite magazine|title=John Amos Looks Back on 50 Years in Hollywood |url= https://time.com/5944257/john-amos-coming-2-america/|first= Andrew R. |last=Chow|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=September 15, 2021|magazine=Time|language=en}} Although cast as a hardworking middle-aged father of three, Amos was 34 when the show began production in January 1974; he was only eight years older than the actor who played his oldest son, Jimmie Walker, and 19 years younger than his screen wife, Esther Rolle. Like Rolle, Amos wanted to portray a positive image of an African-American family struggling against the odds in a poor neighborhood, but he expressed dissatisfaction after he saw the premise slighted by a lower level of comedy on Good Times.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/john-amos-dead-65a1d2dc84175bb5d4c579901af7164f |title=John Amos, patriarch on 'Good Times' and an Emmy nominee for the blockbuster 'Roots,' dies at 84 |first=Beth |last=Harris |publisher=Associated Press |date=October 1, 2024|access-date=October 2, 2024}}

During his tenure on the sitcom, Amos openly clashed with the writers of the show, pointing to the scripts' lack of authenticity in portraying the African-American experience. He notably criticized what he felt was too much of an emphasis on Jimmie Walker's character J.J. and a lesser regard for the other two Evans children. He also criticized J.J.'s stereotypical buffoonish personality.{{cite book|last=Fearn-Banks|first=Kathleen |title=The A to Z of African-American Television|volume=49|date=August 4, 2009|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-810-86348-4|page=169}}{{cite news|last=Mitchell |first=John L. |title=Plotting His Next Big Break |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=April 14, 2006 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-apr-14-me-monte14-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416151932/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/apr/14/local/me-monte14/2 |archive-date=April 16, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/john-amos#interview-clips |title=John Amos

|publisher=Television Academy Foundation |date=2014|accessdate=October 1, 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-10-01/john-amos-death-actor-good-times-roots |first=Christi|last=Carras|title=John Amos, star of 'Good Times,' 'Roots' and 'Coming to America,' dies at 84|work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 1, 2024 |accessdate=October 1, 2024}} This led to his dismissal by executive producer Norman Lear at the end of season 3 in 1976. In a 2017 interview, Amos said that the sitcom's writers did not understand African Americans. He told them, "That just doesn't happen in the community. We don't think that way. We don't act that way. We don't let our children do that."{{cite news|url=https://norwalkreflector.com/news/107110/television-qa-why-dont-networks-rebroadcast-shows-like-dynasty-and-dallas/ |title=Why don't networks rebroadcast shows like 'Dynasty' and 'L.A. Law'?|last=Heldenfels |first=Rich |work=Norwalk Reflector|date=February 6, 2020|access-date=April 17, 2022}} His character was killed off by the writers, leading to a memorable scene in which his screen wife, Rolle, screamed, “Damn! Damn! Damn!”{{Cite web|url=https://www.theroot.com/damn-damn-damn-black-twitter-mourns-the-loss-of-am-1851662495|title=‘Damn, Damn, Damn’ Twitter Mourns John Amos, America's Black Dad|date=October 1, 2024|website=The Root|last=Holland |first=Stephanie}}

File:John Amos with USCG.jpg

In 1977, Amos starred in the ABC-TV Miniseries Roots, as the adult Kunta Kinte, based on the book by author Alex Haley.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/john-amos-veteran-actor-roots-good-fame-dies-84-rcna173497|title=John Amos, veteran actor of 'Roots' and 'Good Times' fame, dies at 84|first=David K.|last=Li|publisher=NBC News|date=October 1, 2024|accessdate=October 1, 2024}} In 1980, he starred in the television film Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story. Amos played an Archie Bunker-style character in the 1994 sitcom 704 Hauser, a modern spin-off of All in the Family, but it was canceled after only five episodes (in the series he played a different character than he did in the All in the Family spin-off Maude). He also portrayed Captain Dolan on the TV show Hunter from 1984 to 1985. He co-starred in the CBS police drama The District. Amos was a frequent guest on The West Wing, portraying Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, who serves as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for most of the show. He played Buzz Washington in the ABC series Men in Trees. Amos co-starred with Anthony Anderson in the short-lived TV series All About the Andersons from 2003 to 2004.{{Cite web |last=Speier |first=Michael |date=September 9, 2003 |title=All About the Andersons |url=https://variety.com/2003/tv/reviews/all-about-the-andersons-1200539365/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002101705/https://variety.com/2003/tv/reviews/all-about-the-andersons-1200539365/ |archive-date=October 2, 2024 |access-date=October 2, 2024 |website=Variety}} In 2010, Amos also appeared as recurring character Ed on Two and a Half Men, and in 2016 as another recurring character, also (coincidentally) named Ed, on the Netflix sitcom The Ranch. He guest-starred in a number of other television shows, including Police Story, The A-Team, The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, In the House, Martin as Sgt. Hamilton Strawn (Tommy's father), Touched by an Angel, Psych, Sanford and Son, My Name Is Earl, Lie to Me, and Murder, She Wrote. He

also appeared as a spokesman for the Cochran Firm (a national personal injury law firm).{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWa303qlFcw|title=John Amos Cochran Firm 1| publisher=Creative Network Studios |date=June 6, 2014|via=YouTube}}

Amos wrote and produced Halley's Comet, a critically acclaimed{{cite web|last1=Becker|first1=Ellen|title=John Amos performs 'Halley's Comet'| url= http://digitalburg.com/?p=5486|website=digitalBURG.com |access-date=March 20, 2017|date=February 14, 2013| url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116234727/https://digitalburg.com/?p=5486|archive-date=January 16, 2017}} one-man play that he performed around the world. Amos performed in August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean on Broadway{{Cite web |last=Siegel |first=Naomi |date=October 23, 2005 |title=THEATER REVIEW; Rough Seas in Pittsburgh |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/nyregion/theater-review-rough-seas-in-pittsburgh.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529192053/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/nyregion/theater-review-rough-seas-in-pittsburgh.html |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |access-date=October 2, 2024 |website=New York Times}} and later at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.{{Cite web |last=Zinman |first=Toby |date=October 17, 2005 |title=Gem of the Ocean |url=https://variety.com/2005/legit/reviews/gem-of-the-ocean-2-1200520973/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002102450/https://variety.com/2005/legit/reviews/gem-of-the-ocean-2-1200520973/ |archive-date=October 2, 2024 |access-date=October 2, 2024 |website=Variety}}

Amos was featured in Disney's The World's Greatest Athlete (1973) with Tim Conway and Jan-Michael Vincent in his first starring film role, and also starred as Kansas City Mack in Let's Do It Again (1975) with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. His other film appearances include Vanishing Point (1971), The President's Plane Is Missing (1973), Touched by Love (1980), The Beastmaster (1982), Dance of the Dwarfs (1983), American Flyers (1985), Coming to America (1988), Lock Up (1989), Two Evil Eyes (1989), Die Hard 2 (1990), and Ricochet (1991).

He appeared in the 1995 film For Better or Worse and played a police officer in The Players Club (1998). He played Uncle Virgil in My Baby's Daddy (2004), and starred as Jud in Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006). In 2012, Amos had a role in the movie Madea's Witness Protection, as Jake's father. He appeared in Ice Cube and Dr. Dre's 1994 video for "Natural Born Killaz". In 2009, he released We Were Hippies, an album of original country songs by Gene and Eric Cash.{{cite web| url= http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2009/06/14/John-Amos-to-debut-country-single/UPI-85781244997698/ |title=John Amos to debut country single |work=UPI.com |date=June 14, 2009 |access-date=March 20, 2017}}

In 2021, Amos starred in Because of Charley, as the patriarch of an estranged step-family riding out Hurricane Charley, the hurricane which tore through Florida in 2004.{{cite web| url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13403304/ | title= Because of Charley| work= IMDb.com}} Also in 2021, he had a role in the Coming to America sequel, Coming 2 America.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/coming-2-america-nomzamo-mbatha-garcelle-beauvais-paramount-sequel-eddie-murphy-arsenio-hall-craig-brewer-1202702271/|title='Coming 2 America' Adds Nomzamo Mbatha and Garcelle Beauvais|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|first=Dino-Ray|last=Ramos|date=August 22, 2019|access-date=August 23, 2019|archive-date=November 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102111928/https://deadline.com/2019/08/coming-2-america-nomzamo-mbatha-garcelle-beauvais-paramount-sequel-eddie-murphy-arsenio-hall-craig-brewer-1202702271/|url-status=live}}

Suits LA, the television show in which he made his final acting appearance, paid posthumous tribute to him with an episode entitled "Good Times," in which the characters Ted and Rick attempt to get him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Ted observes, "John Amos was the Sidney Poitier of television. He broke new ground for Black America and he was a father figure for all of America."{{Cite web |date=2025-04-08 |title=In 'Suits LA,' John Amos gets his flowers — and a moving episode inspired by his legacy |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2025-04-07/suits-la-john-amos-tribute-episode |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

File:John Amos 2011.jpg

Amos was a veteran of the 50th Armored Division of the New Jersey National Guard and Honorary Master Chief of the United States Coast Guard.{{cite web|url=http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/harley-ride-celebrates-veterans/128115.htm#top|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112224031/http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/harley-ride-celebrates-veterans/128115.htm#top|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 12, 2007|publisher=WKRN.com|date=November 11, 2007|title=Harley Ride Celebrates Veterans}}{{cite web|title=John Amos biodata|url=http://www.aeispeakers.com/speakerbio.php?SpeakerID=23|date=September 11, 2009 |publisher=American Entertainment International Speakers Bureau, Inc.|access-date=September 12, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826103628/http://www.aeispeakers.com/speakerbio.php?SpeakerID=23|archive-date=August 26, 2009}} He was married twice. His first marriage, from 1965 to 1975, was to artist and equestrian Noel Mickelson. The couple had two children: Shannon Amos, a writer-producer and the founder of Afterglow Multimedia, LLC, and Grammy-nominated director K.C. Amos. Acrimonious disagreements between Shannon and K.C. Amos over the care given to their parents were documented by The Hollywood Reporter in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Baum |first=Gary |date=November 10, 2023 |title=John Amos and a Family at War With Itself |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/good-times-john-amos-family-battle-children-1235639539/ |access-date=November 24, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Amos' second marriage, in 1978–79, was to actress Lillian Lehman.{{cite news |last1=Harmon |first1=Rick |title=TV judge makes return to birthplace |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74912021/lillian-lehman/ |access-date=October 1, 2024 |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |date=November 12, 1992 |page=19|via = Newspapers.com}} He lived for many years in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey.{{cite web |last1=Atmonavage |first1=Joe |title=Not so good times: John Amos' N.J. home is on verge of foreclosure |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2018/04/john_amos_good_times_nj_home_foreclosure.html |website=nj |access-date=May 9, 2022 |date=April 13, 2018}} In 2018, he moved to Westcliffe, Colorado, southwest of Pueblo. In 2023, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation looked into accusations that Amos had been the victim of elder abuse.{{Cite web |last=Cocova |first=Marcus |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Actor John Amos of Westcliffe hospitalized, allegations of elder abuse says CBI |url=https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/actor-john-amos-of-westcliffe-hospitalized-allegations-of-elder-abuse-says-cbi |access-date=November 24, 2023 |website=KOAA News 5 |language=en}} Amos left Colorado that same year, taking up residency in Los Angeles.

Amos died of congestive heart failure at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, California, on August 21, 2024, at the age of 84.{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2024/10/02/john-amos-cremated-cause-of-death-heart-failure/|title=John Amos Cremated 9 Days After Death|publisher=TMZ|accessdate=October 3, 2024|date=October 2, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/john-amos-cause-of-death-1236105854/|title=John Amos Cause Of Death Revealed|first=Denise|last=Petski|website=Deadline|date=October 2, 2024|access-date=October 2, 2024}} His death was not announced until October 1, 2024.{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |title=John Amos Dies: 'Good Times', 'Roots' Actor Was 84 |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/john-amos-dead-1236104658/ |access-date=October 1, 2024 |publisher=Deadline |date=October 1, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |title=John Amos, 'Good Times' Dad, Dies at 84 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/john-amos-dead-good-times-roots-1236019054/ |access-date=October 1, 2024 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 1, 2024}} His daughter, Shannon, was unaware that he had died until his death was reported by the media.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/john-amos-death-shannon-amos-family-dispute-1236019591/|title=John Amos' Daughter Reveals She Learned About His Death Through Media: "We Are Devastated And Left With Many Questions"|first=Abid|last=Rahman|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 1, 2024|access-date=October 2, 2024}} His body was cremated nine days after his death.

In addition to receiving an Emmy nomination for Roots, Amos was nominated for a CableACE Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a DVD Exclusive Award. He won three TV Land Awards for his roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, and Roots.{{cite web|title= John Amos |url= https://www.emmys.com/site--search?prod_Emmys_Site_Search%5Bquery%5D=JOHN%20AMOS |publisher=emmys.com|access-date= October 3, 2024}}

In 2020, Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |date=August 5, 2020 |title=Anne Hathaway, John Amos, Eli Manning In New Jersey Hall Of Fame |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/anne-hathaway-john-amos-eli-manning-in-new-jersey-hall-of-fame/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818023249/https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/anne-hathaway-john-amos-eli-manning-in-new-jersey-hall-of-fame/ |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=October 2, 2024 |website=www.cbsnews.com}}

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• {{emmytvlegends name|john-amos}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31DGi1OWhxw John Amos Celebration of Life and Legacy]—December 3, 2024, on YouTube

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Category:1939 births

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