In August, actor John Amos, famed for “Roots”, “Good Times”, and “Coming To America”, died.
He died at 84 from natural causes in Los Angeles on August 21, according to his representative, who told NBC News.
With a career spanning over five decades, Amos leaves a legacy of trailblazing television and film work and a dedication to positive African American representation in media.
His son Kelly Christopher Amos called his father “my best friend, and my hero.”
“I share with you that my father has transitioned with heartfelt sadness,” his son said.
“He was compassionate and had a gold heart… He was adored worldwide. His fans call him their TV father. His life was good. His superb television and cinema acting will carry on his legacy.”
John Amos was a talented American actor who worked in film, stage, and television. Amos, born in Newark, New Jersey, on December 27, 1939, had a distinguished career spanning five decades. His athletic ambitions led him to Colorado State University on a football scholarship and briefly to the AFL. After retiring from athletics, Amos turned to acting.
Amos became famous for playing James Evans, the demanding yet loving father on the revolutionary 1970s sitcom Good Times. One of the few African American father figures on television at the time, his portrayal of a strong, industrious family man made him famous. Despite his success on Good Times, Amos and the show’s producers disagreed over his character’s trajectory and the show’s concentration on comedy rather than social themes. After three seasons, he left the show.
Amos played Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and the adult Kunta Kinte in Roots (1977), which earned him an Emmy nomination. He played Kunta Kinte, an African man enslaved in America, with emotion.
Amos has also acted in films including Coming to America (1988), where he played fast-food restaurant owner Cleo McDowell, and its 2021 sequel, Coming 2 America. He also has substantial Broadway and regional theater experience.
