John Amos, best known for his role as the family patriarch James Evans Sr. in the beloved sitcom “Good Times” and as the adult Kunta Kinte in the iconic miniseries “Roots,” has died at the age of 84.
His longtime publicist, Belinda Foster, confirmed that he passed away of natural causes in Los Angeles on August 21.
Amos’ son, Kelly Christopher Amos, shared a heartfelt statement, saying, “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. He was a man with the kindest heart… Many fans consider him their TV father.
He lived a good life, and his legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
Born in East Orange, New Jersey, Amos initially pursued a passion for sports, particularly football, playing at Colorado State University.
Although he earned a degree in social work, he tried out for teams including the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.
Reflecting on his football aspirations, Amos remarked, “All I ever wanted to do all my life was to play pro football. I figured that was going to be the best way for me to escape the economic strata we seemed to be locked into.”
However, his brief time with the Chiefs ended when coach Hank Stram told him, “You are not a football player; you are a young man who happens to be playing football.”
After working as a social worker and copywriter in New York, Amos transitioned to acting, landing a role as weatherman Gordon “Gordy” Howard on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
This marked the beginning of his rise in Hollywood, leading to appearances on popular shows like “Love American Style,” “Sanford and Son,” and “The New Dick Van Dyke Show.”
However, it was his portrayal of James Evans Sr. in “Good Times” that truly launched him to stardom.
In a 2020 interview, Amos reflected on leaving the series after two years due to conflicts with the predominantly white writers regarding the portrayal of the Black family at the center of the show.
“I felt like I knew more about what a Black family should be and how a Black father would act than our writers,” he explained. He noted that the show’s creator, Norman Lear, eventually recognized his perspective, and they reconciled during a live reunion special in 2019.
Amos also made a significant impact with his role as Toby, the adult Kunta Kinte, in the groundbreaking 1977 miniseries “Roots,” which earned him an Emmy nomination.
He described this role as “life-changing” and a culmination of the stereotypes he had encountered throughout his career.
“It was like a reward for having suffered those indignities,” he said in a 2021 interview with Time magazine.
Throughout his career, Amos featured in other memorable roles, including as Cleo McDowell, the fast-food restaurant owner in the hit comedy “Coming to America” and its 2021 sequel.
Despite facing family issues and allegations of elder abuse last year, Amos assured his fans, “To all of my fans, I want you to know that I am doing well. I am not in ICU nor was I ever fighting for my life.”
Source-CNN
