John Amos | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Amos in 2001 | |
| Born | John Allen Amos Jr. (1939-12-27)December 27, 1939 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | August 21, 2024(2024-08-21) (aged 84) Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Long Beach City College Colorado State University (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1970–2024 |
| Known for |
|
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
John Allen Amos Jr. (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as James Evans Sr. on theCBS television seriesGood Times. His other well known roles were as the adultKunta Kinte in the landmarkminiseriesRoots and for portraying Captain Meissner inLock Up (1989) and Major Grant inDie Hard 2 (1990). His other television work includesThe Mary Tyler Moore Show, a recurring role asAdmiral Percy Fitzwallace onThe West Wing, and the role of theMayor of Washington DC Ethan Baker in the seriesThe District. Amos was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award and anNAACP Image Award. In film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such asThe Beastmaster (1982),Coming to America (1988), andComing 2 America (2021).
John Allen Amos Jr. was born inNewark, New Jersey on December 27, 1939. He was the son of John A. Amos Sr., an auto mechanic, and Annabelle Amos.[1][2] Amos grew up inEast Orange, New Jersey, and graduated fromEast Orange High School in 1958.[3] He attendedLong Beach City College[4] and graduated fromColorado State University with a degree insociology; he played for both schools' football teams.[1][4]
Amos worked as a social worker in New York City.[1]
In 1964, Amos signed a free agent contract with theDenver Broncos of theAmerican Football League.[5] Unable to run the 40-yard dash because of apulled hamstring, he was released on the second day of training camp.[6] He played for various teams during his career, theCanton Bulldogs (UFL 1964),[4]Joliet Chargers (UFL 1964),[4]Norfolk Neptunes (COFL 1965),[4]Wheeling Ironmen (COFL 1965),[4] Jersey City Jets (ACFL 1966),[4]Waterbury Orbits (ACFL 1966),[4] and theVictoria Steelers (COFL 1967).[4] In 1967, Amos signed a free agent contract with the AFL'sKansas City Chiefs (AFL 1967).[5] CoachHank Stram told him, "You're not a football player, you're a man who is trying to play football."[7]
Amos became first known in 1971 when he appeared withAnson Williams in a commercial forMcDonald's. That same year, he had a small part in thecult filmVanishing Point, playing a radio engineer alongsideCleavon Little.[8]
Amos' first major TV role was asGordy Howard, the weatherman onThe Mary Tyler Moore Show, from 1970 until 1973. After the death ofBetty White in 2021, Amos andJoyce Bulifant (who played Marie Slaughter) were the last surviving cast members of the show, excluding child actors.[citation needed]
Amos is best known for his portrayal ofJames Evans Sr., the husband ofFlorida Evans, on the American sitcomGood Times (1974–1976). He had previously appeared in the same role three times on the sitcomMaude before continuing it in 61 episodes ofGood Times.[9] 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 anAfrican-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 onGood Times.[10]
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.[11][12][13][14] This led to his dismissal byexecutive producerNorman 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."[15] His character waskilled off by the writers, leading to a memorable scene in which his screen wife, Rolle, screamed, “Damn! Damn! Damn!”[16]
In 1977, Amos starred in theABC-TV MiniseriesRoots,[8] as the adultKunta Kinte, based on the book by authorAlex Haley.[17] In 1980, he starred in the television filmAlcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story. Amos played anArchie Bunker-style character in the 1994 sitcom704 Hauser,[8] a modern spin-off ofAll in the Family, but it was canceled after only five episodes (in the series he played a different character than he did in theAll in the Family spin-offMaude). He also portrayed Captain Dolan on the TV showHunter from 1984 to 1985.[8] He co-starred in theCBS police dramaThe District.[8] Amos was a frequent guest onThe West Wing,[8] portraying AdmiralPercy Fitzwallace, who serves asChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for most of the show. He played Buzz Washington in theABC seriesMen in Trees. Amos co-starred withAnthony Anderson in the short-lived TV seriesAll About the Andersons from 2003 to 2004.[18] In 2010, Amos also appeared as recurring character Ed onTwo and a Half Men,[8] and in 2016 as another recurring character, also (coincidentally) named Ed, on theNetflix sitcomThe Ranch.[8] He guest-starred in a number of other television shows, includingPolice Story,[8]The A-Team,[8]The Cosby Show,[8]The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,[8]In the House,[8]Martin as Sgt. Hamilton Strawn (Tommy's father),[8]Touched by an Angel,Psych,Sanford and Son,My Name Is Earl,Lie to Me, andMurder, She Wrote. He also appeared as a spokesman for the Cochran Firm (a national personal injury law firm).[19]
Amos wrote and producedHalley's Comet, a critically acclaimed[20] one-man play that he performed around the world. Amos performed inAugust Wilson'sGem of the Ocean onBroadway[21] and later at the McCarter Theatre inPrinceton, New Jersey.[22]
Amos was featured inDisney'sThe World's Greatest Athlete (1973) withTim Conway andJan-Michael Vincent in his first starring film role, and also starred as Kansas City Mack inLet's Do It Again (1975) withBill Cosby andSidney Poitier. His other film appearances includeVanishing Point (1971),The President's Plane Is Missing (1973),[8]Touched by Love (1980),The Beastmaster (1982),[8]Dance of the Dwarfs (1983),American Flyers (1985),[8]Coming to America (1988),[8]Lock Up (1989),[8]Two Evil Eyes (1989),Die Hard 2 (1990), andRicochet (1991).[8]
He appeared in the 1995 filmFor Better or Worse[8] and played a police officer inThe Players Club (1998).[8] He played Uncle Virgil inMy Baby's Daddy (2004), and starred as Jud inDr. Dolittle 3 (2006).[8] In 2012, Amos had a role in the movieMadea's Witness Protection, as Jake's father. He appeared inIce Cube andDr. Dre's 1994 video for "Natural Born Killaz".[8] In 2009, he releasedWe Were Hippies, an album of originalcountry songs by Gene and Eric Cash.[23]
In 2021, Amos starred inBecause of Charley, as the patriarch of an estranged step-family riding outHurricane Charley, the hurricane which tore throughFlorida in 2004.[24] Also in 2021, he had a role in theComing to America sequel,Coming 2 America.[25]
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."[26]
Amos was a veteran of the50th Armored Division of theNew Jersey National Guard and HonoraryMaster Chief of theUnited States Coast Guard.[27][28] 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 byThe Hollywood Reporter in 2023.[29]
Amos' second marriage, in 1978–79, was to actressLillian Lehman.[30] He lived for many years inTewksbury Township, New Jersey.[31] In 2018, he moved toWestcliffe, Colorado, southwest ofPueblo.[29] In 2023, Amos was hospitalized, and theColorado Bureau of Investigation looked into accusations that Amos had been the victim ofelder abuse.[32] Amos left Colorado that same year, taking up residency inLos Angeles.[29]
Amos died ofcongestive heart failure atCentinela Hospital Medical Center inInglewood, California, on August 21, 2024, at the age of 84.[33][34] His death was not announced until October 1, 2024.[35][36] His daughter, Shannon, was unaware that he had died until his death was reported by the media.[37] His body wascremated nine days after his death.[33]
In addition to receiving an Emmy nomination forRoots, Amos was nominated for aCableACE Award, anNAACP Image Award, and a DVD Exclusive Award. He won threeTV Land Awards for his roles onThe Mary Tyler Moore Show,Good Times, andRoots.[38]
In 2020, Amos was inducted into theNew Jersey Hall of Fame.[39]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Vanishing Point | Super Soul's Engineer | Uncredited |
| Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song | Biker | Credited as Johnny Amos | |
| 1973 | The World's Greatest Athlete | Coach Sam Archer | |
| 1975 | Let's Do It Again | MacArthur "Kansas City Mack" Clutch | |
| 1980 | Touched by Love | Tony | |
| 1982 | The Beastmaster | Seth | |
| 1983 | Dance of the Dwarfs | Esteban | |
| 1985 | American Flyers | Dr. Conrad | |
| 1988 | Coming to America | Cleo McDowell | |
| 1989 | Lock Up | Captain Meissner | |
| 1990 | Two Evil Eyes | Detective Legrand | Segment: "The Black Cat" |
| Die Hard 2 | Major Grant | ||
| 1991 | Ricochet | Reverend Styles | |
| Without a Pass | Blue Berry | ||
| 1993 | Mac | Nat | |
| Night Trap | Captain Hodges | ||
| 1995 | For Better or Worse | Gray | |
| Hologram Man | Wes Strickland | ||
| 1998 | The Players Club | Officer Freeman | |
| 2001 | All Over Again | Coach Zeller | |
| 2003 | The Watermelon Heist | Old Man Amos | |
| 2004 | My Baby's Daddy | Uncle Virgil | |
| Countdown | Admiral Melory | ||
| 2005 | Shadowboxing | Hill | |
| 2006 | Dr. Dolittle 3 | Jud Jones | |
| 2007 | Ascension Day | Henry | |
| 2010 | Lean Like a Cholo | "Slick" | |
| 2011 | Stills of the Movement: The Civil Rights Photojournalism ofFlip Schulke | The Narrator | |
| 2012 | Zombie Hamlet | Edgar Mortimer | |
| Madea's Witness Protection | Pastor Nelson | ||
| 2014 | Act of Faith | Brady | |
| 2015 | Bad Asses on the Bayou | Earl | |
| Mercy for Angels | God | ||
| Tamales and Gumbo | The Patron | ||
| 2016 | Hauntsville | Mr. Kimball | |
| 2019 | Uncut Gems | Himself | |
| 2021 | Coming 2 America | Cleo McDowell | |
| Because of Charley | Grandpa | ||
| 2021 | Christmas in Miami | Chief Host | |
| 2022 | Me Time | Gil | |
| 2023 | The Last Rifleman | Lincoln Adams |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Bill Cosby Show | 1st Salesman | as Johnny Amos Episode: "Swann's Way" |
| 1970–1977 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Weatherman Gordon "Gordy" Howard | 13 episodes |
| 1971 | The Funny Side | Minority Husband | 6 episodes |
| 1971–1972 | Love, American Style | Bell Captain | 2 episodes |
| 1972 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Mark Cooper | Episode: "The Harry Award" |
| 1973 | Sanford and Son | Luther | Episode: "A Visit from Lena Horne" |
| 1973–1974 | Maude | Henry Evans | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
| 1974 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Himself | 1 episode |
| 1974–1976 | Good Times | James Evans Sr. | 57 episodes |
| 1976 | Police Story | Sergeant Walt Kyles | 1 episode |
| 1976–1977 | Future Cop | Officer Bill Bundy | 7 episodes |
| 1977 | Roots | Older Kunta Kinte | 3 episodes |
| 1979 | Mr. Dugan | Representative Dooley | Unaired pilot |
| 1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson | TV miniseries |
| 1981 | Here's Boomer | Charlie Foster | Episode: "Boomer Goes for the Gold" |
| 1982 | Insight | Josh Cameron | Episode: "Hang Tight, Willy Bill" |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Duke Taylor | Episode: "The Zinging Valentine/The Very Temporary Secretary/Final Score" |
| 1984 | The A-Team | Reverend Taylor | Episode: "Pure-Dee Poison" |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Inspector Roland Hackett | Episode: "The Fred Connection" | |
| Hardcastle and McCormick | Albie Meadows | Episode: "The Homecoming: Part 2" | |
| 1984–1985 | Hunter | Captain Dolan | 13 episodes |
| 1986 | One Life to Live | Bill Moore | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Murder, She Wrote | "Doc" Penrose | Episode: "Death Takes a Dive" |
| Stingray | Roy Jeffries | Episode: "Blood Money" | |
| You Are the Jury | Sergeant Harold Borman | Episode: "The State of Oregon vs. Stanley Manning" | |
| 1988 | Beauty and the Beast | Farrell | Episode: "The Alchemist" |
| Bonanza: The Next Generation | Mr. Mack | TV movie | |
| The Cosby Show | Dr. Herbert | Episode: "The Physical" | |
| 1989 | Gideon Oliver | Carl Manning | Episode: "Tongs" |
| 1994 | 704 Hauser | Ernie Cumberbatch | 6 episodes |
| 1994–1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Fred Wilkes | 3 episodes |
| 1995–1997 | In the House | Coach Sam Wilson | 12 episodes |
| 1995 | Touched by an Angel | Sheriff James Mackey | Episode: "The Hero" |
| 1997 | Martin | Sergeant Strawn | Episode: "Daddy Dearest" |
| Walker, Texas Ranger | Pastor Roscoe Jones | Episode: "Sons of Thunder" | |
| 1998 | King of the Hill | Glenn Johnson | Voice Episode: "Traffic Jam" |
| 1999–2004 | The West Wing | AdmiralPercy Fitzwallace | 22 episodes |
| 2000 | Something to Sing About | Reverend Washington | TV movie |
| The Outer Limits | Peter "Yas" Yastrzemski | Episode: "Zig Zag" | |
| Disappearing Acts | Mr. Swift | TV movie | |
| 2000–2001 | The District | Mayor Ethan Baker | 10 episodes |
| 2002 | American Masters | Dr. Bledsoe | Episode: "Ralph Ellison: An American Journey" |
| 2003–2004 | All About the Andersons | Joe Anderson | 16 episodes |
| 2006 | Voodoo Moon | "Dutch" | TV movie |
| 2006–2008 | Men in Trees | "Buzz" Washington | 27 episodes |
| 2007 | Psych | Uncle Burton Guster | Episode: "Meat Is Murder, But Murder Is Also Murder" |
| 2008 | My Name Is Earl | Joe | Episode: "Stole an RV" |
| 2010 | Two and a Half Men | Ed | 3 episodes |
| Royal Pains | Harrison Phillips | Episode: "Big Whoop" | |
| 30 Rock | Himself | Episode: "Let's Stay Together" | |
| Lie to Me | Jim Weaver | Episode: "Smoked" | |
| 2012 | NYC 22 | Pappy Science | Episode: "Ransom" |
| 2016–2017 | The Ranch | Ed Bishop | 4 episodes |
| 2019 | Ballers | Deacon Eller | 2 episodes |
| Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell | War | Episode: "The Poor Horsemen of the Apocalypse" | |
| Live in Front of a Studio Audience | Fred Davis | Episode: "'All in the Family' and 'Good Times'" | |
| 2020 | The Last O.G. | Uncle D | Episode: "Family Feud" |
| 2022 | The Righteous Gemstones | Buddy Lissons | Episode: "I Will Tell of All Your Deeds" |
| 2025 | Suits LA | Himself | Episode: "Seven Days a Week and Twice on Sunday" (Final acting appearance) |
