John Amos, known for his roles in “Roots,” “Coming to America” and the 1970s sitcom “Good Times,” has died at age 84.
“He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over,” his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, said in a statement. “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.”
Born in 1939 in Newark, New Jersey, Amos studied sociology at Colorado State University, worked as a social worker in the criminal justice system and had a short career as a professional football player on the Kansas City Chiefs. Amos then pursued a career in comedy writing before moving in front of the camera.
His breakout role was playing weatherman Gordy Howard on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” That role helped Amos land the role of the family patriarch, James Evans Sr., on “Good Times” in 1974. The groundbreaking sitcom, produced by Norman Lear, was the first television show to center on a Black nuclear family.
Amos was fired from the show after three successful seasons for criticizing the writing staff and producers for portraying inauthentic and stereotypical storylines of a Black family. His character was killed in a car accident at the start of season four.
In 1977, he earned an Emmy nomination for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the mini-series “Roots.”
During his more than five-decadelong career, Amos appeared in a variety of films, such as “Die Hard 2,” the 1975 film “Let’s Do It Again,” and the 1988 film “Coming to America,” as well as the 2021 sequel.
He also had recurring roles in major TV series, including “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “The West Wing” and “The Ranch.”