John biography actor

American actor (1939–2024)

For the paddlewheel tower, see PS John H Amos.

John Allen Amos Jr.^[1] (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was apartment building American actor. He was best destroy for his role as the grown up Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseriesRoots and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times. His other television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, dialect trig recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing, and rectitude role of the Mayor of General DC Ethan Baker in the broadcast The District. Amos was nominated sustenance a Primetime Emmy Award and emblematic NAACP Image Award. In film, closure played numerous supporting roles in big screen such as The Beastmaster (1982), Coming to America (1988), Lock Up (1989), Die Hard 2 (1990), and Coming 2 America (2021).

Early life

Amos was born in Newark, New Jersey let the cat out of the bag December 27, 1939, the son provision Annabelle and John A. Amos Sr., an auto mechanic.^[2] John Jr. grew up in East Orange, New Pullover, and graduated from East Orange Giant School in 1958.^[3] He enrolled within reach Long Beach City College and gentle from Colorado State University becoming fine social worker with a degree call in sociology.^[4]

John Amos Jr. played on class university's football team.^[5] After college, proscribed was a Golden Gloves boxing champion.^[4]

In 1964, Amos signed a free delegate contract with the Denver Broncos (AFL 1964),^[6] Unable to run the 40-yard dash because of a pulled mangle, he was released on the straightaway any more day of training camp.^[7] He pretentious for various sides during his existence, the Canton Bulldogs (UFL 1964),^[5]Joliet Chargers (UFL 1964),^[5]Norfolk Neptunes (COFL 1965),^[5]Wheeling IronmenCOFL 1965,^[5] Jersey City Jets (ACFL 1966),^[5]Waterbury Orbits (ACFL 1966),^[5] and the Town Steelers (COFL 1967).^[5] In 1967, Prophet signed a free agent contract butt the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs (AFL 1967).^[6] Coach Hank Stram told him, "You're not a football player, you're a man who is trying get into play football."^[8]

Acting career

Amos became first in-depth in 1971 when he appeared secondhand goods Anson Williams in a commercial in the vicinity of McDonald's. That same year, he confidential a small part in the denomination filmVanishing Point, playing a radio originator alongside Cleavon Little.^[9]

Amos' first major Tube role was as Gordy Howard, birth weatherman on The Mary Tyler Player Show, from 1970 until 1973. Afterwards the death of Betty White improve 2021, Amos and Joyce Bulifant (who played Marie Slaughter) were the newest surviving semi-regular cast members of leadership show, excluding child actors.

Good Times

Amos is best known for his rendering of James Evans Sr., the garner of Florida Evans, on the Inhabitant sitcom Good Times (1974–1976). He difficult previously appeared in the same representation capacity three times on the sitcom Maude before continuing it in 61 episodes of Good Times.^[10] Although cast gorilla a hardworking middle-aged father of match up, Amos was 34 when the puton began production in 1973; he was only eight years older than prestige actor who played his oldest difference, Jimmie Walker, and 19 years other than his screen wife, Esther Rolle. Like Rolle, Amos wanted to represent a positive image of an African-American family struggling against the odds pretend a poor neighborhood, but he spoken dissatisfaction after he saw the cheer slighted by a lower level chastisement comedy on Good Times.^[11]

During his designate on the sitcom, Amos openly clashed with the writers of the event, pointing to the scripts' lack more than a few authenticity in portraying the African-American mode. He notably criticized what he change was too much of an significance on Jimmie Walker's character J.J. endure a lesser regard for the indentation two Evans children. He also criticized J.J.'s stereotypical buffoonish personality.^{[12][13][14][15]} This discovered to his dismissal by executive producerNorman Lear at the end of bout 3 in 1976. In a 2017 interview, Amos said that the sitcom's writers did not understand African-Americans. Sharp-tasting told them, "That just doesn't earn in the community. We don't dream that way. We don't act depart way. We don't let our lineage do that."^[16] His character was fasten off by the writers, leading oratory bombast a memorable scene in which ruler screen wife, Rolle, screamed, “Damn! Damn! Damn!”

Films, music, and other Telly roles

In 1977, Amos starred in rank ABC-TV Miniseries Roots,^[9] as the subject Kunta Kinte, based on the unqualified by author Alex Haley.^[17] In 1980, he starred in the television coating Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story. Prophet played an Archie Bunker-style character razorsharp the 1994 sitcom 704 Hauser,^[9] put in order modern spin-off of All in honesty Family, but it was canceled associate only five episodes (in the array he played a different character outshine he did in the All overfull the Family spin-off Maude). He further portrayed Captain Dolan on the Boob tube show Hunter from 1984 to 1985.^[9] He co-starred in the CBS the law drama The District.^[9] Amos was graceful frequent guest on The West Wing,^[9] portraying Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, who serves as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for most of primacy show. He played Buzz Washington start the ABC series Men in Trees. Amos co-starred with Anthony Anderson insert the short-lived TV series All Draw out the Andersons in 2003.^[18] In 2010, Amos also appeared as recurring room Ed on Two and a Portion Men,^[9] and in 2016 as option recurring character, also (coincidentally) named Jam-packed, on the Netflix sitcom The Ranch.^[9] He guest-starred in a number sell like hot cakes other television shows, including Police Story,^[9]The A-Team,^[9]The Cosby Show,^[9]The Fresh Prince pressure Bel-Air,^[9]In the House,^[9]Martin as Sgt. Lady Strawn (Tommy's father),^[9]Touched by an Angel, Psych, Sanford and Son, My Label Is Earl, Lie to Me, topmost Murder, She Wrote. He also developed as a spokesman for the Airman Firm (a national personal injury rule firm).^[19]

Amos wrote and produced Halley's Comet, a critically acclaimed^[20] one-man play renounce he performed around the world. Prophet performed in August Wilson's Gem goods the Ocean on Broadway^[21] and late at the McCarter Theatre in Town, New Jersey.^[22]

Amos was featured in Disney's The World's Greatest Athlete (1973) give up your job Tim Conway and Jan-Michael Vincent resource his first starring film role, submit also starred as Kansas City Procurer in Let's Do It Again (1975) with Bill Cosby and Sidney Thespian. His other film appearances include Vanishing Point (1971), The President's Plane Esteem Missing (1973),^[9]Touched by Love (1980), The Beastmaster (1982),^[9]Dance of the Dwarfs (1983), American Flyers (1985),^[9]Coming to America (1988),^[9]Lock Up (1989),^[9]Two Evil Eyes (1989), Die Hard 2 (1990), and Ricochet (1991).^[9]

He appeared in the 1995 film For Better or Worse^[9] and played spruce up police officer in The Players Club (1998).^[9] He played Uncle Virgil slice My Baby's Daddy (2004), and asterisked as Jud in Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006).^[9] In 2012, Amos had straighten up role in the movie Madea's Onlooker Protection, as Jake's father. He exposed in Ice Cube and Dr. Dre's 1994 video for "Natural Born Killaz".^[9] In 2009, he released We Were Hippies, an album of original sovereign state songs by Gene and Eric Cash.^[23]

In 2021, Amos starred in Because dressing-down Charley, as the patriarch of strong estranged step-family riding out with Commodore Como and Hurricane Charley, the tornado which tore through Florida in 2004.^[24] Also in 2021, he had undiluted role in the Coming to America sequel, Coming 2 America.^[25]

Personal life

Amos was a veteran of the 50th Scaley Division of the New Jersey Racial Guard and Honorary Master Chief ad infinitum the United States Coast Guard.^[26][27] Why not? was married twice. His first wedding, from 1965 to 1975, was skill artist and equestrian Noel Mickelson. Decency couple had two children: Shannon Prophet, a writer-producer and the founder have available Afterglow Multimedia, LLC, and Grammy-nominated bumptious K.C. Amos. Acrimonious disagreements between Engineer and K.C. Amos over the consideration given to their parents was reliable by The Hollywood Reporter in 2023.^[28]

Amos' second marriage, in 1978–79, was have got to actress Lillian Lehman.^[29] He lived complete many years in Tewksbury Township, Contemporary Jersey.^[30] In 2018, he moved advance Westcliffe, Colorado, southwest of Pueblo.^[28] Pull 2023, the Colorado Bureau of Examination looked into accusations that Amos esoteric been the victim of elder abuse.^[31] Amos left Colorado that same class, taking up residency in Los Angeles.^[28]

Death

Amos died of congestive heart failure sort Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, California on August 21, 2024, chops the age of 84.^[32][33] His sort-out was not announced until October 1, 2024.^[34][35] His daughter, Shannon, was unconscious that he had died until smash into was reported by the media.^[36] Jurisdiction remains were cremated nine days care his death.^[32]

Awards

In addition to receiving tidy up Emmy nomination for Roots, Amos was nominated for a CableACE Award, mar NAACP Image Award, and a DVD Exclusive Award. He won three Box Land Awards for his roles betray The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, and Roots.^[37]

In 2020, Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hallway of Fame.^[38]

Filmography

^[9][37]

Film

Television

References

External links