John Amos

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

109

Gender

Male

Birthday

1939-12-27

Day of death

2024-08-21 (84 years old)

Place of Birth

Newark, New Jersey, USA

John Amos

Biography

John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021). Prior to acting, he played on the Colorado State Rams football team and in 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos and in 1967 signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these contracts did not land him a spot on the teams and played a final season in the Continental Football League with the Victoria Steelers before pursuing acting.

Known For

  • Two and a Half Men

    Two and a Half Men

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Psych

    Psych

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • The West Wing

    The West Wing

  • King of the Hill

    King of the Hill

  • The A-Team

    The A-Team

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • 30 Rock

    30 Rock

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • The Cosby Show

    The Cosby Show

  • Lie to Me

    Lie to Me

  • Love, American Style

    Love, American Style

  • Love, American Style

    Love, American Style

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Touched by an Angel

    Touched by an Angel

  • The Outer Limits

    The Outer Limits

  • My Name Is Earl

    My Name Is Earl

  • Walker, Texas Ranger

    Walker, Texas Ranger

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • Ballers

    Ballers

  • Martin

    Martin

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • Sanford and Son

    Sanford and Son

  • The District

    The District

  • Die Hard 2

    Die Hard 2

  • Royal Pains

    Royal Pains

  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    The Mary Tyler Moore Show

  • Suits LA

    Suits LA

  • The Ranch

    The Ranch

  • Coming to America

    Coming to America

  • Good Times

    Good Times

  • Roots

    Roots

  • Roots

    Roots

  • Hardcastle and McCormick

    Hardcastle and McCormick

  • Lock Up

    Lock Up

  • The Movies That Made Us

    The Movies That Made Us

  • Uncut Gems

    Uncut Gems

  • Police Story

    Police Story

  • Ricochet

    Ricochet

  • Vanishing Point

    Vanishing Point

  • Men in Trees

    Men in Trees

  • The Chris Rock Show

    The Chris Rock Show

  • Future Cop

    Future Cop

  • In the House

    In the House

  • The Last O.G.

    The Last O.G.

  • Mac

    Mac

  • Disappearing Acts

    Disappearing Acts

  • Coming 2 America

    Coming 2 America

  • Dr. Dolittle 3

    Dr. Dolittle 3

  • Ascension Day

    Ascension Day

  • Willa

    Willa

  • Night Trap

    Night Trap

  • Information Processing

    Information Processing

  • The Last Rifleman

    The Last Rifleman

  • Hologram Man

    Hologram Man

  • American Flyers

    American Flyers

  • American Lowrider

    American Lowrider

  • Two Evil Eyes

    Two Evil Eyes

  • Me Time

    Me Time

  • The Players Club

    The Players Club

  • Block Party

    Block Party

  • The Beastmaster

    The Beastmaster

  • Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

    Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

  • Countdown

    Countdown

  • My Baby's Daddy

    My Baby's Daddy

  • Shadowboxing

    Shadowboxing

  • Dance of the Dwarfs

    Dance of the Dwarfs

  • Here's Boomer

    Here's Boomer

  • The New Dick Van Dyke Show

    The New Dick Van Dyke Show

  • Touched by Love

    Touched by Love

  • Let's Do It Again

    Let's Do It Again

  • NYC 22

    NYC 22

  • Voodoo Moon

    Voodoo Moon

  • Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

    Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

  • Madea's Witness Protection

    Madea's Witness Protection

  • Bad Asses on the Bayou

    Bad Asses on the Bayou

  • The Beastmaster Chronicles

    The Beastmaster Chronicles

  • The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda

    The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda

  • For Better or Worse

    For Better or Worse

  • The World's Greatest Athlete

    The World's Greatest Athlete

  • Christmas in Miami

    Christmas in Miami

  • The Truth About Santa Claus

    The Truth About Santa Claus

  • Act of Faith

    Act of Faith

  • Shark's Paradise

    Shark's Paradise

  • Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

    Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

  • All About the Andersons

    All About the Andersons

  • Mercy for Angels

    Mercy for Angels

  • Because of Charley

    Because of Charley

  • TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

    TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

  • Tamales and Gumbo

    Tamales and Gumbo

  • Something to Sing About

    Something to Sing About

  • Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

    Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

  • Christmas Belles

    Christmas Belles

  • 704 Hauser

    704 Hauser

  • Bonanza: The Next Generation

    Bonanza: The Next Generation

  • Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

    Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

  • The Funny Side

    The Funny Side

  • Future Cop

    Future Cop

  • The Watermelon Heist

    The Watermelon Heist

  • Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

    Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

  • The President's Plane Is Missing

    The President's Plane Is Missing

  • Cops and Robin

    Cops and Robin

  • Devotion

    Devotion

  • Zombie Hamlet

    Zombie Hamlet

  • All Over Again

    All Over Again

  • Future Cop: Cops and Robin

    Future Cop: Cops and Robin

  • John Amos: Roots of an American Legend

    John Amos: Roots of an American Legend