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

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Two and a Half Men

    Two and a Half Men

  • King of the Hill

    King of the Hill

  • The West Wing

    The West Wing

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • Psych

    Psych

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • The A-Team

    The A-Team

  • Love, American Style

    Love, American Style

  • Love, American Style

    Love, American Style

  • 30 Rock

    30 Rock

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • The Cosby Show

    The Cosby Show

  • Touched by an Angel

    Touched by an Angel

  • My Name Is Earl

    My Name Is Earl

  • Lie to Me

    Lie to Me

  • The Outer Limits

    The Outer Limits

  • Ballers

    Ballers

  • Walker, Texas Ranger

    Walker, Texas Ranger

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • The District

    The District

  • Suits LA

    Suits LA

  • Martin

    Martin

  • Sanford and Son

    Sanford and Son

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    The Mary Tyler Moore Show

  • Royal Pains

    Royal Pains

  • Hardcastle and McCormick

    Hardcastle and McCormick

  • Good Times

    Good Times

  • The Ranch

    The Ranch

  • Roots

    Roots

  • Roots

    Roots

  • Police Story

    Police Story

  • The Last O.G.

    The Last O.G.

  • In the House

    In the House

  • Coming 2 America

    Coming 2 America

  • Die Hard 2

    Die Hard 2

  • Coming to America

    Coming to America

  • The Movies That Made Us

    The Movies That Made Us

  • The Chris Rock Show

    The Chris Rock Show

  • Uncut Gems

    Uncut Gems

  • Men in Trees

    Men in Trees

  • Lock Up

    Lock Up

  • John Amos: Roots of an American Legend

    John Amos: Roots of an American Legend

  • The New Dick Van Dyke Show

    The New Dick Van Dyke Show

  • Two Evil Eyes

    Two Evil Eyes

  • Mercy for Angels

    Mercy for Angels

  • Dr. Dolittle 3

    Dr. Dolittle 3

  • Vanishing Point

    Vanishing Point

  • Tamales and Gumbo

    Tamales and Gumbo

  • Me Time

    Me Time

  • Ricochet

    Ricochet

  • Countdown

    Countdown

  • Disappearing Acts

    Disappearing Acts

  • Because of Charley

    Because of Charley

  • NYC 22

    NYC 22

  • The Last Rifleman

    The Last Rifleman

  • Shadowboxing

    Shadowboxing

  • Information Processing

    Information Processing

  • Hologram Man

    Hologram Man

  • Christmas Belles

    Christmas Belles

  • Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

    Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

  • Madea's Witness Protection

    Madea's Witness Protection

  • American Flyers

    American Flyers

  • For Better or Worse

    For Better or Worse

  • Here's Boomer

    Here's Boomer

  • Future Cop

    Future Cop

  • Dance of the Dwarfs

    Dance of the Dwarfs

  • The Beastmaster Chronicles

    The Beastmaster Chronicles

  • Willa

    Willa

  • Christmas in Miami

    Christmas in Miami

  • The Beastmaster

    The Beastmaster

  • Night Trap

    Night Trap

  • Touched by Love

    Touched by Love

  • Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

    Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

  • The Players Club

    The Players Club

  • Mac

    Mac

  • Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

    Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

  • TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

    TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

  • American Lowrider

    American Lowrider

  • Ascension Day

    Ascension Day

  • Let's Do It Again

    Let's Do It Again

  • The Funny Side

    The Funny Side

  • The Truth About Santa Claus

    The Truth About Santa Claus

  • Shark's Paradise

    Shark's Paradise

  • All About the Andersons

    All About the Andersons

  • Bonanza: The Next Generation

    Bonanza: The Next Generation

  • Block Party

    Block Party

  • Future Cop

    Future Cop

  • 704 Hauser

    704 Hauser

  • Bad Asses on the Bayou

    Bad Asses on the Bayou

  • The World's Greatest Athlete

    The World's Greatest Athlete

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

    The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda

  • Act of Faith

    Act of Faith

  • My Baby's Daddy

    My Baby's Daddy

  • 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"

  • Voodoo Moon

    Voodoo Moon

  • Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

    Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

  • All Over Again

    All Over Again

  • Zombie Hamlet

    Zombie Hamlet

  • Cops and Robin

    Cops and Robin

  • Something to Sing About

    Something to Sing About

  • Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

    Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

  • The President's Plane Is Missing

    The President's Plane Is Missing

  • Future Cop: Cops and Robin

    Future Cop: Cops and Robin

  • The Watermelon Heist

    The Watermelon Heist

  • Devotion

    Devotion