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 Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Two and a Half Men

    Two and a Half Men

  • Psych

    Psych

  • The West Wing

    The West Wing

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • King of the Hill

    King of the Hill

  • 30 Rock

    30 Rock

  • The A-Team

    The A-Team

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • Lie to Me

    Lie to Me

  • The Cosby Show

    The Cosby Show

  • The Outer Limits

    The Outer Limits

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • My Name Is Earl

    My Name Is Earl

  • Love, American Style

    Love, American Style

  • Love, American Style

    Love, American Style

  • Walker, Texas Ranger

    Walker, Texas Ranger

  • Touched by an Angel

    Touched by an Angel

  • Ballers

    Ballers

  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    The Mary Tyler Moore Show

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

  • Martin

    Martin

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • The Ranch

    The Ranch

  • The District

    The District

  • Sanford and Son

    Sanford and Son

  • Royal Pains

    Royal Pains

  • Ricochet

    Ricochet

  • Suits LA

    Suits LA

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • Die Hard 2

    Die Hard 2

  • American Lowrider

    American Lowrider

  • Police Story

    Police Story

  • The Movies That Made Us

    The Movies That Made Us

  • Coming to America

    Coming to America

  • Good Times

    Good Times

  • Uncut Gems

    Uncut Gems

  • Hardcastle and McCormick

    Hardcastle and McCormick

  • Mac

    Mac

  • Roots

    Roots

  • Roots

    Roots

  • The Last O.G.

    The Last O.G.

  • Two Evil Eyes

    Two Evil Eyes

  • Night Trap

    Night Trap

  • The Chris Rock Show

    The Chris Rock Show

  • Block Party

    Block Party

  • In the House

    In the House

  • Shark's Paradise

    Shark's Paradise

  • Ascension Day

    Ascension Day

  • Voodoo Moon

    Voodoo Moon

  • Men in Trees

    Men in Trees

  • The New Dick Van Dyke Show

    The New Dick Van Dyke Show

  • Because of Charley

    Because of Charley

  • Coming 2 America

    Coming 2 America

  • All About the Andersons

    All About the Andersons

  • Lock Up

    Lock Up

  • NYC 22

    NYC 22

  • Touched by Love

    Touched by Love

  • Here's Boomer

    Here's Boomer

  • Willa

    Willa

  • The Beastmaster

    The Beastmaster

  • Me Time

    Me Time

  • Vanishing Point

    Vanishing Point

  • Dr. Dolittle 3

    Dr. Dolittle 3

  • Madea's Witness Protection

    Madea's Witness Protection

  • Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

    Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

  • The Players Club

    The Players Club

  • Bad Asses on the Bayou

    Bad Asses on the Bayou

  • Future Cop

    Future Cop

  • The Last Rifleman

    The Last Rifleman

  • Let's Do It Again

    Let's Do It Again

  • For Better or Worse

    For Better or Worse

  • American Flyers

    American Flyers

  • Information Processing

    Information Processing

  • The Funny Side

    The Funny Side

  • My Baby's Daddy

    My Baby's Daddy

  • Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

    Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

  • 704 Hauser

    704 Hauser

  • Disappearing Acts

    Disappearing Acts

  • Shadowboxing

    Shadowboxing

  • Countdown

    Countdown

  • 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"

  • Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

    Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

  • Hologram Man

    Hologram Man

  • Act of Faith

    Act of Faith

  • The President's Plane Is Missing

    The President's Plane Is Missing

  • The World's Greatest Athlete

    The World's Greatest Athlete

  • Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

    Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

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

    The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda

  • Zombie Hamlet

    Zombie Hamlet

  • Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

    Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

  • Cops and Robin

    Cops and Robin

  • Devotion

    Devotion

  • Christmas Belles

    Christmas Belles

  • The Truth About Santa Claus

    The Truth About Santa Claus

  • Something to Sing About

    Something to Sing About

  • Bonanza: The Next Generation

    Bonanza: The Next Generation

  • Future Cop

    Future Cop

  • TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

    TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

  • All Over Again

    All Over Again

  • Dance of the Dwarfs

    Dance of the Dwarfs

  • Christmas in Miami

    Christmas in Miami

  • Future Cop: Cops and Robin

    Future Cop: Cops and Robin

  • The Beastmaster Chronicles

    The Beastmaster Chronicles

  • Mercy for Angels

    Mercy for Angels

  • The Watermelon Heist

    The Watermelon Heist

  • John Amos: Roots of an American Legend

    John Amos: Roots of an American Legend

  • Tamales and Gumbo

    Tamales and Gumbo