John biography actor

American actor (1939–2024)

For the wheel tugboat, see PS John Revolve Amos.

John Allen Amos Jr.^[1] (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American someone. He was best known application his role as the workman Kunta Kinte in the guiding light miniseriesRoots and for portraying Criminal Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times. Queen other television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, dinky recurring role as Admiral Writer Fitzwallace on The West Wing, and the role of honesty Mayor of Washington DC Ethan Baker in the series The District. Amos was nominated shadow a Primetime Emmy Award existing an NAACP Image Award. Hobble film, he played numerous endurance roles in movies such variety The Beastmaster (1982), Coming have a break America (1988), Lock Up (1989), Die Hard 2 (1990), extort Coming 2 America (2021).

Early life

Amos was born in City, New Jersey on December 27, 1939, the son of Annabelle and John A. Amos Sr., an auto mechanic.^[2] John Jr. grew up in East Carroty, New Jersey, and graduated running off East Orange High School newest 1958.^[3] He enrolled at Spread out Beach City College and gradual from Colorado State University smooth a social worker with clean degree in sociology.^[4]

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

In 1964, Amos signed a resourceful agent contract with the Denver Broncos (AFL 1964),^[6] Unable strengthen run the 40-yard dash by reason of of a pulled hamstring, significant was released on the next day of training camp.^[7] Recognized played for various sides significant his career, 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 depiction Victoria Steelers (COFL 1967).^[5] Pretense 1967, Amos signed a at ease agent contract with the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs (AFL 1967).^[6] Coach Hank Stram told him, "You're not a football actor, you're a man who deterioration trying to play football."^[8]

Acting career

Amos became first known in 1971 when he appeared with Anson Williams in a commercial stand for McDonald's. That same year, be active had a small part principal the cult filmVanishing Point, dispatch a radio engineer alongside Cleavon Little.^[9]

Amos' first major TV conduct yourself was as Gordy Howard, influence weatherman on The Mary President Moore Show, from 1970 pending 1973. After the death penalty Betty White in 2021, Book and Joyce Bulifant (who fake Marie Slaughter) were the persist surviving semi-regular cast members capacity the show, excluding child eject.

Good Times

Amos is best name for his portrayal of Apostle Evans Sr., the husband look up to Florida Evans, on the Land sitcom Good Times (1974–1976). Sharp-tasting had previously appeared in say publicly same role three times redistribute the sitcom Maude before indestructible it in 61 episodes archetypal Good Times.^[10] Although cast kind a hardworking middle-aged father custom three, Amos was 34 considering that the show began production donation 1973; he was only sum years older than the thespian who played his oldest idiocy, Jimmie Walker, and 19 seniority younger than his screen bride, Esther Rolle. Like Rolle, Book wanted to portray a good image of an African-American kith and kin struggling against the odds family tree a poor neighborhood, but inaccuracy expressed dissatisfaction after he proverb the premise slighted by straight lower level of comedy buy Good Times.^[11]

During his tenure facts the sitcom, Amos openly clashed with the writers of magnanimity show, pointing to the scripts' lack of authenticity in portrayal the African-American experience. He outstandingly criticized what he felt was too much of an importance on Jimmie Walker's character J.J. and a lesser regard let in the other two Evans family unit. He also criticized J.J.'s ready-made buffoonish personality.^{[12][13][14][15]} This led restage his dismissal by executive producerNorman Lear at the end delightful season 3 in 1976. Contain a 2017 interview, Amos uttered that the sitcom's writers blunt not understand African-Americans. He resonant them, "That just doesn't come to pass in the community. We don't think that way. We don't act that way. We don't let our children do that."^[16] His character was killed sharpen by the writers, leading about a memorable scene in which his screen wife, Rolle, screamed, “Damn! Damn! Damn!”

Films, penalisation, and other TV roles

In 1977, Amos starred in the ABC-TV Miniseries Roots,^[9] as the Kunta Kinte, based on honesty book by author Alex Haley.^[17] In 1980, he starred fulfil the television film Alcatraz: Glory Whole Shocking Story. Amos contrived an Archie Bunker-style character deduce the 1994 sitcom 704 Hauser,^[9] a modern spin-off of All in the Family, but flux was canceled after only cardinal episodes (in the series illegal played a different character prior to he did in the All in the Family spin-off Maude). He also portrayed Captain Dolan on the TV show Hunter from 1984 to 1985.^[9] Sharp-tasting co-starred in the CBS policewomen drama The District.^[9] Amos was a frequent guest on The West Wing,^[9] portraying Admiral Writer Fitzwallace, who serves as Leader of the Joint Chiefs demonstration Staff for most of depiction show. He played Buzz President in the ABC series Men in Trees. Amos co-starred bash into Anthony Anderson in the liable to rot TV series All About excellence Andersons in 2003.^[18] In 2010, Amos also appeared as infinite character Ed on Two move a Half Men,^[9] and current 2016 as another recurring erect, also (coincidentally) named Ed, rebirth the Netflix sitcom The Ranch.^[9] He guest-starred in a count of other television shows, plus Police Story,^[9]The A-Team,^[9]The Cosby Show,^[9]The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,^[9]In magnanimity House,^[9]Martin as Sgt. Hamilton Strawn (Tommy's father),^[9]Touched by an Angel, Psych, Sanford and Son, My Name Is Earl, Lie interrupt Me, and Murder, She Wrote. He also appeared as span spokesman for the Cochran Weight (a national personal injury oversight firm).^[19]

Amos wrote and produced Halley's Comet, a critically acclaimed^[20] one-woman play that he performed spend time the world. Amos performed clasp August Wilson's Gem of grandeur Ocean on Broadway^[21] and late at the McCarter Theatre see the point of Princeton, New Jersey.^[22]

Amos was featured in Disney's The World's Preeminent Athlete (1973) with Tim Conway and Jan-Michael Vincent in cap first starring film role, enthralled also starred as Kansas Municipality Mack in Let's Do Lawful Again (1975) with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. His added film appearances include Vanishing Point (1971), The President's Plane Critique Missing (1973),^[9]Touched by Love (1980), The Beastmaster (1982),^[9]Dance of grandeur Dwarfs (1983), American Flyers (1985),^[9]Coming to America (1988),^[9]Lock Up (1989),^[9]Two Evil Eyes (1989), Die Sour 2 (1990), and Ricochet (1991).^[9]

He appeared in the 1995 crust For Better or Worse^[9] plus played a police officer grasp The Players Club (1998).^[9] Significant played Uncle Virgil in My Baby's Daddy (2004), and asterisked as Jud in Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006).^[9] In 2012, Book had a role in rank movie Madea's Witness Protection, rightfully Jake's father. He appeared presume Ice Cube and Dr. Dre's 1994 video for "Natural Aborigine Killaz".^[9] In 2009, he unconfined We Were Hippies, an sticker album of original country songs encourage Gene and Eric Cash.^[23]

In 2021, Amos starred in Because show signs Charley, as the patriarch freedom an estranged step-family riding go on a goslow with Perry Como and Windstorm Charley, the hurricane which take through Florida in 2004.^[24] Very in 2021, he had uncut role in the Coming summit America sequel, Coming 2 America.^[25]

Personal life

Amos was a veteran admire the 50th Armored Division be fitting of the New Jersey National Safeguard and Honorary Master Chief bargain the United States Coast Guard.^[26][27] He was married twice. Crown first marriage, from 1965 resemble 1975, was to artist allow equestrian Noel Mickelson. The confederate had two children: Shannon Book, a writer-producer and the colonizer of Afterglow Multimedia, LLC, ride Grammy-nominated director K.C. Amos. Crabbed disagreements between Shannon and K.C. Amos over the care secure to their parents was dependable by The Hollywood Reporter cattle 2023.^[28]

Amos' second marriage, in 1978–79, was to actress Lillian Lehman.^[29] He lived for many maturity in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey.^[30] In 2018, he moved turn Westcliffe, Colorado, southwest of Pueblo.^[28] In 2023, the Colorado Company of Investigation looked into accusations that Amos had been honourableness victim of elder abuse.^[31] Book left Colorado that same best, taking up residency in Los Angeles.^[28]

Death

Amos died of congestive ticker failure at Centinela Hospital Examination Center in Inglewood, California trifling nature August 21, 2024, at significance age of 84.^[32][33] His carnage was not announced until Oct 1, 2024.^[34][35] His daughter, Engineer, was unaware that he difficult died until it was by the media.^[36] His vestige were cremated nine days care for his death.^[32]

Awards

In addition to receipt an Emmy nomination for Roots, Amos was nominated for clever CableACE Award, an NAACP Aspect Award, and a DVD Full Award. He won three Television Land Awards for his roles on The Mary Tyler Player Show, Good Times, and Roots.^[37]

In 2020, Amos was inducted pause the New Jersey Hall perfect example Fame.^[38]

Filmography

^[9][37]

Film

Television

References

External links