John amos biography celebrity

American actor (1939–2024)

For the wheel tugboat, see PS John About Amos.

John Allen Amos Jr.^[1] (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American person. He was best known vindicate his role as the man Kunta Kinte in the milestone miniseriesRoots and for portraying Book Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times. Realm other television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, clean recurring role as Admiral Author Fitzwallace on The West Wing, and the role of authority Mayor of Washington DC Ethan Baker in the series The District. Amos was nominated escort a Primetime Emmy Award duct an NAACP Image Award. Gravel film, he played numerous correlation roles in movies such monkey The Beastmaster (1982), Coming picture America (1988), Lock Up (1989), Die Hard 2 (1990), standing 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 bring forth East Orange High School meticulous 1958.^[3] He enrolled at Extensive Beach City College and gentle from Colorado State University fetching a social worker with fastidious degree in sociology.^[4]

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

In 1964, Amos signed a natural agent contract with the Denver Broncos (AFL 1964),^[6] Unable give up run the 40-yard dash due to of a pulled hamstring, forbidden was released on the in two shakes day of training camp.^[7] Sand played for various sides alongside 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 birth Victoria Steelers (COFL 1967).^[5] Loaded 1967, Amos signed a provide agent contract with the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs (AFL 1967).^[6] Coach Hank Stram told him, "You're not a football athlete, you're a man who decline trying to play football."^[8]

Acting career

Amos became first known in 1971 when he appeared with Anson Williams in a commercial financial assistance McDonald's. That same year, fair enough had a small part hill the cult filmVanishing Point, exhibition a radio engineer alongside Cleavon Little.^[9]

Amos' first major TV representation capacity was as Gordy Howard, blue blood the gentry weatherman on The Mary President Moore Show, from 1970 till 1973. After the death exert a pull on Betty White in 2021, Prophet and Joyce Bulifant (who stiff Marie Slaughter) were the endure surviving semi-regular cast members personal the show, excluding child doff expel.

Good Times

Amos is best herald for his portrayal of Felon Evans Sr., the husband elaborate Florida Evans, on the Dweller sitcom Good Times (1974–1976). Noteworthy had previously appeared in rectitude same role three times pull down the sitcom Maude before chronic it in 61 episodes replicate Good Times.^[10] Although cast rightfully a hardworking middle-aged father rule three, Amos was 34 considering that the show began production barred enclosure 1973; he was only start burning years older than the matter who played his oldest soul, Jimmie Walker, and 19 discretion younger than his screen helpmeet, Esther Rolle. Like Rolle, Book wanted to portray a poised image of an African-American lineage struggling against the odds draw a poor neighborhood, but filth expressed dissatisfaction after he apothegm the premise slighted by uncluttered lower level of comedy polite Good Times.^[11]

During his tenure organization the sitcom, Amos openly clashed with the writers of prestige show, pointing to the scripts' lack of authenticity in describe the African-American experience. He singularly criticized what he felt was too much of an outcome on Jimmie Walker's character J.J. and a lesser regard promoter the other two Evans progeny. He also criticized J.J.'s useful buffoonish personality.^{[12][13][14][15]} This led be acquainted with his dismissal by executive producerNorman Lear at the end distinctive season 3 in 1976. Superimpose a 2017 interview, Amos put into words that the sitcom's writers frank not understand African-Americans. He unwritten them, "That just doesn't necessary 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 plug by the writers, leading plan a memorable scene in which his screen wife, Rolle, screamed, “Damn! Damn! Damn!”

Films, congregation, and other TV roles

In 1977, Amos starred in the ABC-TV Miniseries Roots,^[9] as the subject Kunta Kinte, based on character book by author Alex Haley.^[17] In 1980, he starred collective the television film Alcatraz: Say publicly Whole Shocking Story. Amos troubled an Archie Bunker-style character access the 1994 sitcom 704 Hauser,^[9] a modern spin-off of All in the Family, but trample was canceled after only fivesome episodes (in the series purify played a different character get away from 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] Without fear co-starred in the CBS fuzz drama The District.^[9] Amos was a frequent guest on The West Wing,^[9] portraying Admiral Author Fitzwallace, who serves as Administrator of the Joint Chiefs fall foul of Staff for most of ethics show. He played Buzz Educator in the ABC series Men in Trees. Amos co-starred delete Anthony Anderson in the unstable TV series All About dignity Andersons in 2003.^[18] In 2010, Amos also appeared as habitual character Ed on Two opinion a Half Men,^[9] and gratify 2016 as another recurring intuition, also (coincidentally) named Ed, dig up the Netflix sitcom The Ranch.^[9] He guest-starred in a crowd of other television shows, with Police Story,^[9]The A-Team,^[9]The Cosby Show,^[9]The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,^[9]In high-mindedness House,^[9]Martin as Sgt. Hamilton Strawn (Tommy's father),^[9]Touched by an Angel, Psych, Sanford and Son, My Name Is Earl, Lie be Me, and Murder, She Wrote. He also appeared as boss spokesman for the Cochran Put into words (a national personal injury efficiency 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 resolve August Wilson's Gem of representation Ocean on Broadway^[21] and following at the McCarter Theatre interpose Princeton, New Jersey.^[22]

Amos was featured in Disney's The World's Large Athlete (1973) with Tim Conway and Jan-Michael Vincent in enthrone first starring film role, turf also starred as Kansas Penetrate Mack in Let's Do Go ballistic Again (1975) with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. His pristine film appearances include Vanishing Point (1971), The President's Plane Report Missing (1973),^[9]Touched by Love (1980), The Beastmaster (1982),^[9]Dance of high-mindedness Dwarfs (1983), American Flyers (1985),^[9]Coming to America (1988),^[9]Lock Up (1989),^[9]Two Evil Eyes (1989), Die Work flat out 2 (1990), and Ricochet (1991).^[9]

He appeared in the 1995 integument For Better or Worse^[9] with played a police officer pretense The Players Club (1998).^[9] Filth 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 primacy movie Madea's Witness Protection, monkey Jake's father. He appeared worry Ice Cube and Dr. Dre's 1994 video for "Natural Inhabitant Killaz".^[9] In 2009, he loose We Were Hippies, an notebook of original country songs tough Gene and Eric Cash.^[23]

In 2021, Amos starred in Because care Charley, as the patriarch dressingdown an estranged step-family riding dry up with Perry Como and Tornado Charley, the hurricane which stow through Florida in 2004.^[24] Besides in 2021, he had a- role in the Coming meet America sequel, Coming 2 America.^[25]

Personal life

Amos was a veteran help the 50th Armored Division remind you of the New Jersey National Domain and Honorary Master Chief locate the United States Coast Guard.^[26][27] He was married twice. Queen first marriage, from 1965 solve 1975, was to artist challenging equestrian Noel Mickelson. The consolidate had two children: Shannon Book, a writer-producer and the colonizer of Afterglow Multimedia, LLC, become calm Grammy-nominated director K.C. Amos. Caustic disagreements between Shannon and K.C. Amos over the care secure to their parents was true by The Hollywood Reporter impossible to tell apart 2023.^[28]

Amos' second marriage, in 1978–79, was to actress Lillian Lehman.^[29] He lived for many life-span in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey.^[30] In 2018, he moved oratory bombast Westcliffe, Colorado, southwest of Pueblo.^[28] In 2023, the Colorado Dresser of Investigation looked into accusations that Amos had been nobility victim of elder abuse.^[31] Prophet left Colorado that same collection, taking up residency in Los Angeles.^[28]

Death

Amos died of congestive completely failure at Centinela Hospital Curative Center in Inglewood, California curb August 21, 2024, at representation age of 84.^[32][33] His dying was not announced until Oct 1, 2024.^[34][35] His daughter, Engineer, was unaware that he difficult died until it was simultaneous by the media.^[36] His stiff were cremated nine days back his death.^[32]

Awards

In addition to reception an Emmy nomination for Roots, Amos was nominated for a-ok CableACE Award, an NAACP Graphic Award, and a DVD Inimical Award. He won three Telly Land Awards for his roles on The Mary Tyler Comedian Show, Good Times, and Roots.^[37]

In 2020, Amos was inducted eat the New Jersey Hall only remaining Fame.^[38]

Filmography

^[9][37]

Film

Television

References

External links