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.
Awards & recognition
- New Jersey Hall of Fame · 2019
Filmography50+ titles
The West Wing
All About the Andersons
Good Times
Lie to Me
Psych
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
My Name Is Earl
The Outer Limits
In the House
Martin
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Murder, She Wrote
The A-Team
Future Cop
Sanford and Son
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Ranch
King of the Hill
Roots
Beauty and the Beast
The Movies That Made Us
Uncut Gems
Touched by an Angel
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
Hunter
Althea
Walker, Texas Ranger
Die Hard 2
The Cosby Show
Let's Do It Again
Police Story
Suits LA
Coming to America
Ballers
The District
Lock Up
Royal Pains
The Last Rifleman
Hardcastle and McCormick
The Players Club
Coming 2 America
The Last O.G.
The Beastmaster
The Love Boat
Disappearing Acts
Block Party
Madea's Witness Protection
Ricochet