John Amos

Born: 1939-12-27, Newark, New Jersey, USA

Died: 2024-08-21

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.

Filmography

• King of the Hill (1997)
• Two and a Half Men (2003)
• The Love Boat (1977)
• Psych (2006)
• Murder, She Wrote (1984)
• 30 Rock (2006)
• Hunter (1984)
• The Cosby Show (1984)
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970)
• Lie to Me (2009)
• My Name Is Earl (2005)
• Royal Pains (2009)
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
• Martin (1992)
• Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)
• Touched by an Angel (1994)
• The Outer Limits (1995)
• Sanford and Son (1972)
• The Ranch (2016)
• Hardcastle and McCormick (1983)
• The Last O.G. (2018)
• Die Hard 2 (1990)
• Police Story (1973)
• Coming to America (1988)
• Uncut Gems (2019)
• Men in Trees (2006)
• Roots (1977)
• Suits LA (2025)
• The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971)
• Lock Up (1989)