John Amos, Emmy-Nominated Actor of 'Roots' and 'Good Times' Fame, Dies at 84

John Amos as James Evans Sr. on the set of the groundbreaking 1970s sitcom "Good Times."

 John Amos, the acclaimed actor best known for his roles as the stern but loving father on the 1970s sitcom "Good Times" and as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots," has died. He was 84.

Amos died of natural causes Saturday in Los Angeles, his publicist Belinda Foster said.

His son, Kelly Christopher Amos, released a statement via email: “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold…and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV dad. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”   

This one hits different. My condolences go out to the family of a true legend, John Amos 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/7MKqE7szVk

— Martin Lawrence (@realmartymar) October 1, 2024Born in East Orange, New Jersey, on Dec. 27, 1939, Amos had an early passion for football and played at Colorado State University, where he earned a degree in sociology. Despite tryouts with the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos, his brief professional football career was unsuccessful.

Amos found his calling in acting, beginning with roles on 1970s shows like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," where he played weatherman Gordy Howard, and "Sanford and Son." However, his stardom soared with his role as James Evans Sr. on "Good Times." The CBS sitcom, which aired from 1974 to 1979, became a cultural touchstone, portraying one of television's first Black two-parent families.

John Amos' acting career all started thanks to a poem, written about being cut from countless football teams ✍️

RIP to one-time Kansas City Chief and one of a kind entertainer. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/6tVnwGtKgt

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) October 1, 2024Despite the success of "Good Times," Amos was outspoken about his dissatisfaction with the show's direction, particularly its portrayal of the Black family. In a 2020 interview, he revealed his disagreements with the white writers: “I felt like I knew more about what a Black family should be and how a Black father would act than our writers…Their idea of what a Black family should be was totally different from mine, and mine was steeped in reality.”  After three seasons, Amos was written off the show; his character was killed in a car accident.

In 1977, Amos made history again with his role as Kunta Kinte in the Emmy-nominated miniseries "Roots." Based on Alex Haley's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the series was a ratings phenomenon and earned Amos critical acclaim. “I knew that it was a life-changing role for me, as an actor and just from a humanistic standpoint,” Amos said in a 2021 interview with Time magazine. “It was like a reward for having suffered those indignities.”

Over the years, Amos continued to leave his mark with roles in films such as "Coming to America" and its 2021 sequel, "Die Hard 2" and "Uncut Gems." He also made notable appearances on TV shows like "The West Wing," "Hunter," "Men in Trees" and "The Ranch."

Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2020.