John Amos, renowned for his iconic roles as the strong yet loving father on the classic TV show *Good Times* and as the older Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking mini-series *Roots*, has passed away at the age of 84. His son, Kelly Christopher Amos, shared the news that his father died of natural causes on August 21 in Los Angeles.
In an emotional statement, Kelly expressed his deep sadness: “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 father. He lived a good life, and his legacy will live on through his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
Before becoming an actor, Amos had aspirations of a football career. He played at Colorado State University and tried out for the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League. However, his big break came when he was cast as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*.
Amos’s career took off further when he auditioned for the role of James Evans Sr. on CBS’s *Good Times*, which aired from 1974 to 1979. This series, developed by Eric Monte, Mike Evans, and Norman Lear, was groundbreaking as it centered on a Black American family, making it the first sitcom of its kind.
During his three seasons on *Good Times*, Amos grew frustrated with how his character’s eldest son, JJ—played by Jimmie Walker—was portrayed. “We had a number of differences,” Amos recalled in a 2014 interview. “I felt too much emphasis was being put on JJ in his chicken hat, saying ‘Dy-no-mite!’ every third page. I believed equal focus could have been given to my other two children.”
Amos chose to speak out about his concerns, which ultimately led to his character being killed off in a two-part episode that launched the fourth season in September 1976. Reflecting on the significance of his role, he shared, “Young men, in their 30s and 40s, of every ethnicity imaginable, come up to me and say, ‘You’re the dad I never had.’”
After *Good Times*, Amos again collaborated with Lear on a pilot titled *Onward and Upward*, but he exited that project as well. He soon secured a pivotal role in the acclaimed mini-series *Roots*, a project he described as “just what I needed,” marking a turning point after his challenging experience with *Good Times*. He noted, “It was a vindication, a tremendous feeling of satisfaction.”
Throughout his diverse career, Amos also made appearances in notable shows such as *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*, where he portrayed Will Smith’s stepfather, as well as roles in *Hunter*, *The District*, *Men in Trees*, *All About the Andersons*, and the Netflix series *The Ranch*. His film credits include *The World’s Greatest Athlete*, *Die Hard 2*, and *Coming to America 2*.
