John Amos

Known for ActingBorn 1939-12-27Died 2024-08-21Newark, New Jersey, USA

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.Read more

Movies & web series

Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

704 Hauser

The Funny Side

All About the Andersons

The West Wing

Lie to Me

Psych

Shark's Paradise

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

My Name Is Earl

Good Times

In the House

The Outer Limits

All Over Again

Future Cop

The Ranch

Bonanza: The Next Generation

30 Rock

Two and a Half Men

Martin

The Movies That Made Us

Uncut Gems

Murder, She Wrote

King of the Hill

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The A-Team

Beauty and the Beast

Future Cop

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

Sanford and Son

Suits LA

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Touched by an Angel

Althea

Roots

Walker, Texas Ranger

Hunter

Ballers

Die Hard 2

The Last Rifleman

The Cosby Show

The District

Vanishing Point

Royal Pains

Coming to America

Let's Do It Again

Dinah!

Police Story