John Amos
Born: 1939-12-27 in Newark, New Jersey, USA
Died: 2024-08-21
Known For: Acting
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
2025
- Suits LA as John Amos
2023
- The Last Rifleman as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
2022
- Me Time as Gil
- Block Party as Dennis
2021
- Coming 2 America as Cleo McDowell
- Because of Charley as Grandpa
- Christmas in Miami as Chief Host
2020
- The Beastmaster Chronicles as Self
- The Truth About Santa Claus as Bob
2019
- The Movies That Made Us as Self
- Uncut Gems as Neighbor 33F
- Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" as Fred Davis
- Christmas Belles as Pop Pop
2018
- The Last O.G. as Uncle D
2016
- The Ranch as Ed
- Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You as Self
2015
- Ballers as Deacon Eller
- Bad Asses on the Bayou as Earl
- Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
- Tamales and Gumbo as The Patron
- Mercy for Angels as God
2014
- Act of Faith as Mr. Brady
- Althea ... (Executive Producer)
2013
- American Lowrider as Slick
2012
- NYC 22 as Pappy Science
- Madea's Witness Protection as Pastor Nelson
- Zombie Hamlet as Edgar Mortimer
2009
- Lie to Me as Jim Weaver
- Royal Pains as Harrison Phillips
2007
- All Over Again as Coach Zeller
- Ascension Day as Henry
2006
- Psych as Uncle Burton
- 30 Rock as John Amos
- Men in Trees as Buzz Washington
- Dr. Dolittle 3 as Jud
- Voodoo Moon as Dutch
2005
- My Name Is Earl as Joe
- Shadowboxing as Хилл
2004
- Countdown as Admiral Melory
- My Baby's Daddy as Uncle Virgil
- TV in Black: The First Fifty Years as (archive footage)
2003
- Two and a Half Men as Ed
- All About the Andersons as Joe Anderson
- The Watermelon Heist as Old Man Amos
2002
- Remembering Roots as Self
2000
- The District as Ethan Baker
- Disappearing Acts as Mr. Swift
- Something to Sing About as Rev. Washington
1999
- The West Wing as Percy Fitzwallace
1998
- The Players Club as Freeman
1997
- King of the Hill as Glen Johnson (voice)
- The Chris Rock Show as Self
- The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda as Booker Hutch
1995
- The Outer Limits as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
- In the House
- Hologram Man as Wes Strickland
- For Better or Worse as Gray
1994
- Touched by an Angel as James Mackey
- 704 Hauser as Ernie Cumberbatch
1993
- Walker, Texas Ranger as Pastor Roscoe Jones
- Night Trap as Capt. Hodges
1991
- Ricochet as Reverend Styles
1990
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Fred Wilkes
- Die Hard 2 as Major Grant
- Two Evil Eyes as Det. Legrand
1989
- Lock Up as Captain Meissner
1988
- Coming to America as Cleo McDowell
- Bonanza: The Next Generation as Mr. Mack
1987
- Beauty and the Beast as Farrell
1986
- Shark's Paradise as Taxi Driver
1985
- American Flyers as Dr. Conrad
1984
- Murder, She Wrote as Doc Penrose
- The Cosby Show as Dr. Herbert
- Hunter as Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
1983
- The A-Team as Rev. Taylor
- Hardcastle and McCormick as Albie Meadows
- Dance of the Dwarfs as Esteban
1982
- The Beastmaster as Seth
1981
1980
- Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story as Bumpy Johnson
- Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story as Bumpy Johnson
- Touched by Love as Tony
1979
- Willa as Virgil
1978
- Cops and Robin as Officer Bill Bundy
1977
- The Love Boat as Duke Taylor
- Roots as Toby
- Future Cop as Bill Bundy
- Roots: The Complete Miniseries as Older Kunta Kinte
1976
- Future Cop as Officer Bill Bundy
1975
- Let's Do It Again as Kansas City Mack
1974
- Good Times as James Evans Sr.
- Dinah! as Self
1973
- Police Story as Walt Kyles
- The World's Greatest Athlete as Coach Sam Archer
- The President's Plane Is Missing as Marine Corporal
1972
1971
- The New Dick Van Dyke Show as Mark Cooper
- Vanishing Point as Super Soul's Engineer
- Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song as Biker
- The Funny Side as Minority Husband
1970
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Gordy Howard
1969
- Love, American Style as Bell Captain
1962
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show as Self
1961
- The Mike Douglas Show as Self