John Amos, the actor best known for his roles as the family patriarch on the hit sitcom *Good Times* and as the adult Kunta Kinte in the iconic miniseries *Roots*, has passed away at the age of 84, according to his longtime publicist, Belinda Foster.
Foster confirmed to CNN that Amos died of natural causes on August 21 in Los Angeles. In a statement shared by Amos’ son, Kelly Christopher Amos, it was expressed, “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. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
Before embarking on an acting career, Amos worked as a social worker and copywriter in New York. His breakthrough came when he landed the role of weatherman Gordon "Gordy" Howard on *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*, marking the start of his Hollywood rise. He went on to make appearances on popular 1970s shows such as *Love, American Style*, *Sanford and Son*, and *The New Dick Van Dyke Show*.
However, Amos became a household name for his portrayal of James Evans Sr., the stern yet loving father on *Good Times*. In a 2020 interview, Amos reflected on his departure from the show after two seasons due to disagreements with the predominantly white writing staff over the depiction of the Black family at the show's center. "I felt like I knew more about what a Black family should be and how a Black father would act than our writers, none of whom were Black," Amos explained. "Their idea of what a Black family should be and what a Black father would be was totally different from mine, and mine was steeped in reality."
Despite his departure, Amos and show creator Norman Lear later reconciled, with a public embrace during the 2019 *Good Times* live TV reunion special.
Amos also garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of Toby, the adult version of Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking 1977 miniseries *Roots*, which earned him an Emmy nomination. Reflecting on the significance of the role, Amos told *Time* magazine in 2021, "It was a life-changing role for me, as an actor and just from a humanistic standpoint. It was like a reward for having suffered those indignities." The role also reunited him with Leslie Uggams, for whom he had written on her short-lived CBS variety show in the late 1960s.
Born and raised in East Orange, New Jersey, Amos initially pursued a career in sports, playing football at Colorado State University. Although he earned a degree in social work, he had dreams of becoming a professional football player and had tryouts with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos, as well as the Canadian Football League's British Columbia Lions. In a video shared by the Chiefs, Amos humorously recalled his brief football career, saying, "All I ever wanted to do all my life was to play pro football." However, Kansas City Chiefs coach Hank Stram, while cutting Amos from the team, famously told him, "You are not a football player, you are a young man who happens to be playing football."
John Amos will be remembered not only for his powerful performances on television but also for the impact he made on countless fans who viewed him as a father figure through his beloved roles. His legacy continues through his contributions to film and television.
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