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

704 Hauser

The Funny Side

Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

All About the Andersons

The West Wing

Lie to Me

Psych

Shark's Paradise

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

In the House

Good Times

My Name Is Earl

The Outer Limits

All Over Again

30 Rock

Bonanza: The Next Generation

The Ranch

Martin

The Movies That Made Us

Two and a Half Men

King of the Hill

Uncut Gems

Murder, She Wrote

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The A-Team

Beauty and the Beast

Future Cop

Future Cop

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

Sanford and Son

Roots

Althea

Touched by an Angel

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Suits LA

Ballers

Hunter

Walker, Texas Ranger

The Last Rifleman

Royal Pains

Die Hard 2

The District

The Cosby Show

Vanishing Point

Coming to America

Dinah!

Police Story

Lock Up