LOS ANGELES — Actor John Amos, known for numerous memorable, television and film roles, including the groundbreaking hit comedy “Good Times” and the “Roots” miniseries in 1977, has died at age 84.
Amos died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, per the Associated Press.
Amos was born Dec. 27, 1939 in Newark, New Jersey. He graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelors degree in Sociology and briefly took a career as a social worker.
Amos’ first major TV role was playing TV weatherman Gordy Howard — the only Black character — on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” from 1970-73.
Arguably, Amos’ most famous role was playing the patriach of a Black family as James Evans Sr. on “Good Times” one of the first Black families on television. The show stayed on the air from 1974-1979, though Amos had been fired from the role after three seasons due to creative differences; Amos complained “Good Times” had too many white writers and their story ideas weren’t always accurate depictions of Black American family.
“That show was the closest depiction in reality to life as an African American family living in those circumstances as it could be,” Amos told Time Magazine in 2021.
His additional film and television credits include “Let’s Do It Again” with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier, “Coming to America” (and Coming 2 America) starring Eddie Murphy, and “Madea’s Witness Protection.” He also guest starred on “The West Wing,” “The District,” “Two and a Half Men,” and more.
Amos, who had served in the New Jersey National Guard, was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2020.
Amos, who was divorced, is survived by his two children from his first marriage.
More on the life and career of John Amos.
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