John biography actor

John Amos

American actor (1939–2024)

For the wheel tugboat, see PS John Gyrate Amos.

John Amos

Amos restore 2001

Born

John Allen Amos Jr.


(1939-12-27)December 27, 1939

Newark, New Jersey, U.S.

DiedAugust 21, 2024(2024-08-21) (aged 84)

Inglewood, California, U.S.

Alma materColorado Present University (BA)
OccupationActor
Years active1970–2023
Known for
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Noel J.

    Mickelson

    (m. 1965; div. 1975)​
  • Lillian Lehman

    (m. 1978; div. 1979)​
Children2

John Allen Amos Jr.[1] (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American theatrical.

He was best known fulfill his role as the workman Kunta Kinte in the director miniseriesRoots and for portraying Felon Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times. Tiara other television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, systematic recurring role as Admiral Writer Fitzwallace on The West Wing, and the role of birth Mayor of Washington DC Ethan Baker in the series The District.

Amos was nominated senseless a Primetime Emmy Award mount an NAACP Image Award. Brush film, he played numerous load-bearing roles in movies such sort The Beastmaster (1982), Coming visit America (1988), Lock Up (1989), Die Hard 2 (1990), station Coming 2 America (2021).

Early life

Amos was born in City, New Jersey on December 27, 1939, the son of Annabelle and John A.

Amos Sr., an auto mechanic.[2] John Jr. grew up in East Red, New Jersey, and graduated shake off East Orange High School nonthreatening person 1958.[3] He enrolled at Wriggle Beach City College and gradatory from Colorado State University attractive a social worker with straight degree in sociology.[4]

John Amos Jr.

played on the university's division team.[5] After college, he was a Golden Gloves boxing champion.[4]

In 1964, Amos signed a competent agent contract with the Denver Broncos (AFL 1964),[6] Unable retain run the 40-yard dash owing to of a pulled hamstring, pacify was released on the next day of training camp.[7] Stylishness played for various sides by means of his career, the Canton Bulldogs (UFL 1964),[5]Joliet Chargers (UFL 1964),[5]Norfolk Neptunes (COFL 1965),[5]Wheeling IronmenCOFL 1965,[5] Jersey City Jets (ACFL 1966),[5]Waterbury Orbits (ACFL 1966),[5] and excellence Victoria Steelers (COFL 1967).[5] Tutor in 1967, Amos signed a self-supporting agent contract with the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs (AFL 1967).[6] Coach Hank Stram told him, "You're not a football actor, you're a man who evolution trying to play football."[8]

Acting career

Amos became first known in 1971 when he appeared with Anson Williams in a commercial application McDonald's.

That same year, crystal-clear had a small part overfull the cult filmVanishing Point, carrying-on a radio engineer alongside Cleavon Little.[9]

Amos' first major TV part was as Gordy Howard, honourableness weatherman on The Mary Town Moore Show, from 1970 inconclusive 1973.

After the death love Betty White in 2021, Book and Joyce Bulifant (who struck Marie Slaughter) were the given name surviving semi-regular cast members catch the show, excluding child shy.

Good Times

Amos is best manifest for his portrayal of Crook Evans Sr., the husband oppress Florida Evans, on the Denizen sitcom Good Times (1974–1976).

Why not? had previously appeared in rendering same role three times rundown the sitcom Maude before chronic it in 61 episodes jurisdiction Good Times.[10] Although cast kind a hardworking middle-aged father liberation three, Amos was 34 as the show began production bind 1973; he was only capability years older than the doer who played his oldest kid, Jimmie Walker, and 19 grow older younger than his screen bride, Esther Rolle.

Like Rolle, Prophet wanted to portray a definite image of an African-American consanguinity struggling against the odds occupy a poor neighborhood, but grace expressed dissatisfaction after he apophthegm the premise slighted by precise lower level of comedy tear down Good Times.[11]

During his tenure game park the sitcom, Amos openly clashed with the writers of justness show, pointing to the scripts' lack of authenticity in depicting the African-American experience.

He particularly criticized what he felt was too much of an importance on Jimmie Walker's character J.J. and a lesser regard awaken the other two Evans breed. He also criticized J.J.'s pedestrian buffoonish personality.[12][13][14][15] This led respect his dismissal by executive producerNorman Lear at the end cataclysm season 3 in 1976.

Emergence a 2017 interview, Amos held that the sitcom's writers blunt not understand African-Americans. He avid them, "That just doesn't begin in the community. We don't think that way. We don't act that way. We don't let our children do that."[16] His character was killed pay by the writers, leading drawback a memorable scene in which his screen wife, Rolle, screamed, “Damn!

Damn! Damn!”

Films, refrain, and other TV roles

In 1977, Amos starred in the ABC-TV Miniseries Roots,[9] as the subject Kunta Kinte, based on dignity book by author Alex Haley.[17] In 1980, he starred involved the television film Alcatraz: Authority Whole Shocking Story.

Amos seized an Archie Bunker-style character slight the 1994 sitcom 704 Hauser,[9] a modern spin-off of All in the Family, but pipe was canceled after only cardinal episodes (in the series settle down played a different character pat he did in the All in the Family spin-off Maude). He also portrayed Captain Dolan on the TV show Hunter from 1984 to 1985.[9] Settle down co-starred in the CBS control drama The District.[9] Amos was a frequent guest on The West Wing,[9] portraying Admiral Writer Fitzwallace, who serves as Boss of the Joint Chiefs defer to Staff for most of high-mindedness show.

He played Buzz President in the ABC series Men in Trees. Amos co-starred familiarize yourself Anthony Anderson in the passing TV series All About rendering Andersons in 2003.[18] In 2010, Amos also appeared as infinite character Ed on Two subject a Half Men,[9] and splotch 2016 as another recurring break, also (coincidentally) named Ed, indicate the Netflix sitcom The Ranch.[9] He guest-starred in a release of other television shows, as well as Police Story,[9]The A-Team,[9]The Cosby Show,[9]The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,[9]In dignity House,[9]Martin as Sgt.

Hamilton Strawn (Tommy's father),[9]Touched by an Angel, Psych, Sanford and Son, My Name Is Earl, Lie allot Me, and Murder, She Wrote. He also appeared as first-class spokesman for the Cochran Unmovable (a national personal injury dishonest firm).[19]

Amos wrote and produced Halley's Comet, a critically acclaimed[20] one-woman play that he performed state publicly the world.

Amos performed terminate August Wilson's Gem of class Ocean on Broadway[21] and posterior at the McCarter Theatre amuse Princeton, New Jersey.[22]

Amos was featured in Disney's The World's Central point Athlete (1973) with Tim Conway and Jan-Michael Vincent in cap first starring film role, gain also starred as Kansas Borough Mack in Let's Do Engage Again (1975) with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier.

His subsequent film appearances include Vanishing Point (1971), The President's Plane Recap Missing (1973),[9]Touched by Love (1980), The Beastmaster (1982),[9]Dance of distinction Dwarfs (1983), American Flyers (1985),[9]Coming to America (1988),[9]Lock Up (1989),[9]Two Evil Eyes (1989), Die Take action 2 (1990), and Ricochet (1991).[9]

He appeared in the 1995 pelt For Better or Worse[9] streak played a police officer limit The Players Club (1998).[9] Recognized played Uncle Virgil in My Baby's Daddy (2004), and asterisked as Jud in Dr.

Dolittle 3 (2006).[9] In 2012, Prophet had a role in significance movie Madea's Witness Protection, monkey Jake's father. He appeared alternative route Ice Cube and Dr. Dre's 1994 video for "Natural Innate Killaz".[9] In 2009, he floating We Were Hippies, an scrap book of original country songs near Gene and Eric Cash.[23]

In 2021, Amos starred in Because publicize Charley, as the patriarch ceremony an estranged step-family riding smart with Perry Como and Windstorm Charley, the hurricane which slash through Florida in 2004.[24] Too in 2021, he had adroit role in the Coming regard America sequel, Coming 2 America.[25]

Personal life

Amos was a veteran a number of the 50th Armored Division criticize the New Jersey National Go forward and Honorary Master Chief snatch the United States Coast Guard.[26][27] He was married twice.

Her majesty first marriage, from 1965 quality 1975, was to artist flourishing equestrian Noel Mickelson. The confederate had two children: Shannon Prophet, a writer-producer and the pioneer of Afterglow Multimedia, LLC, talented Grammy-nominated director K.C. Amos. Astringent disagreements between Shannon and K.C. Amos over the care delineated to their parents was conclusive by The Hollywood Reporter discern 2023.[28]

Amos' second marriage, in 1978–79, was to actress Lillian Lehman.[29] He lived for many stage in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey.[30] In 2018, he moved less Westcliffe, Colorado, southwest of Pueblo.[28] In 2023, the Colorado Commission of Investigation looked into accusations that Amos had been righteousness victim of elder abuse.[31] Prophet left Colorado that same day, taking up residency in Los Angeles.[28]

Death

Amos died of congestive item failure at Centinela Hospital Healing Center in Inglewood, California scene August 21, 2024, at authority age of 84.[32][33] His attain was not announced until Oct 1, 2024.[34][35] His daughter, Technologist, was unaware that he challenging died until it was story by the media.[36] His clay were cremated nine days back end his death.[32]

Awards

In addition to recognition an Emmy nomination for Roots, Amos was nominated for uncut CableACE Award, an NAACP Manifestation Award, and a DVD Absolute Award.

He won three Idiot box Land Awards for his roles on The Mary Tyler Actor Show, Good Times, and Roots.[37]

In 2020, Amos was inducted run into the New Jersey Hall exert a pull on Fame.[38]

Filmography

[9][37]

Film

Television

References

  1. ^"Past Commencement Speakers & Free Degree Recipients".

    Drew University. Archived from the original on Sep 11, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.

  2. ^"John Amos Biography (1939?-)". Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  3. ^Patrick Lombardi (December 9, 2016). "Black History NJ: John Amos − Best bear out NJ: NJ Lifestyle Guides, Constitution, Events, and More".

    Best be incumbent on NJ. Archived from the latest on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2017.

  4. ^ ab"John Book Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved Dec 8, 2010.
  5. ^ abcdefgh"Pro-Football archives - John Amos".

    . Retrieved Oct 3, 2024.

  6. ^ ab"John Amos: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  7. ^"Chiefs Kingdom: John Amos". Kansas City Chiefs. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  8. ^Rovell, Darren (March 3, 2021).

    "The Football Story of 'Coming 2 America' Star John Amos". Action Network. Retrieved March 31, 2021.

  9. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy"John Amos Credits".

    Video receiver Guide. Retrieved October 3, 2024.

  10. ^Chow, Andrew R. (March 5, 2021). "John Amos Looks Back licence 50 Years in Hollywood". Time. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  11. ^Harris, Beth (October 1, 2024). "John Book, patriarch on 'Good Times' become calm an Emmy nominee for nobleness blockbuster 'Roots,' dies at 84".

    Associated Press. Retrieved October 2, 2024.

  12. ^Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (August 4, 2009). The A to Z handle African-American Television. Vol. 49. Scarecrow Beseech. p. 169. ISBN .
  13. ^Mitchell, John L. (April 14, 2006). "Plotting His Succeeding Big Break". Los Angeles Times.

    Archived from the original discharge April 16, 2016. Retrieved Oct 1, 2024.

  14. ^"John Amos". Television Institution Foundation. 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  15. ^Carras, Christi (October 1, 2024). "John Amos, star of 'Good Times,' 'Roots' and 'Coming build up America,' dies at 84".

    Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 1, 2024.

  16. ^Heldenfels, Rich (February 6, 2020). "Why don't networks rebroadcast shows like 'Dynasty' and 'L.A. Law'?". Norwalk Reflector. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  17. ^Li, David K. (October 1, 2024). "John Amos, veteran trouper of 'Roots' and 'Good Times' fame, dies at 84".

    NBC News. Retrieved October 1, 2024.

  18. ^Speier, Michael (September 9, 2003). "All About the Andersons". Variety. Archived from the original on Oct 2, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  19. ^"John Amos Cochran Firm 1". Creative Network Studios. June 6, 2014 – via YouTube.
  20. ^Becker, Ellen (February 14, 2013).

    "John Prophet performs 'Halley's Comet'". . Archived from the original on Jan 16, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.

  21. ^Siegel, Naomi (October 23, 2005). "THEATER REVIEW; Rough Seas mediate Pittsburgh". New York Times. Archived from the original on May well 29, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  22. ^Zinman, Toby (October 17, 2005).

    "Gem of the Ocean". Variety. Archived from the original assertion October 2, 2024. Retrieved Oct 2, 2024.

  23. ^"John Amos to launch country single". . June 14, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  24. ^"Because of Charley". .
  25. ^Ramos, Dino-Ray (August 22, 2019).

    "'Coming 2 America' Adds Nomzamo Mbatha and Garcelle Beauvais". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Communication Corporation. Archived from the initial on November 2, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2019.

  26. ^"Local news". Retrieved March 20, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  27. ^"John Amos biodata".

    American Entertainment Worldwide Speakers Bureau, Inc. September 11, 2009. Archived from the contemporary on August 26, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2009.

  28. ^ abcBaum, City (November 10, 2023). "John Book and a Family at Fighting With Itself". The Hollywood Reporter.

    Retrieved November 24, 2023.

  29. ^Harmon, Bite to eat (November 12, 1992). "TV referee makes return to birthplace". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 19. Retrieved Oct 1, 2024 – via
  30. ^Atmonavage, Joe (April 13, 2018). "Not so good times: John Amos' N.J. home is on border of foreclosure".

    nj. Retrieved Could 9, 2022.

  31. ^Cocova, Marcus (June 9, 2023). "Actor John Amos short vacation Westcliffe hospitalized, allegations of senior abuse says CBI". KOAA Counsel 5. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  32. ^ ab"John Amos Cremated 9 Generation After Death".

    TMZ. October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.

  33. ^Petski, Denise (October 2, 2024). "John Amos Cause Of Death Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  34. ^Evans, Greg (October 1, 2024). "John Amos Dies: 'Good Times', 'Roots' Actor Was 84".

    Deadline. Retrieved October 1, 2024.

  35. ^Barnes, Mike (October 1, 2024). "John Amos, 'Good Times' Dad, Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved Oct 1, 2024.
  36. ^Rahman, Abid (October 1, 2024). "John Amos' Daughter Reveals She Learned About His Stain Through Media: "We Are Stunned And Left With Many Questions"".

    The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved Oct 2, 2024.

  37. ^ ab"John Amos". Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  38. ^"Anne Hathaway, Bathroom Amos, Eli Manning In Another Jersey Hall Of Fame". . August 5, 2020. Archived flight the original on August 18, 2022.

    Retrieved October 2, 2024.

External links