John Amos
Actor
- Born
- December 27, 1939 · Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Died
- August 21, 2024 (age 84)
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.
Known for
Die Hard 2
July 3, 1990
Uncut Gems
December 13, 2019
Coming to America
June 29, 1988
Coming 2 America
March 4, 2021
Lock Up
August 4, 1989
Me Time
August 26, 2022
Vanishing Point
January 15, 1971
Dr. Dolittle 3
April 25, 2006
The Beastmaster
August 16, 1982
Ricochet
October 4, 1991
Two Evil Eyes
January 25, 1990
Madea's Witness Protection
June 29, 2012
Acting62
- 2023The Last Rifleman as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
- 2022Me Time as Gil
- 2022Block Party as Dennis
- 2021Christmas in Miami as Chief Host
- 2021Because of Charley as Grandpa
- 2021Coming 2 America as Cleo McDowell
- 2020The Truth About Santa Claus as Bob
- 2020The Beastmaster Chronicles as Self
- 2019Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" as Fred Davis
- 2019Uncut Gems