John Amos, best known for portraying family patriarch James Evan Sr. in the acclaimed sitcom “Good Times” and the adult Kunta Kinte in the iconic miniseries “Roots,” has passed away at the age of 84. His publicist, Belinda Foster, confirmed he died of natural causes on August 21 in Los Angeles. Amos’s son, Kelly Christopher Amos, expressed profound sadness and highlighted his father’s kind nature, noting that many fans regarded him as their TV father, and affirmed that his legacy would live on.
Originally from East Orange, New Jersey, Amos had aspirations of becoming a professional football player, playing at Colorado State University before brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. He transitioned into acting after initially working as a social worker and copywriter, gaining fame with roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and other popular series.
Notably, Amos left “Good Times” after two seasons due to creative differences regarding the portrayal of Black families. He later earned an Emmy nomination for his role in “Roots,” recognising the significance of this role in challenging stereotypes. Amos also featured in the 1988 hit comedy “Coming to America” and its sequel. Despite facing family issues in recent times, he reassured fans of his well-being.