John Amos
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Dec 27, 1939
- Died
- Aug 21, 2024 (aged 84)
- Place of birth
- Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Credits
- 110
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
Filmography
Suits LA
2025TV
John Amos
The Last Rifleman
2023Movie
Lincoln Jefferson Adams
Me Time
2022Movie
Gil
Block Party
2022Movie
Dennis
Christmas in Miami
2021Movie
Chief Host
Because of Charley
2021Movie
Grandpa
Coming 2 America
2021Movie
Cleo McDowell
The Truth About Santa Claus
2020Movie
Bob
The Beastmaster Chronicles
2020Movie
Self
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
2019Movie
Fred Davis
Uncut Gems
2019Movie
Neighbor 33F
The Movies That Made Us
2019TV
Self
Christmas Belles
2019Movie
Pop Pop
The Last O.G.
2018TV
Uncle D
The Ranch
2016TV
Ed
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
2016Movie
Self
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
2015Movie
Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
Tamales and Gumbo
2015Movie
The Patron
Ballers
2015TV
Deacon Eller
Mercy for Angels
2015Movie
God
Bad Asses on the Bayou
2015Movie
Earl
Act of Faith
2014Movie
Mr. Brady
American Lowrider
2013Movie
Slick
Madea's Witness Protection
2012Movie
Pastor Nelson
NYC 22
2012TV
Pappy Science
Zombie Hamlet
2012Movie
Edgar Mortimer
Royal Pains
2009TV
Harrison Phillips
Lie to Me
2009TV
Jim Weaver
All Over Again
2007Movie
Coach Zeller
Ascension Day
2007Movie
Henry
30 Rock
2006TV
John Amos
Men in Trees
2006TV
Buzz Washington
Psych
2006TV
Uncle Burton
Voodoo Moon
2006Movie
Dutch
Dr. Dolittle 3
2006Movie
Jud
My Name Is Earl
2005TV
Joe
Shadowboxing
2005Movie
Хилл
Countdown
2004Movie
Admiral Melory
My Baby's Daddy
2004Movie
Uncle Virgil
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004Movie
(archive footage)
Two and a Half Men
2003TV
Ed
All About the Andersons
2003TV
Joe Anderson
The Watermelon Heist
2003Movie
Old Man Amos
Remembering Roots
2002Movie
Self
Disappearing Acts
2000Movie
Mr. Swift
The District
2000TV
Ethan Baker
Something to Sing About
2000Movie
Rev. Washington
The West Wing
1999TV
Percy Fitzwallace
The Players Club
1998Movie
Freeman
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
1997Movie
Booker Hutch
The Chris Rock Show
1997TV
Self
King of the Hill
1997TV
Glen Johnson (voice)
Hologram Man
1995Movie
Wes Strickland
In the House
1995TV
The Outer Limits
1995TV
Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
For Better or Worse
1995Movie
Gray
Touched by an Angel
1994TV
James Mackey
704 Hauser
1994TV
Ernie Cumberbatch
Night Trap
1993Movie
Capt. Hodges
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993TV
Pastor Roscoe Jones
Mac
1992Movie
Nat
Martin
1992TV
Sgt. Strawn
Ricochet
1991Movie
Reverend Styles
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990TV
Fred Wilkes
Die Hard 2
1990Movie
Major Grant
Two Evil Eyes
1990Movie
Det. Legrand
Lock Up
1989Movie
Captain Meissner
Coming to America
1988Movie
Cleo McDowell
Bonanza: The Next Generation
1988Movie
Mr. Mack
Beauty and the Beast
1987TV
Farrell
Shark's Paradise
1986Movie
Taxi Driver
American Flyers
1985Movie
Dr. Conrad
Murder, She Wrote
1984TV
Doc Penrose
The Cosby Show
1984TV
Dr. Herbert
Hunter
1984TV
Captain Dolan
Hardcastle and McCormick
1983TV
Albie Meadows
Dance of the Dwarfs
1983Movie
Esteban
The A-Team
1983TV
Rev. Taylor
The Beastmaster
1982Movie
Seth
Here's Boomer
1981TV
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980Movie
Bumpy Johnson
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980TV
Bumpy Johnson
Touched by Love
1980Movie
Tony
Willa
1979Movie
Virgil
Cops and Robin
1978Movie
Officer Bill Bundy
The Love Boat
1977TV
Duke Taylor
Future Cop
1977TV
Bill Bundy
Roots
1977TV
Toby, Kunta Kinte
Roots: The Complete Miniseries
1977TV
Older Kunta Kinte
Future Cop
1976Movie
Officer Bill Bundy
Let's Do It Again
1975Movie
Kansas City Mack
Dinah!
1974TV
Self
Good Times
1974TV
James Evans Sr.
The President's Plane Is Missing
1973Movie
Marine Corporal
Police Story
1973TV
Walt Kyles
The World's Greatest Athlete
1973Movie
Coach Sam Archer
Sanford and Son
1972TV
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1971TV
Mark Cooper
The Funny Side
1971TV
Minority Husband
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
1971Movie
Biker
Vanishing Point
1971Movie
Super Soul's Engineer (uncredited)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970TV
Gordy Howard
Love, American Style
1969TV
Bell Captain
The Merv Griffin Show
1962TV
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962TV
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961TV
Self
Future Cop: Cops and Robin
Movie
Officer Bundy
Devotion
Movie
Roger
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend
Movie
Self
Information Processing
Movie
Self