John Amos, 'Good Times' Dad and 'Roots' Actor, Dies at 84
Source: Variety
Oct 1, 2024 10:55am PT
Courtesy Image
John Amos, the star of Good Times, Roots and more, died on Aug. 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes, his representative confirmed to Variety on Tuesday. He was 84.
It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned, said his son Kelly Christopher Amos in a statement. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold
and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life.
His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor. My father loved working as an actor throughout his entire life
. most recently in Suits LA playing himself and our documentary about his life journey as an actor, Americas Dad. He was my dad, my best friend, and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support at this time.
Born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, Amos acting career picked up when he landed the role of weatherman Gordon Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore show in 1970. From there, he brought his comedic talents to CBS Good Times, a spinoff of Maude and All in the Family, and played father James Evans Sr. in 1974. The Norman Lear program made history as the first TV show to follow a African American, two-parent. household.
Read more: https://variety.com/2024/tv/obituaries-people-news/john-amos-dead-good-times-roots-1236161810/
Dammit. His is a heartbreaking loss. I remember reading years ago about how he battled the network due to the rampant stereotyping. It took a long time but the industry was slowly changed.
R.I.P., thank you for your great body of work, and condolences to the family.
littlemissmartypants
(24,634 posts)SWBTATTReg
(23,857 posts)RIP.
BeyondGeography
(39,923 posts)But I cant think of any off the top of my head. He conveyed every human feeling he was asked to with incredible depth.
BumRushDaShow
(139,618 posts)They were around the same age but Helmsely pre-deceased Amos by a dozen years.
RAB910
(3,911 posts)AZSkiffyGeek
(12,437 posts)iluvtennis
(20,617 posts)RAB910
(3,911 posts)cstanleytech
(26,882 posts)Ramsey Barner
(547 posts)Aristus
(67,916 posts)Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Percival Fitz FitzWallace. He brought incredible dignitas to The West Wing.
In a time when a lot of senior military officers were portrayed as bellowing buffoons, Amoss FitzWallace was rational, measured, insanely competent, and devoted to duty.
Prairie Gates
(2,446 posts)IYKYK
tulipsandroses
(5,924 posts)Grins
(7,802 posts)Couple weeks ago. A late night re-run of Two and a Half Men.
Amos played the rough, tough ex-Navy seaman who linked up with fellow ex-Navy seaman, Stacy Keach. Both gay who finally found themselves and set up living with each other. Both great in those roles.
Tadpole Raisin
(1,379 posts)RIP
MuseRider
(34,319 posts)I refuse this info. I have watched everything to see if he was in it for so long. He was so good. I do not know what he was like as a man but to me he was the best.
Crushing.
cstanleytech
(26,882 posts)BumRushDaShow
(139,618 posts)elleng
(135,217 posts)Percy Fitzwallace worked as a navy admiral, and served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for most of the Bartlet Administration, on The West Wing.
West Wingers taking the news hard.
iluvtennis
(20,617 posts)2naSalit
(91,458 posts)Performed a one man play back in the late 1990s, can't recall the title but he toured college campuses and small theaters with it, I saw it when he came to my campus. It was a very moving play and was totally worth going to. I admired him so much more after that.
RIP...
Oopsie Daisy
(4,283 posts)Rest in Peace, John Amos.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,571 posts)Iggo
(48,170 posts)KS Toronado
(19,089 posts)Clouds Passing
(1,513 posts)LittleGirl
(8,365 posts)Love that man. R I P
Mosby
(17,165 posts)From West Wing.
Those are the most recent memories I have about him. He was a great actor.
Kaleva
(37,811 posts)red dog 1
(28,964 posts)Besides "Roots," & "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," I also remember him doing an episode of "Sanford & Son"
He appeared in more than 50 movies and nearly 60 TV shows.
R.I.P. John.
wysimdnwyg
(2,243 posts)Everyone remembers - and rightly so - James Earl Jones from his performance as King Jaffe Joffer, but dont sleep on John Amoss Cleo McDowell, father of Eddie Murphys love interest Lisa (Shari Headley).
JoseBalow
(4,717 posts)My buns have no seeds...
(0:41)
ancianita
(37,946 posts)Talitha
(7,354 posts)Torchlight
(4,221 posts)He had the role of the Chairmain of the Joint Chiefs or somesuch talking one on one with the Pres and says something along the lines of "I don't know who the world's leading expert on warfare is, but any list of the top has got to include me, and I can't tell when it's peacetime and wartime anymore."
Entire scene was gripping. That line just kinda saw my blood run cold. It was one of "those" moments when I entirely forget I'm watching an actor perform.
gohuskies
(1,182 posts)This talented man gave so much more than great performances, he was a humanitarian and committed to equality and making the world a better place. Rest in peace Mr. Amos.
Yavin4
(35,872 posts)This has been a tough week.