John Amos, star of ‘Good Times,’ ‘Roots’ and ‘Coming to America,’ dies at 84

As I delve into the captivating life story of John Amos, a man who has graced both the small and big screens with his exceptional talent, I am struck by the remarkable versatility he has displayed throughout his career. From copywriting to comedy writing, and from the weatherman on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to the Commander-in-Chief Percy “Fitz” Fitzwallace on “The West Wing,” Amos’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and adaptability.

John Amos, a renowned actor who left an indelible mark on television shows like “Good Times” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” as well as films such as “Coming to America” and “Roots,” passed away at the age of 84.

On Tuesday, Amos’ public representative, Belinda Foster, verified his passing to the Associated Press. At this time, further information is not yet disclosed.

For three years spanning over three TV seasons, Amos gained nationwide admiration as the stern yet affectionate head of the Evans family in the 1970s sitcom “Good Times.” He portrayed James Evans, a dedicated Korean War veteran known for his piercing gaze and quick humor. Despite the hardships, he tirelessly worked to support his loved ones.

Just as any fantastic television father would, Amos treated all his fictional kids equally, a stance that sparked debate off-screen when the storylines began to favor the humorous escapades of the eldest Evans child, J.J. (played by Jimmie “JJ” Walker). During an interview with the Television Academy in 2014, Amos shared his worries about the show giving too much attention to J.J. and his signature chicken hat at the expense of James Evans’ other two children.

As Amos tells it, his innovative ideas and contrasting views on “Good Times” production clashed with those of the team, including industry icon Norman Lear. This disagreement resulted in him being perceived as a “disruptive element,” ultimately leading to his termination from the show. Lear himself phoned Amos to break the news.

“I didn’t curse or anything. I just hung up the phone,” Amos told the Television Academy.

“He didn’t reach out to me, leaving me without a response. For several long months, there was no further communication from him.

After being let go, Amos quickly and victoriously recovered, earning an Emmy nomination in 1977 for his compelling depiction of adult Kunta Kinte in the influential miniseries “Roots,” which was adapted from Alex Haley’s novel about slavery.

Prior to being selected as the lead character (joining LeVar Burton portraying young Kunta Kinte), Amos had attempted to secure two other roles. When he was eventually offered the opportunity to audition for the remarkable role of Kinte, Amos felt close to losing consciousness.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he told the TV Academy in 2014. “It was like I’d hit the lottery.”

Amos clearly understood the profound effect his portrayal in “Roots” had on its audience, as they swiftly conveyed their heartfelt emotions towards Kinte’s groundbreaking narrative during the show itself.

Forty years ago, as I was driving on the highway, a car resembling an old Detroit vehicle pulled alongside me,” Amos reminisced during an interview with The Times, reflecting on events following the premiere of ‘Roots’.

“He exclaimed, ‘Pull over, buddy!’ So I stopped the car. He then shared, ‘Hey there, buddy! Last night I watched the series ‘Roots’, and it really got to me… I was halfway through it and I went and grabbed my revolver, only to shoot the TV! That was hysterical.’ I hope he didn’t expect me to cover the cost of his impulsive action.

Amos hails from Newark, N.J., born on December 27, 1939. During his school days, he studied at East Orange High School, where, interestingly enough, singer Dionne Warwick served as a cheerleader, as reported by the New York Times.

For some time, Amos found himself on the athletic track. Prior to this, he was a running back at Colorado State and later attempted—but failed—to join the Denver Broncos. Afterward, he faced a setback when he was let go by the Kansas City Chiefs following an Achilles tendon tear, which unfortunately ended his season. Amos acknowledged that it was under Hank Stram’s guidance as coach for the Chiefs that he discovered his genuine passion.

Stram said to the young man, “You’re not a football player, but rather, you’re a young man who just so happens to play football.

As he mourned the approaching end of his football career, Amos penned a poem which Stram allowed him to recite in front of his teammates. His peers stood and applauded him enthusiastically.

According to Amos’ recall from 2012, when Stram observed the team’s response to the poem, he remarked, “It seems you possess a different vocation.

After retiring from the NFL, Amos shifted gears and delved into copywriting. In his spare time, he started writing comedy for television. His first venture in showbiz began when he joined as a staff writer for the 1969 CBS musical variety series “The Leslie Uggams Show.

1970 marked the beginning of Amos’s significant acting career, when he landed his first prominent role as Gordy the weatherman in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. This opportunity arose after writers from both “Uggams” and “Mary Tyler Moore” collaborated and concluded that Amos was ideally suited for this part.

“Quite frankly I never looked back after that,” Amos told the Los Angeles Times in 2012.

Later on, Amos made appearances in numerous influential TV shows such as “Good Times,” “Roots,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Sanford and Son,” “Hunter,” and “The West Wing.” In these shows, he took on the role of military Commander-in-Chief Percy “Fitz” Fitzwallace.

In the intense political scenes of the popular series centered around a made-up president and his team, Admiral Fitzwallace frequently served as the calm, logical presence capable of holding court much like Amos held the screen with authority.

In a straightforward and conversational manner, “Amos told the TV Academy that he would gladly have paid for someone else to play the part of Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, as that’s how much he appreciated it.

The uniform by itself carried a certain weight, adorned with various types of medals that resembled a fruit salad to me. As soon as I slipped on that coat, I felt like I had become the top leader.

Originally a TV writer himself, Amos always took the chance to acknowledge his peers’ accomplishments – even extending gratitude towards Lear, who later collaborated with the former “Good Times” star for “704 Hauser.” In this brief-lived series, Amos played the liberal father of a young conservative activist residing in Archie Bunker’s old house in Queens.

In a 2012 interview with The Times, Amos humorously stated that he had grown to the point where if he encountered creative differences, he would say “Norman, can we talk?” rather than making aggressive threats.

The actor was married twice: Initially, he wed Noel J. Mickelson, who became the mother of his two kids, from 1965 to 1975. Afterward, he had a short-lived marriage with actress Lillian Lehman in the late 1970s. Mickelson passed away in 2016.

Lately, it’s come to light that Amos refuted claims made by his daughter Shannon in 2023, alleging neglect and poor care from her brother Kelly “K.C.” Amos towards their father. In 2023, the older Amos was hospitalized due to fluid buildup in his lower body but managed to recover following treatment.

For now, let me clarify that the story regarding negligence is baseless and unwarranted,” Amos stated back in March, following the LAPD’s investigation into the allegations. “The genuine facts will be revealed shortly, and I will be the one to share them with you. Trust me on this.

Apart from his vast television career, Amos also starred in several movies including “Coming to America.” In this 1988 comedy classic, he played Cleo McDowell, a restaurant owner who was also the father of Eddie Murphy’s love interest.

Regardless of my burgeoning acting career, I never abandoned my passion for writing. For decades, I traversed the United States, presenting a one-man show that I had crafted myself, centered around an 87-year-old man eagerly anticipating Halley’s Comet’s return.

In 2014, Amos expressed to the Television Academy his desire to be recognized as a person who “brought laughter to others” and “prompted thoughtfulness.

He expressed a desire to be remembered as someone whose performances brought joy, and who made people’s homes more pleasant.

It’s a wonderful sensation, realizing that someone far away, perhaps in a distant town, was so moved by laughter at John Amos on TV that they momentarily forgot their troubles and called out to their family, ‘John Amos is on! Let’s gather for a laugh.’ Can you think of anything more heartwarming than knowing we have the power to bring joy and distraction to others in such a simple way?

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2024-10-01 22:02