Roots star John Amos dies aged 84 as his son pays tribute to his dad as a ‘man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold’

Roots star John Amos dies aged 84 as his son pays tribute to his dad as a 'man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold'

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for the arts and a keen interest in the lives of those who have made significant contributions to our cultural landscape, I am deeply saddened by the passing of John Amos at the age of 84. His role as Kunta Kinte in Roots was more than just a performance; it was a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.


Roots star John Amos has passed away at the age of 84.

The star died on August 21 in Los Angeles from natural causes, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor became particularly famous for portraying Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking miniseries “Roots,” which focuses on the historical account of African-American slavery.

Drawing inspiration from a true-to-life forefather of writer Alex Haley, the narrative unfolds around a youthful figure who was kidnapped from Gambia and forced into slavery.

As a devoted admirer, I’m proud to share that I was honored with an Emmy nomination for my acting work on the ABC-TV series adapted from the groundbreaking novel penned by Alex Haley.

In the late ’70s, the program gained immense popularity across America, becoming one of the most viewed shows. It was also a frequent contender for the Primetime Emmy Awards, amassing a total of 37 nominations. Remarkably, it managed to secure nine wins out of these nominations.

Roots star John Amos dies aged 84 as his son pays tribute to his dad as a 'man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold'

Roots star John Amos dies aged 84 as his son pays tribute to his dad as a 'man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold'

Sharing the sad news, Chris, John’s son, announced that his father has passed away.

‘He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. 

‘Numerous viewers regard him as their television patriarch. He led a fulfilling life. The memory of his achievements in acting for both TV and movies continues to endure.’

In 2016, there was a stir on Coronation Street when an episode drew attention due to accusations of racist remarks regarding a character’s hair. This came about following an investigation by Ofcom after the soap opera was charged with racism.

In the episode, Catherine Tyldesley as Eva Price stopped by Audrey’s hair salon and made a comment, saying: “I have as many roots as Kunta Kinte.

‘No idea who that is, by the way, just something my mum used to say.’ 

Apart from his role in Roots, Amos became well-known for playing the character James Evans during the initial three seasons of the pioneering CBS sitcom Good Times. This show ran for a span of six seasons from 1974 to 1979.

Apart from that, he also portrayed Gordy the weather reporter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Kunta Kinte in the dramatic mini-series Roots, a role that netted him an Emmy Award nomination.

In the course of his career, Amos made appearances in more than 200 television series and movies, such as The West Wing, Coming to America, and Me Time.

Roots star John Amos dies aged 84 as his son pays tribute to his dad as a 'man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold'
Roots star John Amos dies aged 84 as his son pays tribute to his dad as a 'man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold'
Roots star John Amos dies aged 84 as his son pays tribute to his dad as a 'man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold'
Roots star John Amos dies aged 84 as his son pays tribute to his dad as a 'man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold'

The actor is well-known for departing from Good Times after spending three seasons due to creative differences regarding the script, which he believed perpetuated harmful stereotypes about African Americans.

In those days, I wasn’t known for my diplomacy, and the producers grew weary due to constant threats on their well-being because of the jokes we made. (Amos)

They suggested, “Why not eliminate his character? We can move forward without him.” This experience made me realize that perhaps I was overvaluing my importance to the show and Norman Lear’s vision.

Earlier this year the LAPD closed an investigation into claims that Amos’ son was abusing him.

Shannon Amos, Amos’ daughter, frequently alleged that K.C. Amos, his caretaker son, falsely represented him during communications, neglected his health requirements, and mismanaged his financial affairs.

In a turn of events, the concerns raised by Shannon were passed on to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Upon investigation, they found no significant issues regarding the health of the 84-year-old Emmy nominee.

It came shortly after Amos told People he was ‘feeling well and working diligently on various projects, including the docuseries that my son and I are producing, along with a music release.’

During the course of his long-lasting marriage that spanned over a decade with his former spouse, Noel ‘Noni’ Mickelson (who is now deceased), John warmly received Shannon and K.C. as part of their family. This union ended in 1975.

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2024-10-02 02:53

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