Entertainment
Beloved Good Times Star Passes Away at 84, Leaving a Legacy in TV and Film
Clear Facts
- John Amos, widely recognized for his role in the 1970s sitcom Good Times, has passed away at the age of 84.
- His son, K. C. Amos, confirmed that Amos died of natural causes on August 21 at his Los Angeles home.
- Amos had a diverse career, including roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Roots, and The West Wing, as well as several notable film appearances.
John Amos, the beloved actor who became a household name as the father on the iconic 1970s sitcom Good Times, has died at the age of 84.
Although he passed away on August 21, his family has only recently made the announcement public.
K. C. Amos, the actor’s son, shared that his father died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” K. C. Amos said 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.”
Born in New Jersey, John Amos initially pursued a career in professional football, playing for Colorado State University in the 1950s.
He was signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos, but injuries curtailed his NFL aspirations.
He went on to play in other leagues, including the United Football League, the Continental Football League, and the Atlantic Coast Football League.
Amos was also a Golden Gloves boxing champion in the early 1960s.
His career took a significant turn when he landed the role of Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, from 1970 to 1973.
In 1974, he debuted as James Evans, Sr., the patriarch of the Evans family on Good Times.
However, Amos’s time on Good Times was cut short due to disagreements with the producers over money and script changes.
“We had a number of differences,” Amos said, explaining his frustrations with the producers, particularly over the screen time given to Jimmie Walker and his catchphrase “Dy-no-Mite.”
“But I wasn’t the most diplomatic guy in those days,” Amos admitted.
“[The show’s producers] got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes. So they said, ‘Tell you what, why don’t we kill him off? We can get on with our lives!’ That taught me a lesson — I wasn’t as important as I thought I was to the show or to Norman Lear’s plan.”
Amos was written out of the show by 1976, and Good Times continued for two more seasons before its cancellation in 1979.
Despite this setback, Amos enjoyed a prolific career with roles in high-profile TV events like the mini-series Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination.
He also had a recurring role as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on NBC’s political drama The West Wing.
His other TV appearances included All About the Andersons, Two and a Half Men, and Suits LA.
On the big screen, Amos appeared in films such as The Beastmaster, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Coming to America, Die Hard 2, and Dr. Doolittle 3.
His final film role was in the 2023 Pierce Brosnan film The Last Rifleman.
John Amos is survived by his son, Kelly Christopher, and daughter Shannon.
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