John Amos, the actor best known for his roles as the family patriarch on the hit sitcom *Good Times* and the adult Kunta Kinte in the iconic miniseries *Roots*, has passed away at the age of 84, according to his longtime publicist, Belinda Foster.
Foster confirmed to CNN on Tuesday that Amos died of natural causes in Los Angeles on August 21. She also shared a statement from his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, via email.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” the statement read. “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, and his legacy will live on through his outstanding works in television and film.”
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Born in East Orange, New Jersey, Amos developed a passion for football and played at Colorado State University.
Though he graduated with a degree in social work, Amos pursued a professional football career, trying out for the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and the Canadian Football League’s British Columbia Lions.
In a video shared by the Chiefs, Amos described himself as “a slightly better than average high school football player” who saw football as his way out of economic hardship.
However, his dreams of a professional career ended when Kansas City Chiefs coach Hank Stram told him, “You are not a football player, you are a young man who happens to be playing football.”
After stints as a social worker and copywriter in New York, Amos turned to acting, landing the role of weatherman Gordon “Gordy” Howard on *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*, which launched his Hollywood career.
He later appeared on hit 1970s shows like *Love American Style*, *Sanford and Son*, and *The New Dick Van Dyke Show*.
Amos became a household name as James Evans Sr., the tough yet loving father on *Good Times*.
However, after two seasons, he left the show due to disagreements with the writers about how the Black family was portrayed.
“I felt like I knew more about what a Black family should be and how a Black father would act than our writers, none of whom were Black,” Amos said in a 2020 interview. “Their idea of what a Black family should be and what a Black father would be was totally different from mine, and mine was steeped in reality.”
Years later, Amos and *Good Times* creator Norman Lear reconciled, publicly embracing during the 2019 *Good Times* live TV reunion.
Amos received an Emmy nomination for his role as Toby, the adult version of Kunta Kinte, in the critically acclaimed 1977 miniseries *Roots*.
Reflecting on the role in 2021, he told *Time* magazine, “It was a life-changing role for me, both as an actor and from a humanistic standpoint. It felt like a reward for enduring so many stereotypical roles.”
Over the years, Amos also took on memorable roles, including Cleo McDowell, the fast-food restaurant owner in Eddie Murphy’s 1988 hit comedy *Coming to America* and its 2021 sequel.
Last year, Amos faced personal challenges when allegations of elder abuse and speculation about his health were raised by family members. Amos later reassured fans, stating, “I want you to know that I am doing well. I am not in ICU, nor was I ever fighting for my life.”
John Amos leaves behind a legacy of groundbreaking performances and a career that spanned decades, touching the hearts of audiences around the world.
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