John Amos

About

John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021). Prior to acting, he played on the Colorado State Rams football team and in 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos and in 1967 signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these contracts did not land him a spot on the teams and played a final season in the Continental Football...

Known for

Two and a Half MenSeries • 2003The Love BoatSeries • 1977King of the HillSeries • 1997PsychSeries • 2006The West WingSeries • 1999Murder, She WroteSeries • 198430 RockSeries • 2006Love, American StyleSeries • 1969The A-TeamSeries • 1983My Name Is EarlSeries • 2005The Cosby ShowSeries • 1984Touched by an AngelSeries • 1994The Outer LimitsSeries • 1995Walker, Texas RangerSeries • 1993Royal PainsSeries • 2009The Mary Tyler Moore ShowSeries • 1970Lie to MeSeries • 2009The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirSeries • 1990HunterSeries • 1984MartinSeries • 1992BallersSeries • 2015The DistrictSeries • 2000Sanford and SonSeries • 1972Good TimesSeries • 1974