John Amos

John Amos

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 League with the Victoria Steelers before pursuing acting.

KNOWN FOR
CREDITS
PHOTOS

TV Series

In the House

In the House

7.4
Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

7.5
Hardcastle and McCormick

Hardcastle and McCormick

6.4
Good Times

Good Times

7.956
Martin

Martin

7.6
The District

The District

6.8
Psych

Psych

7.893
The A-Team

The A-Team

7.468
Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

7.2
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

7.9
Men in Trees

Men in Trees

6.8
The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show

7.017
Two and a Half Men

Two and a Half Men

7.449
Walker, Texas Ranger

Walker, Texas Ranger

6.962
Sanford and Son

Sanford and Son

7.429
The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

7.539
30 Rock

30 Rock

7.457
704 Hauser

704 Hauser

0
All About the Andersons

All About the Andersons

8.5
Police Story

Police Story

6.9
Here's Boomer

Here's Boomer

5.3
Roots

Roots

7.4
Future Cop

Future Cop

7.2
Roots

Roots

7.4
Hunter

Hunter

7.2
The Chris Rock Show

The Chris Rock Show

4.4
The Outer Limits

The Outer Limits

7.7
The Funny Side

The Funny Side

0
The West Wing

The West Wing

8.257
The Ranch

The Ranch

7.38
The Movies That Made Us

The Movies That Made Us

7.2
My Name Is Earl

My Name Is Earl

7.661
King of the Hill

King of the Hill

7.354
Ballers

Ballers

6.775
The Last O.G.

The Last O.G.

6.3
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

5
Dinah!

Dinah!

6.667
NYC 22

NYC 22

6.2
Suits LA

Suits LA

7
Love, American Style

Love, American Style

6.056
Lie to Me

Lie to Me

7.897
Royal Pains

Royal Pains

6.747
The Love Boat

The Love Boat

6.3
The New Dick Van Dyke Show

The New Dick Van Dyke Show

4
Love, American Style

Love, American Style

6.056
The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show

6.222
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

7.459
The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

5.375

Movies

Die Hard 2

Die Hard 2

6.955
The Truth About Santa Claus

The Truth About Santa Claus

2
Vanishing Point

Vanishing Point

7.124
Ricochet

Ricochet

6.1
The World's Greatest Athlete

The World's Greatest Athlete

5.31
Coming to America

Coming to America

6.9
Lock Up

Lock Up

6.8
Let's Do It Again

Let's Do It Again

6.9
Two Evil Eyes

Two Evil Eyes

6.117
The Beastmaster

The Beastmaster

6.3
Dr. Dolittle 3

Dr. Dolittle 3

5.114
Shadowboxing

Shadowboxing

5.408
Countdown

Countdown

5.733
Madea's Witness Protection

Madea's Witness Protection

6.095
All Over Again

All Over Again

5
Zombie Hamlet

Zombie Hamlet

5.5
For Better or Worse

For Better or Worse

4
The President's Plane Is Missing

The President's Plane Is Missing

6.2
Devotion

Devotion

0
Dance of the Dwarfs

Dance of the Dwarfs

3.625
Block Party

Block Party

6.1
American Lowrider

American Lowrider

5
Touched by Love

Touched by Love

4.6
Cops and Robin

Cops and Robin

6
Me Time

Me Time

5.882
Uncut Gems

Uncut Gems

7.157
Bad Asses on the Bayou

Bad Asses on the Bayou

6
Night Trap

Night Trap

3.846
The Watermelon Heist

The Watermelon Heist

1
Shark's Paradise

Shark's Paradise

6
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

4.5
The Last Rifleman

The Last Rifleman

6.601
Ascension Day

Ascension Day

0
Christmas in Miami

Christmas in Miami

0
Bonanza: The Next Generation

Bonanza: The Next Generation

7.5
Future Cop

Future Cop

5
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

5.2
Something to Sing About

Something to Sing About

5.65
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

7.133
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

10
Hologram Man

Hologram Man

4.2
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda

The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda

5.8
Act of Faith

Act of Faith

5.667
Voodoo Moon

Voodoo Moon

3.9
Mercy for Angels

Mercy for Angels

0
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

4
American Flyers

American Flyers

6.172
Disappearing Acts

Disappearing Acts

6.2
Mac

Mac

5.667
My Baby's Daddy

My Baby's Daddy

4.6
Willa

Willa

3
Coming 2 America

Coming 2 America

6.4
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

6.143
The Players Club

The Players Club

6.3
Christmas Belles

Christmas Belles

2.3
Tamales and Gumbo

Tamales and Gumbo

0
The Beastmaster Chronicles

The Beastmaster Chronicles

0
Because of Charley

Because of Charley

2.333
Future Cop: Cops and Robin

Future Cop: Cops and Robin

0
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend

John Amos: Roots of an American Legend

0
Information Processing

Information Processing

0