John Amos
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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
Die Hard 2 (1990)
as Major Grant
Uncut Gems (2019)
as Neighbor 33F
Coming to America (1988)
as Cleo McDowell
Coming 2 America (2021)
as Cleo McDowell
Lock Up (1989)
as Captain Meissner
Me Time (2022)
as Gil
Vanishing Point (1971)
as Super Soul's Engineer (uncredited)
The Last Rifleman (2023)
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
The Beastmaster (1982)
as Seth
Madea's Witness Protection (2012)
as Pastor Nelson
Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006)
as Jud
Bad Asses on the Bayou (2015)
as Earl
Ricochet (1991)
as Reverend Styles
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration (2015)
as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
Two Evil Eyes (1990)
as Det. Legrand
Let's Do It Again (1975)
as Kansas City Mack
The Players Club (1998)
as Freeman
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" (2019)
as Fred Davis
American Flyers (1985)
as Dr. Conrad
My Baby's Daddy (2004)
as Uncle Virgil
Night Trap (1993)
as Capt. Hodges
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
as Biker
American Lowrider (2013)
as Slick
The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)
as Coach Sam Archer
Disappearing Acts (2000)
as Mr. Swift
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980)
as Bumpy Johnson
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004)
as (archive footage)
The President's Plane Is Missing (1973)
as Marine Corporal
For Better or Worse (1995)
as Gray
Voodoo Moon (2006)
as Dutch
Bonanza: The Next Generation (1988)
as Mr. Mack
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda (1997)
as Booker Hutch
The Truth About Santa Claus (2020)
as Bob
Something to Sing About (2000)
as Rev. Washington
Remembering Roots (2002)
as Self
Dance of the Dwarfs (1983)
as Esteban
Hologram Man (1995)
as Wes Strickland
Christmas Belles (2019)
as Pop Pop
Countdown (2004)
as Admiral Melory
Touched by Love (1980)
as Tony
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016)
as Self
Shark's Paradise (1986)
as Taxi Driver
Future Cop: Cops and Robin (—)
as Officer Bundy
Mac (1992)
as Nat
Shadowboxing (2005)
as Хилл
Zombie Hamlet (2012)
as Edgar Mortimer
Block Party (2022)
as Dennis
Willa (1979)
as Virgil
Act of Faith (2014)
as Mr. Brady
Cops and Robin (1978)
as Officer Bill Bundy
All Over Again (2007)
as Coach Zeller
The Beastmaster Chronicles (2020)
as Self
Future Cop (1976)
as Officer Bill Bundy
Ascension Day (2007)
as Henry
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend (—)
as Self
Because of Charley (2021)
as Grandpa
Tamales and Gumbo (2015)
as The Patron
The Watermelon Heist (2003)
as Old Man Amos
Devotion (—)
as Roger
Mercy for Angels (2015)
as God
Information Processing (—)
as Self
Christmas in Miami (2021)
as Chief Host