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
- 2025 · Suits LA as John Amos
- 2022 · Me Time as Gil
- 2021 · Coming 2 America as Cleo McDowell
- 2019 · The Movies That Made Us as Self
- 2019 · Christmas Belles as Pop Pop
- 2019 · Uncut Gems as Neighbor 33F
- 2018 · The Last O.G. as Uncle D
- 2016 · The Ranch as Ed
- 2015 · Ballers as Deacon Eller
- 2012 · Madea's Witness Protection as Pastor Nelson
- 2009 · Royal Pains as Harrison Phillips
- 2009 · Lie to Me as Jim Weaver
- 2006 · 30 Rock as John Amos
- 2006 · Men in Trees as Buzz
- 2006 · Psych as Uncle Burton
- 2006 · Dr. Dolittle 3 as Jud
- 2005 · My Name Is Earl as Joe
- 2005 · Shadowboxing as Хилл
- 2004 · Countdown as Admiral Melory
- 2003 · Two and a Half Men as Ed
- 2000 · The District as Mayor Ethan Baker
- 1999 · The West Wing as Percy Fitzwallace
- 1997 · King of the Hill as Glen Johnson (voice)
- 1995 · Hologram Man as Wes Strickland
- 1995 · In the House as
- 1995 · The Outer Limits as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
- 1994 · Touched by an Angel as Sheriff James Mackey
- 1993 · Walker, Texas Ranger as Pastor Roscoe Jones
- 1992 · Martin as Sgt. Strawn
- 1990 · The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Fred Wilkes
- 1990 · Die Hard 2 as Major Grant
- 1989 · Lock Up as Captain Meissner
- 1988 · Coming to America as Cleo McDowell
- 1984 · Murder, She Wrote as Doc Penrose
- 1984 · The Cosby Show as Dr. Herbert
- 1984 · Hunter as Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
- 1983 · Hardcastle and McCormick as Albie Meadows
- 1983 · The A-Team as Rev. Taylor
- 1982 · The Beastmaster as Seth
- 1980 · Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story as Bumpy Johnson
- 1977 · The Love Boat as Duke Taylor
- 1977 · Roots as Toby
- 1977 · Roots as Older Kunta Kinte
- 1974 · Dinah! as Self
- 1974 · Good Times as James Evans Sr.
- 1973 · The President's Plane Is Missing as Marine Corporal
- 1973 · Police Story as
- 1972 · Sanford and Son as
- 1970 · The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Gordy Howard
- 1969 · Love, American Style as Bell Captain
- 1969 · Love, American Style as
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1962 · The Merv Griffin Show as Self
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- Future · Information Processing as Self
- 2023 · The Last Rifleman as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
- 2022 · Block Party as Dennis
- 2021 · Christmas in Miami as Chief Host
- 2021 · Because of Charley as Grandpa
- 2020 · The Truth About Santa Claus as Bob
- 2020 · The Beastmaster Chronicles as Self
- 2019 · Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" as Fred Davis
- 2016 · Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You as Self
- 2015 · Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
- 2015 · Tamales and Gumbo as The Patron
- 2015 · Mercy for Angels as God
- 2015 · Bad Asses on the Bayou as Earl
- 2014 · Act of Faith as Mr. Brady
- 2013 · American Lowrider as Slick
- 2012 · NYC 22 as Pappy Science
- 2012 · Zombie Hamlet as Edgar Mortimer
- 2007 · All Over Again as Coach Zeller
- 2007 · Ascension Day as Henry
- 2006 · Voodoo Moon as Dutch
- 2004 · My Baby's Daddy as Uncle Virgil
- 2004 · TV in Black: The First Fifty Years as (archive footage)
- 2003 · All About the Andersons as Joe Anderson
- 2003 · The Watermelon Heist as Old Man Amos
- 2000 · Disappearing Acts as Mr. Swift
- 2000 · Something to Sing About as Rev. Washington
- 1998 · The Players Club as Freeman
- 1997 · The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda as Booker Hutch
- 1997 · The Chris Rock Show as Self
- 1995 · For Better or Worse as Gray
- 1994 · 704 Hauser as Ernie Cumberbatch
- 1993 · Night Trap as Capt. Hodges
- 1992 · Mac as Nat
- 1991 · Ricochet as Reverend Styles
- 1990 · Two Evil Eyes as Det. Legrand
- 1988 · Bonanza: The Next Generation as Mr. Mack
- 1986 · Shark's Paradise as Taxi Driver
- 1985 · American Flyers as Dr. Conrad
- 1983 · Dance of the Dwarfs as Esteban
- 1980 · Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story as Bumpy Johnson
- 1980 · Touched by Love as Tony
- 1980 · Here's Boomer as
- 1979 · Willa as Virgil
- 1978 · Cops and Robin as Officer Bill Bundy
- 1973 · The World's Greatest Athlete as Coach Sam Archer
- 1971 · The New Dick Van Dyke Show as Mark Cooper
- 1971 · Vanishing Point as Super Soul's Engineer
- Future · Devotion as Roger
- 1976 · Future Cop as Officer Bill Bundy
- Future · John Amos: Roots of an American Legend as Self
- 1977 · Future Cop as Bill Bundy
- 1975 · Let's Do It Again as Kansas City Mack
- 1971 · The Funny Side as Minority Husband
- 1971 · Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song as Biker
- Future · Future Cop: Cops and Robin as Officer Bundy