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John Amos
John Amos

John Amos

ActingBorn December 27, 1939Died August 21, 2024 (age 84)Newark, New Jersey, USA

Biography

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.

Filmography

2025
Suits LA

as John Amos

TV
2023
The Last Rifleman

as Lincoln Jefferson Adams

Movie
2022
Me Time

as Gil

Movie
2022
Block Party

as Dennis

Movie
2021
Christmas in Miami

as Chief Host

Movie
2021Movie
2021
Coming 2 America

as Cleo McDowell

Movie
2019Movie
2019
Uncut Gems

as Neighbor 33F

Movie
2018
The Last O.G.

as Uncle D

TV
2016TV
2015
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)

Movie
2015
Tamales and Gumbo

as The Patron

Movie
2015
Ballers

as Deacon Eller

TV
2015Movie
2015Movie
2014
Act of Faith

as Mr. Brady

Movie
2013Movie
2012Movie
2012
NYC 22

as Pappy Science

TV
2012
Zombie Hamlet

as Edgar Mortimer

Movie
2009
Royal Pains

as Harrison Phillips

TV
2009
Lie to Me

as Jim Weaver

TV
2007
All Over Again

as Coach Zeller

Movie
2007Movie
2006
30 Rock

as John Amos

TV
2006
Men in Trees

as Buzz Washington

TV
2006
Psych

as Uncle Burton

TV
2006
Voodoo Moon

as Dutch

Movie
2006Movie
2005TV
2005
Shadowboxing

as Хилл

Movie
2004
Countdown

as Admiral Melory

Movie
2004
My Baby's Daddy

as Uncle Virgil

Movie
2004Movie
2003TV
2003
The Watermelon Heist

as Old Man Amos

Movie
2002Movie
2000
Disappearing Acts

as Mr. Swift

Movie
2000
The District

as Ethan Baker

TV
2000
Something to Sing About

as Rev. Washington

Movie
1999
The West Wing

as Percy Fitzwallace

TV
1998Movie
1997TV
1997
King of the Hill

as Glen Johnson (voice)

TV
1995
Hologram Man

as Wes Strickland

Movie
1995
The Outer Limits

as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski

TV
1995Movie
1994
Touched by an Angel

as James Mackey

TV
1994
704 Hauser

as Ernie Cumberbatch

TV
1993
Night Trap

as Capt. Hodges

Movie
1993
Walker, Texas Ranger

as Pastor Roscoe Jones

TV
1992
Mac

as Nat

Movie
1992
Martin

as Sgt. Strawn

TV
1991
Ricochet

as Reverend Styles

Movie
1990TV
1990
Die Hard 2

as Major Grant

Movie
1990
Two Evil Eyes

as Det. Legrand

Movie
1989
Lock Up

as Captain Meissner

Movie
1988
Coming to America

as Cleo McDowell

Movie
1988Movie
1987TV
1986
Shark's Paradise

as Taxi Driver

Movie
1985
American Flyers

as Dr. Conrad

Movie
1984
Murder, She Wrote

as Doc Penrose

TV
1984
The Cosby Show

as Dr. Herbert

TV
1984
Hunter

as Capt. Dolan (uncredited)

TV
1983
Hardcastle and McCormick

as Albie Meadows

TV
1983Movie
1983
The A-Team

as Rev. Taylor

TV
1982Movie
1980Movie
1980Movie
1979
Willa

as Virgil

Movie
1978
Cops and Robin

as Officer Bill Bundy

Movie
1977
The Love Boat

as Duke Taylor

TV
1977
Future Cop

as Bill Bundy

TV
1977
Roots

as Toby

TV
1977
Roots

as Kunta Kinte

TV
1977
Roots: The Complete Miniseries

as Older Kunta Kinte

TV
1976
Future Cop

as Officer Bill Bundy

Movie
1975
Let's Do It Again

as Kansas City Mack

Movie
1974
Dinah!

as Self

TV
1974
Good Times

as James Evans Sr.

TV
1973Movie
1973
Police Story

as Walt Kyles

TV
1973
The World's Greatest Athlete

as Coach Sam Archer

Movie
1971TV
1971
The Funny Side

as Minority Husband

TV
1971
Vanishing Point

as Super Soul's Engineer

Movie
1970TV
1969
Love, American Style

as Bell Captain

TV
Devotion

as Roger

Movie
Movie
Movie

Personal Info

DepartmentActing
BirthdayDecember 27, 1939
Day of DeathAugust 21, 2024
Place of BirthNewark, New Jersey, USA
Popularity1.2