John Amos, the actor best known for his role on the sitcom “Good Times,” has passed away at age 84.
According to his son, film producer Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos, Amos passed away on August 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” K.C., 53, said in a statement. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold … and he was loved the world over Many fans consider him their TV father.”
“He lived a good life,” K.C. went on. “His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
John Amos at the “Showing Roots” screening in 2016
via Wireimage
Amos was born in Newark on December 27, 1939. He attended East Orange High School and earned a sociology degree from Colorado State University.
Prior to his acting career, Amos was a football player. He joined the Denver Broncos as a free agent in 1964 but was released during training camp due to a hamstring injury. He then briefly played for the Kansas City Chiefs before transitioning to the Continental League.
Amos made his acting debut in a 1970 episode of “The Bill Cosby Show.”
That same year, he was selected to portray the weatherman Gordon “Gordy” Howard in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” He appeared in 13 episodes of the sitcom from 1970 to 1977.
Amos is best known for his role as James Evans, Sr. in “Good Times.” The CBS series, conceived by Eric Monte and Mike Evans and developed by Norman Lear, was a spinoff of “Maude,” which itself was a spinoff of “All in the Family.”
He later appeared in shows such as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “In the House,” “The West Wing,” “All About the Andersons,” “Men in Trees,” and “The Ranch.”
Amos also featured in various movies like “The Beastmaster,” “Lock Up,” “Die Hard 2,” “Coming to America,” and “Coming 2 America.”
His final acting endeavor was the 2023 British drama film “The Last Rifleman.”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones.