The television patriarch, renowned for his portrayal of the elder Kunta Kinte in the mini-series Roots, passed away on August 21, as confirmed by a statement from his son.
John Amos, renowned for his portrayal of the stoic father in Good Times and his role as the elder Kunta Kinte in Alex Haley’s influential mini-series Roots, has passed away at the age of 84.
Kelly Christopher Amos, his son, conveyed the news that Amos passed away on 21 August due to natural causes in Los Angeles.
“It is with profound sorrow that I convey the news of my father’s passing,” he stated in a formal announcement. “He was an individual possessing an exceptionally benevolent nature and an intrinsic generosity of spirit … and he garnered affection from every corner of the globe. A considerable number of admirers regard him as a paternal figure on television. He experienced a fulfilling existence. His legacy will endure through his remarkable contributions to television and film as an actor.
Amos embarked on a professional journey in football following his tenure at Colorado State University, where he sought opportunities with the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League. His foray into the realm of entertainment commenced with his casting as WJN-TV weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Following four seasons as a charming figure in the early 1970s comedy, Amos was invited to audition for the role of James Evans Sr., the husband of Esther Rolle’s Florida Evans and the father of three children, in the CBS series Good Times. The series, which aired from 1974 to 1979, was conceived by Eric Monte and Mike Evans in collaboration with Norman Lear, the creator of All in the Family. A derivative of Maude, which in turn evolved from the pioneering All in the Family, Good Times marked the inaugural sitcom focused on a Black American family.
Amos delivered a remarkable performance over three seasons in the series, which was situated in the inner city of Chicago. However, he grew frustrated with the clichéd narratives assigned to the Evanses’ eldest son JJ, portrayed by the comedian Jimmie Walker. Amos faced exclusion from the show following his decision to openly express his critiques.
“We encountered several divergences,” Amos remarked regarding Lear in a 2014 interview for the TV Academy Foundation. “I perceived an excessive focus on JJ in his chicken hat, exclaiming ‘Dy-no-mite!’ with notable frequency throughout the text.” I perceived that equal emphasis and potential could have been derived from my other two children, one of whom harbored aspirations of becoming a Supreme Court Justice, portrayed by Ralph Carter, and the other, Bern Nadette Stanis, who aimed to pursue a career in surgery.
“However, I was not particularly adept at diplomacy during that period, and the producers of the show grew weary of the threats to their safety stemming from humor.” They proposed, ‘How about we eliminate him?’ We may proceed with our lives! That imparted a valuable insight – I realized I was not as significant to the show or to Norman Lear’s vision as I had previously believed.
Amos’s character met his demise in a vehicular accident during a two-part episode that inaugurated the fourth season of the series in September 1976.
During the 2014 interview, Amos became visibly moved as he recounted instances where “young men, in their 30s and 40s, of every ethnicity imaginable, approach me and express, ‘You’re the dad I never had.’”
Following his tenure on Good Times, Lear’s production company engaged him to portray a congressman in the pilot episode of a series titled Onward and Upward, a role he ultimately decided to abandon as well. Not long after, he received an invitation to participate in Roots, the esteemed mini-series produced by ABC in 1977.
“It was precisely what I required,” he articulated. “It alleviated the lingering unpleasantness associated with Good Times – not that the experience was entirely negative, but rather the context of my departure and the discord between Norman Lear and myself … I acknowledge that much of this situation is a consequence of my own actions. I was not the most agreeable individual to engage with, nor to guide. I extended a challenge to all and sundry.
Roots represented a profound affirmation, evoking an immense sense of fulfillment.
Amos’s further television credits encompass recurring roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, where he portrayed Will Smith’s stepfather, in addition to appearances in Hunter, The District, Men in Trees, All About the Andersons, and the Netflix drama The Ranch. He made appearances in films such as The World’s Greatest Athlete, Die Hard 2, and Coming to America 2.
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