Kaylah Walton
John Amos, best known for his role as James Evans Sr. on the beloved sitcom “Good Times,” has passed away at the age of 84.
His son, K.C. Amos, revealed that John died of natural causes on August 21 in Los Angeles. K.C. shared his profound sadness in a touching tribute.
“It is with deep sorrow that I inform you of my father’s passing. He had an incredibly kind and loving heart… and his presence was felt by many as their TV father,” K.C. Amos expressed.
“He had a fulfilling life. His remarkable legacy in television and film will always be cherished.”
A Diverse Career in Entertainment
John Amos was born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey. He graduated from East Orange High School and earned a sociology degree from Colorado State University.
Before fully committing to acting, he briefly played football, signing with the Denver Broncos as a free agent in 1964, but was let go due to an injury. Amos also tried out for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1976 but did not make the team.
His acting career began in 1970 with “The Bill Cosby Show.” He then had a recurring role as Gordon “Gordy” Howard on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” appearing in 13 episodes until 1977.
Amos became a household name for his performance as James Evans Sr. in “Good Times.”
The show was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, highlighting the everyday struggles of an African American family in Chicago.
Co-starring with Esther Rolle as Florida Evans, the series included Ralph Carter, Bern Nadette Stanis, and Jimmie Walker as their children, with Janet Jackson joining in the final season.
After three seasons, Amos left the show when his character was killed off, reportedly due to creative disagreements regarding the show’s representation of African Americans.
Post “Good Times,” he starred in the influential miniseries “Roots” in 1977, which led to an Emmy nomination.
Amos continued to appear in various well-known television shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “In the House,” “The West Wing,” and “Men in Trees.”
His filmography includes notable films such as “Die Hard 2,” “Coming to America,” and its sequel “Coming 2 America.” His last project was the British drama “The Last Rifleman” released in 2023.
