John Amos, the career actor who played the adult Kunta Kinte in Roots and James Evans Sr. on Good Times, among countless other memorable roles, has died at the age of 84.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Amos passed away on August 21st of natural causes. “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” his son, Kelly Christopher Amos, 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. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
After a career in football stalled out, Amos pursued acting. His first major gig came as the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1973. In 1974, Amos landed the lead role as the family patriarch James Evans Sr. on Good Times. A spin-off of All in the Family and developed by Norman Lear, the CBS series marked television’s first African American two-parent family sitcom. However, Amos was fired from the show following its third season after clashing with writers over when he believed was a lack of authenticity in portraying the African-American experience.
In 1977, Amos stared as the adult Kunta Kinte in the television miniseries Roots, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor.
In the years that followed, Amos appeared in films including Coming to America, Die Hard 2, Dr. Doolittle 3, and Madea’s Witness Protection. On the television front, Amos portrayed Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing.
Amos also notably appeared in the music video for Ice Cube and Dr. Dre’s “Natural Born Killaz.”