John Amos’ Family ‘Refuse To Rule Out Foul Play’ As Late Actor Is Cremated

John Amos‘ cause of death has been confirmed shortly after his passing; however, his family is not ruling out the “possibility of foul play.”

The 84-year-old died on August 21 and was cremated nine days after his death. After the process, his ashes were handed over to his son, as shown on his death certificate.

During his lifetime, John Amos was best known for his roles in “Coming to America” and brief appearances in hit sitcoms such as “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Two and a Half Men,” “My Name Is Earl,” and “30 Rock.”

According to TMZ, after several weeks of speculation surrounding Amos’s death, it has now been confirmed that the cause was congestive heart failure.

The information was listed on the actor’s death certificate, filed with L.A. County. It also confirmed that Amos died at an Inglewood hospital.

No autopsy was conducted on Amos, and nine days after his death, he was cremated instead of being buried.

According to the death certificate, Amos’ son, Kelly Christopher Amos, alias K.C., has the remains of the actor and was the one who informed the county of his father’s death.

It was recently reported that Amos’ other child, Shannon, was unaware of her father’s death and only found out when her brother posted the news of his passing.

The 58-year-old at the time took to Instagram to reveal she was “devastated” by her father’s demise but was left with “many questions.”

She wrote on the social media platform, “This should be a time of honoring and celebrating his life, yet we are struggling to navigate the wave of emotions and uncertainties surrounding his passing.”

“Still, there is some semblance of peace in knowing my father is finally free,” Shannon added.

In June of last year, Shannon alleged that her father was a victim of “elder abuse and financial exploitation” at the hands of her brother.

At the time, she collaborated with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and local authorities to investigate her claims.

However, in March 2024, Amos refuted his daughter’s claims, describing them as “false and unmerited,” per People.

The actor also said his son was a “caring, thoughtful human being” who had shown him much respect. Ultimately, Shannon’s claims were dismissed by authorities, as no evidence was found to support them.

In a joint statement shared by the late actor’s Goddaughter, Amy Goudy, the family revealed that they were not ruling out the possibility of “foul play,” stating that may be the reason he was cremated shortly after his death.

The statement read in part, “This tragic news has left us in shock and heartache. We do not have a death certificate, nor do we know where or why he died, but we know he was suffering from congestive heart failure and dementia.”

It continued, “We fear he was likely cremated to avoid any potential investigation into the conditions surrounding his final days. Over the past year, John Amos was isolated from his family and close friends by Kelly’ KC’ Amos, Eugene Brummet, and Belinda Foster.”

The family further accused Kelly of severing Amos’ ties with his daughter Shannon and his other loved ones, including his goddaughter Goudy.

They claimed, “[Kelly] portrayed an image of a close father-son relationship on social media, but the reality was far more complex.”

Concluding their lengthy statement, the family noted, “While we mourn the loss of our beloved father, we are also saddened and outraged by KC Amos’s actions. We refuse to rule out the possibility of foul play, especially given the involvement of two individuals.”

Several family members, including Shannon and Goudy, signed the statement.

Fans of Amos learned about his death when Kelly announced the news in a statement shared with the media on October 1.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” Kelly wrote, per People. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over.”

He continued: “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. My father loved working as an actor throughout his entire life. Most recently in Suits LA playing himself and our documentary about his life journey as an actor, America’s Dad.”

Kelly concluded the piece with a personal tribute to the veteran actor, describing him as his “dad,” “best friend,” and “hero.”