John Amos
Acting
Born: 1939-12-27 in Newark, New Jersey, USA
Biography
John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021). Prior to acting, he played on the Colorado State Rams football team and in 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos and in 1967 signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these contracts did not land him a spot on the teams and played a final season in the Continental Football League with the Victoria Steelers before pursuing acting.
Known For
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
King of the Hill
Glen Johnson (voice)
Two and a Half Men
Ed
The West Wing
Percy Fitzwallace
Psych
Uncle Burton
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
Murder, She Wrote
Doc Penrose
The Love Boat
Duke Taylor
The A-Team
Rev. Taylor
30 Rock
John Amos
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
Hunter
Captain Dolan
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Gordy Howard
The Cosby Show
Dr. Herbert
My Name Is Earl
Joe
Lie to Me
Jim Weaver
Love, American Style
Bell Captain
Love, American Style
Touched by an Angel
James Mackey
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Fred Wilkes
Royal Pains
Harrison Phillips
Walker, Texas Ranger
Pastor Roscoe Jones
The Outer Limits
Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
The District
Ethan Baker
Martin
Sgt. Strawn
Sanford and Son
Ballers
Deacon Eller
The Ranch
Ed
Good Times
James Evans Sr.
Die Hard 2
Major Grant
Dinah!
Self
Coming to America
Cleo McDowell
Hardcastle and McCormick
Albie Meadows
Uncut Gems
Neighbor 33F
The Last O.G.
Uncle D
Police Story
Walt Kyles
In the House
The Chris Rock Show
Self
Suits LA
John Amos
The Movies That Made Us
Self