John Amos
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.
Filmography
The Last Rifleman
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
The Last Rifleman
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
Me Time
as Gil
Me Time
as Gil
Block Party
as Dennis
Block Party
as Dennis
Coming 2 America
as Cleo McDowell
Coming 2 America
as Cleo McDowell
The Truth About Santa Claus
as Bob
The Truth About Santa Claus
as Bob
The Beastmaster Chronicles
as Self
The Beastmaster Chronicles
as Self
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
as Fred Davis
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
as Fred Davis
Christmas Belles
as Pop Pop
Christmas Belles
as Pop Pop
Uncut Gems
as Neighbor 33F
Uncut Gems
as Neighbor 33F
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
as Self
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
as Self
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
Mercy for Angels
as God
Mercy for Angels
as God
Bad Asses on the Bayou
as Earl
Bad Asses on the Bayou
as Earl
Act of Faith
as Mr. Brady
Act of Faith
as Mr. Brady
American Lowrider
as Slick
American Lowrider
as Slick
Madea's Witness Protection
as Pastor Nelson
Madea's Witness Protection
as Pastor Nelson
Zombie Hamlet
as Edgar Mortimer
Zombie Hamlet
as Edgar Mortimer
All Over Again
as Coach Zeller
All Over Again
as Coach Zeller
Ascension Day
as Henry
Ascension Day
as Henry
Dr. Dolittle 3
as Jud
Dr. Dolittle 3
as Jud
Shadowboxing
as Хилл
Shadowboxing
as Хилл
Countdown
as Admiral Melory
Countdown
as Admiral Melory
My Baby's Daddy
as Uncle Virgil
My Baby's Daddy
as Uncle Virgil
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as (archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as (archive footage)
Remembering Roots
as Self
Remembering Roots
as Self
Disappearing Acts
as Mr. Swift
Disappearing Acts
as Mr. Swift
Something to Sing About
as Rev. Washington
Something to Sing About
as Rev. Washington
The Players Club
as Freeman
The Players Club
as Freeman
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
as Booker Hutch
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
as Booker Hutch
Hologram Man
as Wes Strickland
Hologram Man
as Wes Strickland
For Better or Worse
as Gray
For Better or Worse
as Gray
Night Trap
as Capt. Hodges
Night Trap
as Capt. Hodges
Mac
as Nat
Mac
as Nat
Die Hard 2
as Major Grant
Die Hard 2
as Major Grant
Two Evil Eyes
as Det. Legrand
Two Evil Eyes
as Det. Legrand
Coming to America
as Cleo McDowell
Coming to America
as Cleo McDowell
Bonanza: The Next Generation
as Mr. Mack
Bonanza: The Next Generation
as Mr. Mack
Shark's Paradise
as Taxi Driver
Shark's Paradise
as Taxi Driver
American Flyers
as Dr. Conrad
American Flyers
as Dr. Conrad
The Beastmaster
as Seth
The Beastmaster
as Seth
Touched by Love
as Tony
Touched by Love
as Tony
Willa
as Virgil
Willa
as Virgil
Cops and Robin
as Officer Bill Bundy
Cops and Robin
as Officer Bill Bundy
Future Cop
as Officer Bill Bundy
Future Cop
as Officer Bill Bundy
Let's Do It Again
as Kansas City Mack
Let's Do It Again
as Kansas City Mack
The President's Plane Is Missing
as Marine Corporal
The President's Plane Is Missing
as Marine Corporal
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
as Biker
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
as Biker
Vanishing Point
as Super Soul's Engineer (uncredited)
Vanishing Point
as Super Soul's Engineer (uncredited)
Devotion
as Roger
Devotion
as Roger
Future Cop: Cops and Robin
as Officer Bundy
Future Cop: Cops and Robin
as Officer Bundy
Information Processing
as Self
Information Processing
as Self