John Amos, 'Good Times' Dad and 'Roots' Actor, Dies at 84

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Variety

Oct 1, 2024 10:55am PT



Courtesy Image


John Amos, the star of “Good Times,” “Roots” and more, died on Aug. 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes, his representative confirmed to Variety on Tuesday. He was 84.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” said his son Kelly Christopher Amos 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. 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.’ He was my dad, my best friend, and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support at this time.”

Born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, Amos’ acting career picked up when he landed the role of weatherman Gordon “Gordy” Howard on “The Mary Tyler Moore show” in 1970. From there, he brought his comedic talents to CBS’ “Good Times,” a spinoff of “Maude” and “All in the Family,” and played father James Evans Sr. in 1974. The Norman Lear program made history as the first TV show to follow a African American, two-parent. household.

Read more: https://variety.com/2024/tv/obituaries-people-news/john-amos-dead-good-times-roots-1236161810/

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Dammit. His is a heartbreaking loss. I remember reading years ago about how he battled the network due to the rampant stereotyping. It took a long time but the industry was slowly changed.

R.I.P., thank you for your great body of work, and condolences to the family.

[littlemissmartypants]

1. ...

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Oh, how sad! I sure liked him on his performances.

RIP.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Maybe there were more effective TV actors in the 70s than John Amos in Good Times

But I can’t think of any off the top of my head. He conveyed every human feeling he was asked to with incredible depth.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Maybe Sherman Helmsley (same network)

They were around the same age but Helmsely pre-deceased Amos by a dozen years.

[RAB910]

4. He died on Aug. 21, why was it not announced until October?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

5. I noticed that too - weird

[iluvtennis]

15. This article has a one line that his son withheld the info - it didn't say why.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/john-amos-dies-good-times-175452979.html

[RAB910]

18. thanks, still very strange. Not that I am going to pass judgment, people all grieve in their own way

[cstanleytech]

35. When Beth Howland from Alice died her death wasn't reported for roughly five months so it does happen.

[Ramsey Barner]

6. Impressive in both Good Times and The West Wing. What a range of acting talent.

[Aristus]

26. I wondered if someone was going to mention his superb performance as

Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Percival “Fitz” FitzWallace. He brought incredible dignitas to The West Wing.

In a time when a lot of senior military officers were portrayed as bellowing buffoons, Amos’s FitzWallace was rational, measured, insanely competent, and devoted to duty.

[Prairie Gates]

7. Damn damn damn

IYKYK

[tulipsandroses]

10. Yeah. I posted it another thread.

https://m.

Definitely one of the most memorable moments in tv history.

[Grins]

8. Damn. And I just saw him in a rerun...

Couple weeks ago. A late night re-run of “Two and a Half Men.”

Amos played the rough, tough ex-Navy seaman who linked up with fellow ex-Navy seaman, Stacy Keach. Both gay who finally “found” themselves and set up living with each other. Both great in those roles.

[Tadpole Raisin]

9. He was so good! Consummate actor.

?si=HK-rUDVifYSrbAGq

RIP

[MuseRider]

12. NO!

I refuse this info. I have watched everything to see if he was in it for so long. He was so good. I do not know what he was like as a man but to me he was the best.

Crushing.

[cstanleytech]

13. I think Good Times really declined when he left the series.

[efhmc]

30. I agree.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. As the adult "Kunta Kinte" in "Roots"

[elleng]

16. and The West Wing.

Percy Fitzwallace worked as a navy admiral, and served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for most of the Bartlet Administration, on The West Wing.



West Wingers taking the news hard.

[iluvtennis]

17. Loved, loved, loved him. May he Rest in Peace and May his Memory be a Blessing. 🙏

[2naSalit]

19. He wrote and...

Performed a one man play back in the late 1990s, can't recall the title but he toured college campuses and small theaters with it, I saw it when he came to my campus. It was a very moving play and was totally worth going to. I admired him so much more after that.


RIP...

[Oopsie Daisy]

20. I remember him in "Hunter".

Rest in Peace, John Amos.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

21. John Amos talking about "Gordy" on MTM

[Iggo]

22. "Ain't we lucky we got 'em..."

[KS Toronado]

23. I liked everything he done, he was A TRUE PROFESSIONAL.

[Clouds Passing]

24. John

[LittleGirl]

25. Tears

Love that man. R I P

[Mosby]

27. Admiral Fitzwallace

From West Wing.

Those are the most recent memories I have about him. He was a great actor.

[Kaleva]

38. Yes. He had the persona to fill that role.

[red dog 1]

28. He was in so many TV shows, including a great episode of "My Name is Earl" (with Jerry Van Dyke)

Besides "Roots," & "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," I also remember him doing an episode of "Sanford & Son"

He appeared in more than 50 movies and nearly 60 TV shows.

R.I.P. John.

[wysimdnwyg]

29. Both fathers from Coming to America lost within a month

Everyone remembers - and rightly so - James Earl Jones from his performance as King Jaffe Joffer, but don’t sleep on John Amos’s Cleo McDowell, father of Eddie Murphy’s love interest Lisa (Shari Headley).

[JoseBalow]

33. Sad losses indeed

(1:44)


My buns have no seeds...

(0:41)

[ancianita]

31. Loved his acting and saw every show he was in. From Roots to West Wing to The District, he was great. RIP, great one.

[Talitha]

32. Class. Pure class.

RIP Mr. Amos...

[Torchlight]

34. He had a recurring role in the West Wing, and a paticular scene that stood out to me as a Master Class in acting.

He had the role of the Chairmain of the Joint Chiefs or somesuch talking one on one with the Pres and says something along the lines of "I don't know who the world's leading expert on warfare is, but any list of the top has got to include me, and I can't tell when it's peacetime and wartime anymore."

Entire scene was gripping. That line just kinda saw my blood run cold. It was one of "those" moments when I entirely forget I'm watching an actor perform.

[gohuskies]

36. John Amos was not just a great actor; he was a great man

This talented man gave so much more than great performances, he was a humanitarian and committed to equality and making the world a better place. Rest in peace Mr. Amos.

[Yavin4]

37. RIP.

This has been a tough week.