Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
December 27, 1939
Place of Birth:
Newark, New Jersey, USA
Social Media
John Amos
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
Filmography
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Suits LA | John Amos |
| 2019 | The Movies That Made Us | Self |
| 2018 | The Last O.G. | Uncle D |
| 2016 | The Ranch | Ed |
| 2015 | Ballers | Deacon Eller |
| 2012 | NYC 22 | Pappy Science |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | Jim Weaver |
| 2009 | Royal Pains | Harrison Phillips |
| 2006 | Psych | Uncle Burton |
| 2006 | Men in Trees | Buzz |
| 2006 | 30 Rock | John Amos |
| 2005 | My Name Is Earl | Joe |
| 2003 | Two and a Half Men | Ed |
| 2003 | All About the Andersons | Joe Anderson |
| 2000 | The District | Mayor Ethan Baker |
| 1999 | The West Wing | Percy Fitzwallace |
| 1997 | The Chris Rock Show | Self |
| 1997 | King of the Hill | Glen Johnson (voice) |
| 1995 | In the House | |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits | Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel | Sheriff James Mackey |
| 1994 | 704 Hauser | Ernie Cumberbatch |
| 1993 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Pastor Roscoe Jones |
| 1992 | Martin | Sgt. Strawn |
| 1990 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Fred Wilkes |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote | Doc Penrose |
| 1984 | The Cosby Show | Dr. Herbert |
| 1984 | Hunter | Capt. Dolan (uncredited) |
| 1983 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Albie Meadows |
| 1983 | The A-Team | Rev. Taylor |
| 1980 | Here's Boomer | |
| 1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Bumpy Johnson |
| 1977 | Roots | Toby |
| 1977 | Future Cop | Bill Bundy |
| 1977 | Roots | Older Kunta Kinte |
| 1977 | The Love Boat | Duke Taylor |
| 1974 | Good Times | James Evans Sr. |
| 1974 | Dinah! | Self |
| 1973 | Police Story | |
| 1972 | Sanford and Son | |
| 1971 | The Funny Side | Minority Husband |
| 1971 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Mark Cooper |
| 1970 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Gordy Howard |
| 1969 | Love, American Style | Bell Captain |
| 1969 | Love, American Style | |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show | Self |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show | Self |