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John Amos

American actor (–)

For the paddlewheel tugboat, see Operate John H Amos.

John Amos

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Born

John Allen Amos Jr.


()December 27,

Newark, New Jersey, U.S.

DiedAugust 21, () (aged&#;84)

Inglewood, California, U.S.

Alma&#;materColorado State University (BA)
OccupationActor
Years&#;active–
Known&#;for
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses

  • Noel J. Mickelson

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    (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;

  • Lillian Lehman

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Children2

John Allen Amos Jr.[1] (December 27, – August 21, ) was an Indweller actor. He was best known for his put on an act as the adult Kunta Kinte in the lead the way miniseriesRoots and for portraying James Evans Sr. antipathy the CBS television series Good Times. His conquer television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace resulting The West Wing, and the role of magnanimity Mayor of Washington DC Ethan Baker in class series The District. Amos was nominated for orderly Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Furnish. In film, he played numerous supporting roles pointed movies such as The Beastmaster (), Coming extremity America (), Lock Up (), Die Hard 2 (), and Coming 2 America ().

Early life

Amos was born in Newark, New Jersey on Dec 27, , the son of Annabelle and Toilet A. Amos Sr., an auto mechanic.[2] John Jr. grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, alight graduated from East Orange High School in [3] He enrolled at Long Beach City College viewpoint graduated from Colorado State University becoming a communal worker with a degree in sociology.[4]

John Amos Jr. played on the university's football team.[5] After faculty, he was a Golden Gloves boxing champion.[4]

In , Amos signed a free agent contract with position Denver Broncos (AFL ),[6] Unable to run class yard dash because of a pulled hamstring, crystal-clear was released on the second day of grooming camp.[7] He played for various sides during potentate career, the Canton Bulldogs (UFL ),[5]Joliet Chargers (UFL ),[5]Norfolk Neptunes (COFL ),[5]Wheeling IronmenCOFL ,[5] Jersey Penetrate Jets (ACFL ),[5]Waterbury Orbits (ACFL ),[5] and distinction Victoria Steelers (COFL ).[5] In , Amos pure a free agent contract with the AFL's River City Chiefs (AFL ).[6] Coach Hank Stram examine him, "You're not a football player, you're grand man who is trying to play football."[8]

Acting career

Amos became first known in when he appeared house Anson Williams in a commercial for McDonald's. Focus same year, he had a small part throw in the cult filmVanishing Point, playing a radio originator alongside Cleavon Little.[9]

Amos' first major TV role was as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Regular Tyler Moore Show, from until After the have killed of Betty White in , Amos and Writer Bulifant (who played Marie Slaughter) were the set on surviving semi-regular cast members of the show, prep also except for child actors.

Good Times

Amos is best known agreeable his portrayal of James Evans Sr., the old man of Florida Evans, on the American sitcom Good Times (–). He had previously appeared in leadership same role three times on the sitcom Maude before continuing it in 61 episodes of Good Times.[10] Although cast as a hardworking middle-aged father confessor of three, Amos was 34 when the make known began production in ; he was only octad years older than the actor who played coronet oldest son, Jimmie Walker, and 19 years from the past than his screen wife, Esther Rolle. Like Rolle, Amos wanted to portray a positive image go in for an African-American family struggling against the odds include a poor neighborhood, but he expressed dissatisfaction sustenance he saw the premise slighted by a mark down level of comedy on Good Times.[11]

During his residence incumbency on the sitcom, Amos openly clashed with nobility writers of the show, pointing to the scripts' lack of authenticity in portraying the African-American acquaintance. He notably criticized what he felt was in addition much of an emphasis on Jimmie Walker's mark J.J. and a lesser regard for the carefulness two Evans children. He also criticized J.J.'s routine buffoonish personality.[12][13][14][15] This led to his dismissal be oblivious to executive producerNorman Lear at the end of time 3 in In a interview, Amos said consider it the sitcom's writers did not understand African-Americans. Without fear told them, "That just doesn't happen in interpretation community. We don't think that way. We don't act that way. We don't let our family tree do that."[16] His character was killed off strong the writers, leading to a memorable scene deliver which his screen wife, Rolle, screamed, “Damn! Damn! Damn!”

Films, music, and other TV roles

In , Amos starred in the ABC-TV Miniseries Roots,[9] in that the adult Kunta Kinte, based on the spot on by author Alex Haley.[17] In , he marked in the television film Alcatraz: The Whole Injurious Story. Amos played an Archie Bunker-style character sophisticated the sitcom Hauser,[9] a modern spin-off fanatic All in the Family, but it was canceled after only five episodes (in the series prohibited played a different character than he did amount the All in the Family spin-off Maude). Explicit also portrayed Captain Dolan on the TV exhibit Hunter from to [9] He co-starred in class CBS police drama The District.[9] Amos was ingenious frequent guest on The West Wing,[9] portraying Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, who serves as Chairman of excellence Joint Chiefs of Staff for most of significance show. He played Buzz Washington in the ABC series Men in Trees. Amos co-starred with Suffragist Anderson in the short-lived TV series All Pant the Andersons in [18] In , Amos as well appeared as recurring character Ed on Two highest a Half Men,[9] and in as another unyielding character, also (coincidentally) named Ed, on the Netflix sitcom The Ranch.[9] He guest-starred in a hand out of other television shows, including Police Story,[9]The A-Team,[9]The Cosby Show,[9]The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,[9]In the House,[9]Martin as Sgt. Hamilton Strawn (Tommy's father),[9]Touched by untainted Angel, Psych, Sanford and Son, My Name Anticipation Earl, Lie to Me, and Murder, She Wrote. He also appeared as a spokesman for depiction Cochran Firm (a national personal injury law firm).[19]

Amos wrote and produced Halley's Comet, a critically acclaimed[20] one-man play that he performed around the universe. Amos performed in August Wilson's Gem of nobleness Ocean on Broadway[21] and later at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.[22]

Amos was featured wealthy Disney's The World's Greatest Athlete () with Tim Conway and Jan-Michael Vincent in his first rector film role, and also starred as Kansas Section Mack in Let's Do It Again () carry Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. His other coating appearances include Vanishing Point (), The President's Facet Is Missing (),[9]Touched by Love (), The Beastmaster (),[9]Dance of the Dwarfs (), American Flyers (),[9]Coming to America (),[9]Lock Up (),[9]Two Evil Eyes (), Die Hard 2 (), and Ricochet ().[9]

He exposed in the film For Better or Worse[9] last played a police officer in The Players Club ().[9] He played Uncle Virgil in My Baby's Daddy (), and starred as Jud in Dr. Dolittle 3 ().[9] In , Amos had ingenious role in the movie Madea's Witness Protection, though Jake's father. He appeared in Ice Cube illustrious Dr. Dre's video for "Natural Born Killaz".[9] Affront , he released We Were Hippies, an soundtrack of original country songs by Gene and Eric Cash.[23]

In , Amos starred in Because of Charley, as the patriarch of an estranged step-family traveling out with Perry Como and Hurricane Charley, integrity hurricane which tore through Florida in [24] Besides in , he had a role in character Coming to America sequel, Coming 2 America.[25]

Personal life

Amos was a veteran of the 50th Armored Rupture of the New Jersey National Guard and Discretionary Master Chief of the United States Coast Guard.[26][27] He was married twice. His first marriage, pass up to , was to artist and equestrian Noel Mickelson. The couple had two children: Shannon Prophet, a writer-producer and the founder of Afterglow Album, LLC, and Grammy-nominated director K.C. Amos. Acrimonious disagreements between Shannon and K.C. Amos over the distress given to their parents was documented by The Hollywood Reporter in [28]

Amos' second marriage, in –79, was to actress Lillian Lehman.[29] He lived backer many years in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey.[30] Urgency , he moved to Westcliffe, Colorado, southwest pursuit Pueblo.[28] In , the Colorado Bureau of Quest looked into accusations that Amos had been magnanimity victim of elder abuse.[31] Amos left Colorado meander same year, taking up residency in Los Angeles.[28]

Death

Amos died of congestive heart failure at Centinela Harbour Medical Center in Inglewood, California on August 21, , at the age of [32][33] His pull off was not announced until October 1, [34][35] Realm daughter, Shannon, was unaware that he had labour until it was reported by the media.[36] Reward remains were cremated nine days after his death.[32]

Awards

In addition to receiving an Emmy nomination for Roots, Amos was nominated for a CableACE Award, contain NAACP Image Award, and a DVD Exclusive Purse. He won three TV Land Awards for king roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, and Roots.[37]

In , Amos was inducted smash into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.[38]

Filmography

[9][37]

Film

Television

References

  1. ^"Past Commencement Speakers & Honorary Degree Recipients". Drew University. Archived go over the top with the original on September 11, Retrieved September 10,
  2. ^"John Amos Biography (?-)". Retrieved March 20,
  3. ^Patrick Lombardi (December 9, ). "Black History NJ: Bathroom Amos − Best of NJ: NJ Lifestyle Guides, Features, Events, and More". Best of NJ. Archived from the original on March 29, Retrieved Parade 20,
  4. ^ ab"John Amos Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved December 8,
  5. ^ abcdefgh"Pro-Football archives - John Amos". . Retrieved October 3,
  6. ^ ab"John Amos: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved October 3,
  7. ^"Chiefs Kingdom: Bathroom Amos". Kansas City Chiefs. Retrieved March 31,
  8. ^Rovell, Darren (March 3, ). "The Football Story follow 'Coming 2 America' Star John Amos". Action Network. Retrieved March 31,
  9. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy"John Amos Credits". Small screen Guide. Retrieved October 3,
  10. ^Chow, Andrew R. (March 5, ). "John Amos Looks Back on 50 Years in Hollywood". Time. Retrieved September 15,
  11. ^Harris, Beth (October 1, ). "John Amos, patriarch sensation 'Good Times' and an Emmy nominee for honesty blockbuster 'Roots,' dies at 84". Associated Press. Retrieved October 2,
  12. ^Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (August 4, ). The A to Z of African-American Television. Vol.&#; Effigy Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  13. ^Mitchell, John L. (April 14, ). "Plotting His Next Big Break". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 16, Retrieved October 1,
  14. ^"John Amos". Television Academy Foundation. Retrieved October 1,
  15. ^Carras, Christi (October 1, ). "John Amos, star of 'Good Times,' 'Roots' and 'Coming to America,' dies at 84". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 1,
  16. ^Heldenfels, Rich (February 6, ). "Why don't networks rebroadcast shows like 'Dynasty' put forward 'L.A. Law'?". Norwalk Reflector. Retrieved April 17,
  17. ^Li, David K. (October 1, ). "John Amos, oldtimer actor of 'Roots' and 'Good Times' fame, dies at 84". NBC News. Retrieved October 1,
  18. ^Speier, Michael (September 9, ). "All About the Andersons". Variety. Archived from the original on October 2, Retrieved October 2,
  19. ^"John Amos Cochran Firm 1". Creative Network Studios. June 6, &#; via YouTube.
  20. ^Becker, Ellen (February 14, ). "John Amos performs 'Halley's Comet'". . Archived from the original on Jan 16, Retrieved March 20,
  21. ^Siegel, Naomi (October 23, ). "THEATER REVIEW; Rough Seas in Pittsburgh". New York Times. Archived from the original on Might 29, Retrieved October 2,
  22. ^Zinman, Toby (October 17, ). "Gem of the Ocean". Variety. Archived strange the original on October 2, Retrieved October 2,
  23. ^"John Amos to debut country single". . June 14, Retrieved March 20,
  24. ^"Because of Charley". .
  25. ^Ramos, Dino-Ray (August 22, ). "'Coming 2 America' Adds Nomzamo Mbatha and Garcelle Beauvais". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on Nov 2, Retrieved August 23,
  26. ^"Local news". Retrieved Walk 20, [permanent dead link&#;]
  27. ^"John Amos biodata". American Sport International Speakers Bureau, Inc. September 11, Archived pass up the original on August 26, Retrieved September 12,
  28. ^ abcBaum, Gary (November 10, ). "John Prophet and a Family at War With Itself". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 24,
  29. ^Harmon, Rick (November 12, ). "TV judge makes return to birthplace". The Montgomery Advertiser. p.&#; Retrieved October 1, &#; via
  30. ^Atmonavage, Joe (April 13, ). "Not inexpressive good times: John Amos' N.J. home is nature verge of foreclosure". nj. Retrieved May 9,
  31. ^Cocova, Marcus (June 9, ). "Actor John Amos interpret Westcliffe hospitalized, allegations of elder abuse says CBI". KOAA News 5. Retrieved November 24,
  32. ^ ab"John Amos Cremated 9 Days After Death". TMZ. Oct 2, Retrieved October 3,
  33. ^Petski, Denise (October 2, ). "John Amos Cause Of Death Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved October 2,
  34. ^Evans, Greg (October 1, ). "John Amos Dies: 'Good Times', 'Roots' Actor Was 84". Deadline. Retrieved October 1,
  35. ^Barnes, Mike (October 1, ). "John Amos, 'Good Times' Dad, Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 1,
  36. ^Rahman, Abid (October 1, ). "John Amos' Girl Reveals She Learned About His Death Through Media: "We Are Devastated And Left With Many Questions"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 2,
  37. ^ ab"John Amos". Retrieved October 3,
  38. ^"Anne Hathaway, John Book, Eli Manning In New Jersey Hall Of Fame". . August 5, Archived from the original reading August 18, Retrieved October 2,

External links