John Amos
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- December 27, 1939
- Died
- August 21, 2024
- Birthplace
- Newark, New Jersey, USA
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
- Information Processing
Information Processing TBA
as Self
- John Amos: Roots of an American Legend
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend TBA
as Self
- Future Cop: Cops and Robin
Future Cop: Cops and Robin TBA
as Officer Bundy
Devotion TBA
as Roger
The Last Rifleman 2023
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
Me Time 2022
as Gil
Block Party 2022
as Dennis
Christmas in Miami 2021
as Chief Host
Because of Charley 2021
as Grandpa
Coming 2 America 2021
as Cleo McDowell
The Truth About Santa Claus 2020
as Bob
The Beastmaster Chronicles 2020
as Self
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" 2019
as Fred Davis
Uncut Gems 2019
as Neighbor 33F
Christmas Belles 2019
as Pop Pop
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You 2016
as Self
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration 2015
as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
Tamales and Gumbo 2015
as The Patron
Mercy for Angels 2015
as God
Bad Asses on the Bayou 2015
as Earl
Althea 2014
Executive Producer
Act of Faith 2014
as Mr. Brady
American Lowrider 2013
as Slick
Madea's Witness Protection 2012
as Pastor Nelson
Zombie Hamlet 2012
as Edgar Mortimer
- All Over Again
All Over Again 2007
as Coach Zeller
Ascension Day 2007
as Henry
Voodoo Moon 2006
as Dutch
Dr. Dolittle 3 2006
as Jud
Shadowboxing 2005
as Хилл
Countdown 2004
as Admiral Melory
My Baby's Daddy 2004
as Uncle Virgil
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years 2004
as (archive footage)
The Watermelon Heist 2003
as Old Man Amos
Remembering Roots 2002
as Self
Disappearing Acts 2000
as Mr. Swift
Something to Sing About 2000
as Rev. Washington
The Players Club 1998
as Freeman
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda 1997
as Booker Hutch
Hologram Man 1995
as Wes Strickland
For Better or Worse 1995
as Gray
Night Trap 1993
as Capt. Hodges
Mac 1992
as Nat
Ricochet 1991
as Reverend Styles
Die Hard 2 1990
as Major Grant
Two Evil Eyes 1990
as Det. Legrand
Lock Up 1989
as Captain Meissner
Coming to America 1988
as Cleo McDowell
Bonanza: The Next Generation 1988
as Mr. Mack
Shark's Paradise 1986
as Taxi Driver
American Flyers 1985
as Dr. Conrad
Dance of the Dwarfs 1983
as Esteban
The Beastmaster 1982
as Seth
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story 1980
as Bumpy Johnson
Touched by Love 1980
as Tony
Willa 1979
as Virgil
Cops and Robin 1978
as Officer Bill Bundy
Future Cop 1976
as Officer Bill Bundy
Let's Do It Again 1975
as Kansas City Mack
The President's Plane Is Missing 1973
as Marine Corporal
The World's Greatest Athlete 1973
as Coach Sam Archer
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song 1971
as Biker
Vanishing Point 1971
as Super Soul's Engineer (uncredited)
Credits from TMDB.