John Amos

John Amos

Acting
Born 1939-12-27 - Died 2024-08-21Newark, New Jersey, USA

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.

Movies (62)

Die Hard 2
7.0

Die Hard 2

1990Movie7.0
Coming to America
6.9

Coming to America

1988Movie6.9
Uncut Gems
7.2

Uncut Gems

2019Movie7.2
Lock Up
6.8

Lock Up

1989Movie6.8
The Beastmaster
6.3

The Beastmaster

1982Movie6.3
Coming 2 America
6.3

Coming 2 America

2021Movie6.3
Ricochet
6.1

Ricochet

1991Movie6.1
Me Time
5.8

Me Time

2022Movie5.8
Madea's Witness Protection
6.1

Madea's Witness Protection

2012Movie6.1
Vanishing Point
7.1

Vanishing Point

1971Movie7.1
Dr. Dolittle 3
5.1

Dr. Dolittle 3

2006Movie5.1
American Flyers
6.2

American Flyers

1985Movie6.2
The Players Club
6.4

The Players Club

1998Movie6.4
The Last Rifleman
6.7

The Last Rifleman

2023Movie6.7
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
6.1

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

2019Movie6.1
My Baby's Daddy
4.6

My Baby's Daddy

2004Movie4.6
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
5.6

The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda

1997Movie5.6
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
5.1

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

1971Movie5.1
Voodoo Moon
4.2

Voodoo Moon

2006Movie4.2
Two Evil Eyes
6.1

Two Evil Eyes

1990Movie6.1
Bad Asses on the Bayou
6.0

Bad Asses on the Bayou

2015Movie6.0
Touched by Love
4.6

Touched by Love

1980Movie4.6
Hologram Man
4.1

Hologram Man

1995Movie4.1
Disappearing Acts
6.2

Disappearing Acts

2000Movie6.2
American Lowrider
5.0

American Lowrider

2013Movie5.0
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
5.3

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

2004Movie5.3
Remembering Roots

Remembering Roots

2002Movie
The World's Greatest Athlete
5.5

The World's Greatest Athlete

1973Movie5.5
Block Party
6.1

Block Party

2022Movie6.1
Night Trap
4.0

Night Trap

1993Movie4.0
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
5.5

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

1980Movie5.5
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
7.1

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

2016Movie7.1
Let's Do It Again
7.0

Let's Do It Again

1975Movie7.0
For Better or Worse
4.7

For Better or Worse

1995Movie4.7
Shadowboxing
5.4

Shadowboxing

2005Movie5.4
Devotion

Devotion

Movie
The President's Plane Is Missing
6.3

The President's Plane Is Missing

1973Movie6.3
Future Cop
7.5

Future Cop

1976Movie7.5
Cops and Robin
6.5

Cops and Robin

1978Movie6.5
Ascension Day

Ascension Day

2007Movie
Mac
5.8

Mac

1992Movie5.8
Willa
5.0

Willa

1979Movie5.0
Zombie Hamlet
5.5

Zombie Hamlet

2012Movie5.5
Bonanza: The Next Generation
7.7

Bonanza: The Next Generation

1988Movie7.7
Shark's Paradise
8.0

Shark's Paradise

1986Movie8.0
The Truth About Santa Claus
2.0

The Truth About Santa Claus

2020Movie2.0
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
8.5

Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

2015Movie8.5
Future Cop: Cops and Robin

Future Cop: Cops and Robin

Movie
Countdown
5.8

Countdown

2004Movie5.8
Dance of the Dwarfs
4.3

Dance of the Dwarfs

1983Movie4.3
Mercy for Angels
1.0

Mercy for Angels

2015Movie1.0
Act of Faith
5.7

Act of Faith

2014Movie5.7
All Over Again
7.5

All Over Again

2007Movie7.5
Something to Sing About
5.8

Something to Sing About

2000Movie5.8
Christmas Belles
2.4

Christmas Belles

2019Movie2.4
The Watermelon Heist
3.3

The Watermelon Heist

2003Movie3.3
Because of Charley
2.3

Because of Charley

2021Movie2.3
Information Processing

Information Processing

Movie
The Beastmaster Chronicles

The Beastmaster Chronicles

2020Movie
Tamales and Gumbo

Tamales and Gumbo

2015Movie
Christmas in Miami

Christmas in Miami

2021Movie
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend

John Amos: Roots of an American Legend

Movie

TV Shows (48)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
The West Wing
8.3

The West Wing

1999Series8.3
King of the Hill
7.4

King of the Hill

1997Series7.4
Two and a Half Men
7.5

Two and a Half Men

2003Series7.5
Psych
7.9

Psych

2006Series7.9
The Love Boat
6.3

The Love Boat

1977Series6.3
The A-Team
7.5

The A-Team

1983Series7.5
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Murder, She Wrote
7.5

Murder, She Wrote

1984Series7.5
Love, American Style
6.2

Love, American Style

1969Series6.2
30 Rock
7.5

30 Rock

2006Series7.5
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
7.7

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

1970Series7.7
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
Lie to Me
7.9

Lie to Me

2009Series7.9
Touched by an Angel
7.2

Touched by an Angel

1994Series7.2
The Cosby Show
7.0

The Cosby Show

1984Series7.0
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
7.9

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

1990Series7.9
Sanford and Son
7.5

Sanford and Son

1972Series7.5
My Name Is Earl
7.7

My Name Is Earl

2005Series7.7
Walker, Texas Ranger
7.0

Walker, Texas Ranger

1993Series7.0
Hunter
7.1

Hunter

1984Series7.1
Royal Pains
6.8

Royal Pains

2009Series6.8
The Outer Limits
7.7

The Outer Limits

1995Series7.7
The Ranch
7.4

The Ranch

2016Series7.4
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
Ballers
6.8

Ballers

2015Series6.8
The District
6.9

The District

2000Series6.9
Martin
7.5

Martin

1992Series7.5
Hardcastle and McCormick
6.5

Hardcastle and McCormick

1983Series6.5
Good Times
8.0

Good Times

1974Series8.0
Police Story
7.0

Police Story

1973Series7.0
The Chris Rock Show
4.6

The Chris Rock Show

1997Series4.6
The Last O.G.
6.3

The Last O.G.

2018Series6.3
In the House
7.8

In the House

1995Series7.8
Roots
7.4

Roots

1977Series7.4
Suits LA
6.8

Suits LA

2025Series6.8
The Movies That Made Us
7.3

The Movies That Made Us

2019Series7.3
Men in Trees
6.6

Men in Trees

2006Series6.6
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
5.2

The New Dick Van Dyke Show

1971Series5.2
Here's Boomer
6.2

Here's Boomer

1981Series6.2
NYC 22
6.2

NYC 22

2012Series6.2
All About the Andersons
8.3

All About the Andersons

2003Series8.3
Future Cop
7.5

Future Cop

1977Series7.5
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
5.0

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

1980Series5.0
704 Hauser
9.0

704 Hauser

1994Series9.0
The Funny Side
9.0

The Funny Side

1971Series9.0
Roots: The Complete Miniseries

Roots: The Complete Miniseries

1977Series
Beauty and the Beast
7.4

Beauty and the Beast

1987Series7.4