John Amos, 'Good Times' & 'Roots' Star, Dies at 84

John Amos, the veteran star of such TV classics as "Good Times" and "Roots," has died at 84.

The actor died August 21, but news of his death was not reported by his family until now. A publicist confirmed his passing to THR and other outlets.

One of his children, his son Kelly Christopher Amos, said in a statement, “It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned. 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.”

Amos, who was born December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, made a name for himself as an actor interested in presenting positive portrayals of Black people and the Black family.

The early role he said helped him prioritize his own family by putting his kids through college was playing a dedicated McDonald's employee in a 1971 TV spot that urged, "Grab a bucket and mop, scrub the bottom and the top!"

His first major TV role was as Gordy, the affable weatherman on "Mary Tyler Moore." He appeared 13 times on the show, mostly from 1970-1973, returning for a special episode in the show's final, 1977 season. At the time of his death, he had been the living actor with the most appearances on the iconic series following the passing of Betty White in 2021.

He made a bigger impression as patriarch James Evans on more than 60 episodes of "Good Times." The show, about a Black family living in a Chicago project, was a big hit, although the phenomenal success of Jimmie Walker's J.J. character frustrated Amos, who felt it veered into Black minstrel-show territory.

He was so vocally upset by the show's creative trajectory he was fired by creator Norman Lear. With finality, Lear had the character of James killed off, leading to a well-remembered moment on the series in 1976 as his surviving wife Florida (Esther Rolle) breaks a punch bowl intentionally and crumbles, shouting, "Damn! Damn! Damn!" She is then surrounded by her grieving children.

Amos later admitted he had not been seasoned enough to know how to play his cards more diplomatically.

In spite of the setback, Amos excelled as the older Kunta Kinte on the miniseries "Roots" (1977), for which he earned an Emmy nomination.

Other highlights of his stellar TV career include roles on "Hunter" (1984-1985), "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1994-1995), "In the House" (1995-1997), "The District" (2000-2001), "All About the Andersons" (2003-2004), "Men in Trees" (2006-2008), and "The Ranch" (2016-2017).

He was especially well-known to a later generation of TV fans as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on "The West Wing" (1999-2004).

Amos' movie work launched in 1971, with appearances in "Vanishing Point" and "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song." He starred in Disney's "The World's Greatest Athlete" (1973) as a desperate talent scout seeking to monetize an athletically gifted jungle boy, and went on to act in "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Die Hard 2" (1990), "Dr. Dolittle 3" (2006), "Coming 2 America" (2021) and more.

In 2019, he had a juicy cameo in the Safdie brothers' "Uncut Gems," playing himself in a warped scene with star Adam Sandler.

Married and divorced twice, Amos is survived by his two children.