John Amos
John Amos | |
---|---|
Born | John Allen Amos Jr. December 27, 1939 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
Alma mater | Colorado State University (BA) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1970–present |
Known for | Kunta Kinte (adult) – Roots James Evans Sr. – Good Times |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouses |
|
Children | 2 |
John Allen Amos Jr.
He has been nominated for a
Early life
Amos was born on December 27, 1939, in
Football career
In 1964, Amos signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos. Unable to run the 40-yard dash because of a pulled hamstring, he was released on the second day of training camp.[7] He then played with the Canton Bulldogs and Joliet Explorers of the United Football League. In 1965, he played with the Norfolk Neptunes and Wheeling Ironmen of the Continental Football League. In 1966, he played with the Jersey City Jets and Waterbury Orbits of the Atlantic Coast Football League.
In 1967, Amos signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's
Acting career
Amos became well known in his first major TV role, playing
Good Times (1974–1976)
Although cast as a hard-working middle-aged father of three, Amos was 34 when the show began production in 1973, only eight years older than the actor who played his oldest son (Jimmie Walker) and 19 years younger than his screen wife (Esther Rolle). Much like Rolle, Amos wanted to portray a positive image of an African-American family, struggling against the odds in a poor neighborhood, but saw the premise slighted by lower comedy, and he expressed dissatisfaction.
During his tenure on Good Times, Amos openly clashed with the writers of the show, due to the scripts' lack of authenticity in portraying the African-American experience. This led to his dismissal by executive producer Norman Lear at the end of season 3 in 1976. In a 2017 interview, Amos said he had told the writers, who, according to Amos, did not understand African-Americans, "That just doesn't happen in the community. We don't think that way. We don't act that way. We don't let our children do that."[9]
In 1980, he starred in the TV film
In 2010, Amos also appeared as recurring character Ed on
Amos wrote and produced Halley's Comet, a critically acclaimed[11] one-man play that he has performed around the world. Amos performed in August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean on Broadway and later at the McCarther Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.
Film, music
In 1977, Amos starred in the ABC-TV Miniseries Roots, as the adult Kunta Kinte, based on the book by author Alex Haley. Amos was featured in Disney's The World's Greatest Athlete (1973) with Tim Conway and Jan-Michael Vincent, and also starred as Kansas City Mack in Let's Do It Again (1975) with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier. His other film appearances include Vanishing Point (1971), The President's Plane Is Missing (1973), Touched by Love (1980), The Beastmaster (1982), Dance of the Dwarfs (1983), American Flyers (1985), Coming to America (1988), Lock Up (1989), Two Evil Eyes (1989), Die Hard 2 (1990), and Ricochet (1991).
He appeared in the 1995 film For Better or Worse and played a police officer in The Players Club (1998). He played Uncle Virgil in My Baby's Daddy (2004), and starred as Jud in Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006). In 2012, Amos had a role in the movie Madea's Witness Protection, as Jake's father. He appeared in Ice Cube and Dr. Dre's 1994 video for "Natural Born Killaz."
In 2009, he released We Were Hippies, an album of original country songs by Gene and Eric Cash.[12]
In 2021, Amos starred in Because of Charley, as the patriarch of an estranged step-family riding out the hurricane that tore through Florida in 2004.[13]
Awards
In addition to his Emmy nomination for
In 2020, Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Personal life
Amos is a veteran of the
Amos has been married twice. His first marriage, from 1965 to 1975, was to artist and equestrian Noel Mickelson, with whom he has two children: Shannon Amos, a writer/producer and founder of Afterglow Multimedia, LLC, and Grammy-nominated director K.C. Amos. The acrimonious relationship between Shannon and K.C. over the care given to their parents has been documented by The Hollywood Reporter.[17]
His second marriage, from 1978 to 1979, was to actress Lillian Lehman.
Amos lived for many years in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey.[18] In 2018 he moved to Colorado.[17] In 2023 he resided in Westcliffe, Colorado, where the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was looking into accusations of elder abuse.[19]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1971 | Vanishing Point | Super Soul's Engineer | Uncredited |
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song | Biker | Credited as Johnny Amos | |
1973 | The World's Greatest Athlete | Coach Sam Archer | |
1975 | Let's Do It Again | Mack "Kansas City Mack" | |
1980 | Touched by Love | Tony | |
1982 | The Beastmaster | Seth | |
1983 | Dance of the Dwarfs | Esteban | |
1985 | American Flyers | Dr. Conrad | |
1988 | Coming to America | Cleo McDowell | |
1989 | Lock Up | Captain Meissner | |
1990 | Two Evil Eyes | Detective Legrand | Segment: "The Black Cat" |
Die Hard 2 | Major Grant | ||
1991 | Ricochet | Reverend Styles | |
Without a Pass | Blue Berry | ||
1993 | Mac | Nat | |
Night Trap | Captain Hodges | ||
1995 | For Better or Worse | Gray | |
1998 | The Players Club | Officer Freeman | |
2001 | All Over Again | Coach Zeller | |
2003 | The Watermelon Heist | Old Man Amos | |
2004 | My Baby's Daddy | Uncle Virgil | |
Countdown | Admiral Melory | ||
2005 | Shadowboxing | Hill | |
2006 | Dr. Dolittle 3 | Jud Jones | |
2007 | Ascension Day | Henry | |
2010 | Lean Like a Cholo | "Slick" | |
2011 | Stills of the Movement: The Civil Rights Photojournalism of Flip Schulke | The Narrator | |
2012 | Zombie Hamlet | Edgar Mortimer | |
Madea's Witness Protection | Pastor Nelson | ||
2014 | Act of Faith | Brady | |
2015 | Bad Asses on the Bayou | Earl | |
Mercy for Angels | God | ||
Tamales and Gumbo | The Patron | ||
2016 | Hauntsville | Mr. Kimball | |
2019 | Uncut Gems | Himself | |
2021 | Coming 2 America | Cleo McDowell | |
Because of Charley | Grandpa | ||
2021 | Christmas in Miami | Chief Host | |
2022 | Me Time | Gil | |
2023 | The Last Rifleman | Lincoln Adams |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | The Bill Cosby Show | 1st Salesman | as Johnny Amos Episode: "Swann's Way" |
1970–1977 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Weatherman Gordon "Gordy" Howard | 13 episodes |
1971 | The Funny Side | Minority Husband | 6 episodes |
1971–1972 | Love, American Style | Bell Captain | 2 episodes |
1972 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Mark Cooper | Episode: "The Harry Award" |
1973 | Sanford and Son | Luther | Episode: "A Visit from Lena Horne" |
1973–1974 | Maude | Henry Evans | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
1974 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Himself | 1 episode |
1974–1976 | Good Times | James Evans Sr.
|
61 episodes |
1976 | Police Story | Sergeant Walt Kyles | 1 episode |
1976–1977 | Future Cop | Officer Bill Bundy | 7 episodes |
1977 | Roots | Older Kunta Kinte | 3 episodes |
1979 | Mr. Dugan | Representative Dooley | Unaired pilot |
1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson | TV miniseries |
1981 | Here's Boomer | Charlie Foster | Episode: "Boomer Goes for the Gold" |
1982 | Insight | Josh Cameron | Episode: "Hang Tight, Willy Bill" |
1983 | The Love Boat | Duke Taylor | Episode: "The Zinging Valentine/The Very Temporary Secretary/Final Score" |
1984 | The A-Team | Reverend Taylor | Episode: "Pure-Dee Poison" |
Trapper John, M.D. | Inspector Roland Hackett | Episode: "The Fred Connection" | |
Hardcastle and McCormick | Albie Meadows | Episode: "The Homecoming: Part 2" | |
1984–1985 | Hunter | Captain Dolan | 13 episodes |
1986 | One Life to Live | Bill Moore | 2 episodes |
1987 | Murder, She Wrote | "Doc" Penrose | Episode: "Death Takes a Dive" |
Stingray | Roy Jeffries | Episode: "Blood Money" | |
You Are the Jury | Sergeant Harold Borman | Episode: "The State of Oregon vs. Stanley Manning" | |
1988 | Beauty and the Beast | Farrell | Episode: "The Alchemist" |
Bonanza: The Next Generation | Mr. Mack | TV movie | |
The Cosby Show | Dr. Herbert | Episode: "The Physical" | |
1989 | Gideon Oliver | Carl Manning | Episode: "Tongs" |
1994 | 704 Hauser | Ernie Cumberbatch | 6 episodes |
1994–1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Fred Wilkes | 3 episodes |
1995–1997 | In the House | Coach Sam Wilson | 12 episodes |
1995 | Touched by an Angel | Sheriff James Mackey | Episode: "The Hero" |
1997 | Martin | Sergeant Strawn | Episode: "Daddy Dearest" |
Walker, Texas Ranger | Pastor Roscoe Jones | Episode: "Sons of Thunder" | |
1998 | King of the Hill | Glenn Johnson | Voice Episode: "Traffic Jam" |
1999–2004 | The West Wing | Admiral Percy Fitzwallace | 22 episodes |
2000 | Something to Sing About | Reverend Washington | TV movie |
The Outer Limits | Peter "Yas" Yastrzemski | Episode: "Zig Zag" | |
Disappearing Acts | Mr. Swift | TV movie | |
2000–2001 | The District | Mayor Ethan Baker | 10 episodes |
2002 | American Masters | Dr. Bledsoe | Episode: "Ralph Ellison: An American Journey" |
2003–2004 | All About the Andersons | Joe Anderson | 16 episodes |
2006 | Voodoo Moon | "Dutch" | TV movie |
2006–2008 | Men in Trees | "Buzz" Washington | 27 episodes |
2007 | Psych | Uncle Burton Guster | Episode: " Meat Is Murder, But Murder Is Also Murder "
|
2008 | My Name Is Earl | Joe | Episode: "Stole an RV" |
2010 | Two and a Half Men | Ed | 3 episodes |
Royal Pains | Harrison Phillips | Episode: "Big Whoop" | |
30 Rock | Himself | Episode: "Let's Stay Together" | |
Lie to Me | Jim Weaver | Episode: "Smoked" | |
2012 | NYC 22 | Pappy Science | Episode: "Ransom" |
2016–2017 | The Ranch
|
Ed Bishop | 4 episodes |
2019 | Ballers | Deacon Eller | 2 episodes |
Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell | War | Episode: "The Poor Horsemen of the Apocalypse" | |
Live in Front of a Studio Audience | Fred Davis | Episode: "'All in the Family' and 'Good Times'" | |
2020 | The Last O.G. | Uncle D | Episode: "Family Feud" |
2022 | The Righteous Gemstones | Buddy Lissons | Episode: "I Will Tell of All Your Deeds" |
References
- ^ "Past Commencement Speakers & Honorary Degree Recipients". Drew University. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ "John Amos Reflects on 50 Years in Hollywood". Time. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ "John Amos Biography (1939?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ^ Patrick Lombardi. "Black History NJ: John Amos - Best of NJ: NJ Lifestyle Guides, Features, Events, and More". Best of NJ. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ^ a b "John Amos Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
- ^ "John Amos: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
- ^ "Chiefs Kingdom: John Amos". Kansas City Chiefs. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Rovell: The Football Story of "Coming 2 America" Star John Amos". Action Network. March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Heldenfels, Rich (February 6, 2020). "Why don't networks rebroadcast shows like 'Dynasty' and 'L.A. Law'?". Norwalk Reflector. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ "John Amos Cochran Firm 1". Creative Network Studios. June 6, 2014 – via YouTube.
- ^ Becker, Ellen (February 14, 2013). "John Amos performs 'Halley's Comet'". digitalBURG.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ^ "John Amos to debut country single". UPI.com. June 14, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ^ "Because of Charley". IMDb.com.
- ^ "John Amos - Awards". IMDb.com.
- ^ "Local news". WKRN.com. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ^ "John Amos biodata". American Entertainment International Speakers Bureau, Inc. September 11, 2009. Archived from the original on August 26, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2009.
- ^ a b Baum, Gary (November 10, 2023). "John Amos and a Family at War With Itself". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Atmonavage, Joe (April 13, 2018). "Not so good times: John Amos' N.J. home is on verge of foreclosure". nj. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ^ Cocova, Marcus (June 9, 2023). "Actor John Amos of Westcliffe hospitalized, allegations of elder abuse says CBI". KOAA News 5. Retrieved November 24, 2023.