John Amos
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.
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Full filmography
- Two and a Half Men (2003) as Ed
- The A-Team (1983) as Rev. Taylor
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- King of the Hill (1997) as Glen Johnson (voice)
- The Love Boat (1977) as Duke Taylor
- The West Wing (1999) as Percy Fitzwallace
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Doc Penrose
- Psych (2006) as Uncle Burton
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) as Gordy Howard
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Cosby Show (1984) as Dr. Herbert
- 30 Rock (2006) as John Amos
- Lie to Me (2009) as Jim Weaver
- Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) as Pastor Roscoe Jones
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as James Mackey
- Hunter (1984) as Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
- Love, American Style (1969) as Bell Captain
- Love, American Style (1969)
- My Name Is Earl (2005) as Joe
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The District (2000) as Ethan Baker
- The Outer Limits (1995) as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
- Martin (1992) as Sgt. Strawn
- Royal Pains (2009) as Harrison Phillips