John Amos
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.
Acted in
Suits LA
2025
as John Amos
The Last Rifleman
2023
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
Me Time
2022
as Gil
Block Party
2022
as Dennis
Christmas in Miami
2021
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
The Movies That Made Us
2019
as Self
Christmas Belles
2019
as Pop Pop
Uncut Gems
2019
as Neighbor 33F
The Last O.G.
2018
as Uncle D
The Ranch
2016
as Ed
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
Ballers
2015
as Deacon Eller
Mercy for Angels
2015
as God
Bad Asses on the Bayou
2015
as Earl
Act of Faith
2014
as Mr. Brady
American Lowrider
2013
as Slick
Madea's Witness Protection
2012
as Pastor Nelson
NYC 22
2012
as Pappy Science
Zombie Hamlet
2012
as Edgar Mortimer
Against Time
2007
as Coach
Ascension Day
2007
as Henry
30 Rock
2006
as John Amos
Men in Trees
2006
as Buzz
Psych
2006
as Uncle Burton
Voodoo Moon
2006
as Dutch
Dr. Dolittle 3
2006
as Jud
My Name Is Earl
2005
as Joe
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)
Two and a Half Men
2003
as Ed
All About the Andersons
2003
as Joe Anderson
The Watermelon Heist
2003
as Old Man Amos
Disappearing Acts
2000
as Mr. Swift
The District
2000
as Mayor Ethan Baker
Something to Sing About
2000
as Rev. Washington
The West Wing
1999
as Percy Fitzwallace
The Players Club
1998
as Freeman
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
1997
as Booker Hutch
The Chris Rock Show
1997
King of the Hill
1997
as Glen Johnson (voice)
Hologram Man
1995
as Wes Strickland
In the House
1995
The Outer Limits
1995
as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
For Better or Worse
1995
as Gray
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Sheriff James Mackey
704 Hauser
1994
as Ernie Cumberbatch
Night Trap
1993
as Capt. Hodges
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Pastor Roscoe Jones
Mac
1992
as Nat
Martin
1992
Ricochet
1991
as Reverend Styles
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Fred Wilkes
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
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Doc Penrose
The Cosby Show
1984
as Dr. Herbert
Hunter
1984
as Capt. Dolan
Hardcastle and McCormick
1983
Dance of the Dwarfs
1983
as Esteban
The A-Team
1983
as Rev. Taylor
The Beastmaster
1982
as Seth
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
as Bumpy Johnson
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
as Bumpy Johnson
Touched by Love
1980
as Tony
Here's Boomer
1980
Willa
1979
as Virgil
Cops and Robin
1978
as Officer Bill Bundy
Future Cop
1977
as Bill Bundy
Roots
1977
as Toby
Roots
1977
as Older Kunta Kinte
Future Cop
1976
as Officer Bill Bundy
Let's Do It Again
1975
as Kansas City Mack
Dinah!
1974
as Self
Good Times
1974
as James Evans Sr.
The President's Plane Is Missing
1973
as Marine Corporal
Police Story
1973
The World's Greatest Athlete
1973
as Coach Sam Archer
Sanford and Son
1972
The Funny Side
1971
as Minority Husband
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
1971
as Biker
Vanishing Point
1971
as Super Soul's Engineer
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970
as Gordy Howard
Devotion
as Roger
Countdown
as Admiral