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.
Known For
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
King of the Hill
1997
Two and a Half Men
2003
The West Wing
1999
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
The Love Boat
1977
Psych
2006
30 Rock
2006
Murder, She Wrote
1984
Touched by an Angel
1994
The Cosby Show
1984
Filmography
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self · 1962
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self · 1961
King of the Hill
as Glen Johnson (voice) · 1997
Two and a Half Men
as Ed · 2003
The West Wing
as Percy Fitzwallace · 1999
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self · 1962
The Love Boat
as Duke Taylor · 1977
Psych
as Uncle Burton · 2006
30 Rock
as John Amos · 2006
Murder, She Wrote
as Doc Penrose · 1984
Touched by an Angel
as James Mackey · 1994
The Cosby Show
as Dr. Herbert · 1984
The A-Team
as Rev. Taylor · 1983
My Name Is Earl
as Joe · 2005
Love, American Style
as Bell Captain · 1969
Love, American Style
· 1969
The Outer Limits
as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski · 1995
Lie to Me
as Jim Weaver · 2009
Walker, Texas Ranger
as Pastor Roscoe Jones · 1993
The District
as Ethan Baker · 2000
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
as Gordy Howard · 1970
Royal Pains
as Harrison Phillips · 2009
Martin
as Sgt. Strawn · 1992
Ballers
as Deacon Eller · 2015
Dinah!
as Self · 1974
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
as Fred Wilkes · 1990
Hunter
as Captain Dolan · 1984
Hardcastle and McCormick
as Albie Meadows · 1983
Sanford and Son
· 1972
The Ranch
as Ed · 2016
Police Story
as Walt Kyles · 1973
Good Times
as James Evans Sr. · 1974
Uncut Gems
as Neighbor 33F · 2019
Die Hard 2
as Major Grant · 1990
The Last O.G.
as Uncle D · 2018
The Chris Rock Show
as Self · 1997
Suits LA
as John Amos · 2025
In the House
· 1995
Roots
as Toby · 1977
Roots
as Kunta Kinte · 1977
Men in Trees
as Buzz Washington · 2006
Coming to America
as Cleo McDowell · 1988
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
as Mark Cooper · 1971
The Movies That Made Us
as Self · 2019
Coming 2 America
as Cleo McDowell · 2021
Here's Boomer
· 1981
Lock Up
as Captain Meissner · 1989
Me Time
as Gil · 2022
NYC 22
as Pappy Science · 2012
All About the Andersons
as Joe Anderson · 2003
The Beastmaster
as Seth · 1982
Vanishing Point
as Super Soul's Engineer (uncredited) · 1971
Ricochet
as Reverend Styles · 1991
The Last Rifleman
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams · 2023
Dr. Dolittle 3
as Jud · 2006
Madea's Witness Protection
as Pastor Nelson · 2012
Bad Asses on the Bayou
as Earl · 2015
Future Cop
as Bill Bundy · 1977
Two Evil Eyes
as Det. Legrand · 1990
The Funny Side
as Minority Husband · 1971
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
as Bumpy Johnson · 1980
The Players Club
as Freeman · 1998
American Flyers
as Dr. Conrad · 1985
Disappearing Acts
as Mr. Swift · 2000
704 Hauser
as Ernie Cumberbatch · 1994
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage) · 2015
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
as Bumpy Johnson · 1980
Let's Do It Again
as Kansas City Mack · 1975
Night Trap
as Capt. Hodges · 1993
The World's Greatest Athlete
as Coach Sam Archer · 1973
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
as Fred Davis · 2019
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
as Biker · 1971
My Baby's Daddy
as Uncle Virgil · 2004
Roots: The Complete Miniseries
as Older Kunta Kinte · 1977
For Better or Worse
as Gray · 1995
Dance of the Dwarfs
as Esteban · 1983
The President's Plane Is Missing
as Marine Corporal · 1973
Beauty and the Beast
as Farrell · 1987
Bonanza: The Next Generation
as Mr. Mack · 1988
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as (archive footage) · 2004
Remembering Roots
as Self · 2002
American Lowrider
as Slick · 2013
Touched by Love
as Tony · 1980
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
as Booker Hutch · 1997
Hologram Man
as Wes Strickland · 1995
Block Party
as Dennis · 2022
Shadowboxing
as Хилл · 2005
Christmas Belles
as Pop Pop · 2019
Voodoo Moon
as Dutch · 2006
Zombie Hamlet
as Edgar Mortimer · 2012
Something to Sing About
as Rev. Washington · 2000
Shark's Paradise
as Taxi Driver · 1986
Countdown
as Admiral Melory · 2004
Mac
as Nat · 1992
The Truth About Santa Claus
as Bob · 2020
Act of Faith
as Mr. Brady · 2014
Tamales and Gumbo
as The Patron · 2015
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
as Self · 2016
The Watermelon Heist
as Old Man Amos · 2003
All Over Again
as Coach Zeller · 2007
Cops and Robin
as Officer Bill Bundy · 1978
Ascension Day
as Henry · 2007
The Beastmaster Chronicles
as Self · 2020
Future Cop
as Officer Bill Bundy · 1976
Willa
as Virgil · 1979
Future Cop: Cops and Robin
as Officer Bundy
Devotion
as Roger
Because of Charley
as Grandpa · 2021
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend
as Self
Mercy for Angels
as God · 2015
Information Processing
as Self
Christmas in Miami
as Chief Host · 2021