Personal Info
Birth date
1939-12-27 (85 Years)
Day of death
2024-08-21
Gender
Male
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
Newark, New Jersey, USA
Also known as
Jon Amos
Johnny Amos
John A. Amos Jr.
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.
Filmography
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.4
Overview:
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.The Mike Douglas Show
5.375
Overview:
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that originally aired only in the Cleveland area during much of its first two years on the air. It then went into syndication in 1963 and remained on television until 1982. It was distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia.Two and a Half Men
7.452
Overview:
A hedonistic jingle writer's free-wheeling life comes to an abrupt halt when his brother and 10-year-old nephew move into his beach-front house.The Merv Griffin Show
5.75
Overview:
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to August 15, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in first-run syndication from February 14, 1972 to September 5, 1986.King of the Hill
7.353
Overview:
Set in Texas, this animated series follows the life of propane salesman Hank Hill, who lives with his overly confident substitute Spanish teacher wife Peggy, wannabe comedian son Bobby, and naive niece Luanne. Hank has conservative views about God, family, and country, but his values and ethics are often challenged by the situations he, his family, and his beer-drinking neighbors/buddies find themselves in.The West Wing
8.258
Overview:
The West Wing provides a glimpse into presidential politics in the nation's capital as it tells the stories of the members of a fictional presidential administration. These interesting characters have humor and dedication that touches the heart while the politics that they discuss touch on everyday life.The Mary Tyler Moore Show
7.5
Overview:
30-year-old single Mary Richards moves to Minneapolis to start a new life after a romantic break-up. There she reacquaints with Phyllis who rents her a room, and meets her upstairs neighbor and new best friend Rhoda. Mary unexpectedly lands a job as associate producer at the TV station WJM, where she works alongside her bristly boss, Lou; the comical newswriter, Murray; and the newscast's often-incompetent anchor, Ted.My Name Is Earl
7.666
Overview:
When petty criminal Earl Hickey wins the lottery, he sets off on a quest to repair his questionable karma.Murder, She Wrote
7.5
Overview:
An unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life homicide cases.Psych
7.871
Overview:
Thanks to his police officer father's efforts, Shawn Spencer spent his childhood developing a keen eye for detail (and a lasting dislike of his dad). Years later, Shawn's frequent tips to the police lead to him being falsely accused of a crime he solved. Now, Shawn has no choice but to use his abilities to perpetuate his cover story: psychic crime-solving powers, all the while dragging his best friend, his dad, and the police along for the ride.Love, American Style
6.056
Overview:
An anthology comedy series featuring a line up of different celebrity guest stars appearing in anywhere from one, two, three, and four short stories or vignettes within an hour about versions of love and romance.The Cosby Show
7.027
Overview:
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992. The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York.30 Rock
7.448
Overview:
Liz Lemon, the head writer for a late-night TV variety show in New York, tries to juggle all the egos around her while chasing her own dream.The Love Boat
6.262
Overview:
Passengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or mysterious countries, decide to pass their vacation aboard the "Love Boat", where Gopher, Dr. Bricker, Isaac, Julie, and Captain Stubing try their best to please them, and sometimes help them fall in love. Things are not always so easy, but in the end, love wins.The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
7.923
Overview:
Will, a street-smart teenager, moves from the tough streets of West Philly to posh Bel-Air to live with his Uncle Philip, Aunt Vivian, his cousins — spoiled Hilary, preppy Carlton and young Ashley — and their sophisticated British butler, Geoffrey. Though Will’s antics and upbringing contrast greatly with the upper-class lifestyle of his extended relatives, he soon finds himself right at home as a loved part of the family.The A-Team
7.5
Overview:
A fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel work as soldiers of fortune while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit."Lie to Me
7.905
Overview:
The world's leading deception researcher, Dr. Cal Lightman, studies facial expression, body language and tone of voice to determine when a person is lying and why, which helps law enforcement and government agencies uncover the truth. But his skills also make it easier for him to deceive others.Royal Pains
6.7
Overview:
A young E.R. doctor who, after being wrongly blamed for a patient's death, moves to the Hamptons and becomes the reluctant "doctor for hire" to the rich and famous. When the attractive administrator of the local hospital asks him to treat the town's less fortunate, he finds himself walking the line between doing well for himself and doing good for others.The New Dick Van Dyke Show
4
Overview:
The New Dick Van Dyke Show is an American sitcom starring Dick Van Dyke that aired on CBS from 1971 to 1974. It was Van Dyke's first return to series television since The Dick Van Dyke Show.Ballers
6.8
Overview:
Looking at the lives of former and current football players, the show follows former superstar Spencer Strasmore as he gets his life on track in retirement while mentoring other current and former players through the daily grind of the business of football.Walker, Texas Ranger
7
Overview:
Modern-day Texas Ranger, Cordell Walker's independent crime-solving methods have their roots in the rugged traditions of the Old West. Walker's closest friend is former Ranger, C.D. Parker, who retired after a knee injury, and now owns "C.D.'s," a Country/Western saloon/restaurant. Rookie Ranger, James "Jimmy" Trivette is an ex-football player who bases his crime-solving methods on reason and uses computers and cellular phones. Alex Cahill is the Assistant DA who shares a mutual attraction with Walker, but often disagrees with his unorthodox approach to law enforcement.Touched by an Angel
7.2
Overview:
Monica, an angel, is tasked with bringing guidance and messages from God to various people who are at a crossroads in their lives.The Ranch
7.412
Overview:
Being a pro athlete didn't pan out for Colt. Now he's helping his dad and brother keep the ranch afloat, and figuring out how he fits into the family.The Outer Limits
7.722
Overview:
Anthology series of composed of distinct story episodes, sometimes with a plot twist at the end, with occasional recurring story elements that were often tied together during season-finale clip shows.Hunter
7.2
Overview:
Hunter is an American police drama television series created by Frank Lupo, and starring Fred Dryer as Sgt. Rick Hunter and Stepfanie Kramer as Sgt. Dee Dee McCall, which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1991. However, Kramer left after the sixth season to pursue other acting and musical opportunities. In the seventh season, Hunter partnered with two different women officers. The titular character, Sgt. Rick Hunter, was a wily, physically imposing, and often rule-breaking homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. The show's main characters, Hunter and McCall, resolve many of their cases by shooting dead the perpetrators. The show's executive producer during the first season was Stephen J. Cannell, whose company produced the series.Police Story
6.9
Overview:
Police Story is an anthology television crime drama. The show was the brainchild of author and former policeman Joseph Wambaugh and represented a major step forward in the realistic depiction of police work and violence on network TV. Although it was an anthology, there were certain things that all episodes had in common; for instance, the main character in each episode was a police officer. The setting was always Los Angeles and the characters always worked for some branch of the LAPD. Notwithstanding the anthology format, there were recurring characters. Scott Brady appeared in more than a dozen episodes as "Vinnie," a former cop who, upon retirement, had opened a bar catering to police officers, and who acted as a sort of Greek chorus during the run of the series, commenting on the characters and plots.Martin
7.6
Overview:
Sassy sitcom centering on radio and television personality Martin Payne. Series focuses on his romantic relationship with girlfriend Gina, her best friend Pam and escapades with best friends Tommy and Cole.Acting
TBAJohn Amos: Roots of an American Legend as Self
TBAFuture Cop: Cops and Robin as Officer Bundy
TBACountdown as Admiral
TBADevotion as Roger
2025Suits LA (1 Episode) as John Amos
2023The Last Rifleman as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
2022Me Time as Gil
2022Block Party as Dennis
2021Christmas in Miami as Chief Host
2021Because of Charley as Grandpa
2021Coming 2 America as Cleo McDowell
2020The Truth About Santa Claus as Bob
2020The Beastmaster Chronicles as Self
2019Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" as Fred Davis
2019The Movies That Made Us (1 Episode) as Self
2019Christmas Belles as Pop Pop
2019Uncut Gems as Neighbor 33F
2018The Last O.G. (1 Episode) as Uncle D
2016The Ranch (1 Episode) as Ed
2016Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You as Self
2015Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
2015Tamales and Gumbo as The Patron
2015Ballers (2 Episodes) as Deacon Eller
2015Mercy for Angels as God
2015Bad Asses on the Bayou as Earl
2014Act of Faith as Mr. Brady
2013American Lowrider as Slick
2012Madea's Witness Protection as Pastor Nelson
2012NYC 22 (1 Episode) as Pappy Science
2012Zombie Hamlet as Edgar Mortimer
2009Royal Pains (1 Episode) as Harrison Phillips
2009Lie to Me (1 Episode) as Jim Weaver
2007All Over Again as Coach Zeller
2007Ascension Day as Henry
200630 Rock (1 Episode) as John Amos
2006Men in Trees (36 Episodes) as Buzz
2006Psych (1 Episode) as Uncle Burton
2006Voodoo Moon as Dutch
2006Dr. Dolittle 3 as Jud
2005My Name Is Earl (1 Episode) as Joe
2005Shadowboxing as Хилл
2004Countdown as Admiral Melory
2004My Baby's Daddy as Uncle Virgil
2004TV in Black: The First Fifty Years as (archive footage)
2003Two and a Half Men (3 Episodes) as Ed
2003All About the Andersons (16 Episodes) as Joe Anderson
2003The Watermelon Heist as Old Man Amos
2000Disappearing Acts as Mr. Swift
2000The District (10 Episodes) as Mayor Ethan Baker
2000Something to Sing About as Rev. Washington
1999The West Wing (22 Episodes) as Percy Fitzwallace
1998The Players Club as Freeman
1997The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda as Booker Hutch
1997The Chris Rock Show (1 Episode) as Self
1997King of the Hill (1 Episode) as Glen Johnson (voice)
1995Hologram Man as Wes Strickland
1995In the House (5 Episodes) as Unknown
1995The Outer Limits (1 Episode) as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
1995For Better or Worse as Gray
1994Touched by an Angel (1 Episode) as Sheriff James Mackey
1994704 Hauser (6 Episodes) as Ernie Cumberbatch
1993Night Trap as Capt. Hodges
1993Walker, Texas Ranger (2 Episodes) as Pastor Roscoe Jones
1992Mac as Nat
1992Martin (1 Episode) as Sgt. Strawn
1991Ricochet as Reverend Styles
1990The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (4 Episodes) as Fred Wilkes
1990Die Hard 2 as Major Grant
1990Two Evil Eyes as Det. Legrand
1989Lock Up as Captain Meissner
1988Coming to America as Cleo McDowell
1988Bonanza: The Next Generation as Mr. Mack
1986Shark's Paradise as Taxi Driver
1985American Flyers as Dr. Conrad
1984Murder, She Wrote (1 Episode) as Doc Penrose
1984The Cosby Show (1 Episode) as Dr. Herbert
1984Hunter (13 Episodes) as Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
1983Hardcastle and McCormick (1 Episode) as Albie Meadows
1983Dance of the Dwarfs as Esteban
1983The A-Team (1 Episode) as Rev. Taylor
1982The Beastmaster as Seth
1980Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story as Bumpy Johnson
1980Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (2 Episodes) as Bumpy Johnson
1980Touched by Love as Tony
1980Here's Boomer (1 Episode) as Unknown
1979Willa as Virgil
1978Cops and Robin as Officer Bill Bundy
1977The Love Boat (1 Episode) as Duke Taylor
1977Future Cop (6 Episodes) as Bill Bundy
1977Roots (0, 8 Episode) as Toby, Older Kunta Kinte
1976Future Cop as Officer Bill Bundy
1975Let's Do It Again as Kansas City Mack
1974Dinah! (6 Episodes) as Self
1974Good Times (61 Episodes) as James Evans Sr.
1973The President's Plane Is Missing as Marine Corporal
1973Police Story (1 Episode) as Unknown
1973The World's Greatest Athlete as Coach Sam Archer
1972Sanford and Son (1 Episode) as Unknown
1971The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1 Episode) as Mark Cooper
1971The Funny Side (14 Episodes) as Minority Husband
1971Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song as Biker
1971Vanishing Point as Super Soul's Engineer
1970The Mary Tyler Moore Show (13 Episodes) as Gordy Howard
1969Love, American Style (1, 1 Episode) as Bell Captain, Unknown
1962The Merv Griffin Show (1 Episode) as Self
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1 Episode) as Self
1961The Mike Douglas Show (1 Episode) as Self
Crew
2025Suits LA (1 Episode) ... In Memory Of
Production
2014Althea ... Executive Producer