Known for Acting
Birthday
December 27, 1939
Place of Birth
Newark, New Jersey, USA
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.

Two and a Half Men

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Mike Douglas Show

King of the Hill

Psych

Murder, She Wrote

The West Wing

The Love Boat

30 Rock

The A-Team

The Cosby Show

Lie to Me

My Name Is Earl

The Merv Griffin Show

The Outer Limits

Walker, Texas Ranger

Touched by an Angel

Love, American Style

Love, American Style

Ballers