close
close

John Amos, veteran actor of “Roots” and “Good Times,” has died at age 84


John Amos, veteran actor of “Roots” and “Good Times,” has died at age 84

Actor John Amos, whose long career included a variety of iconic roles in works such as “Roots,” “Good Times” and “The West Wing,” died last month, his family said Tuesday.

He was 84 years old when he died of natural causes on August 21 in Los Angeles.

The actor's agent, Belinda Foster, confirmed news of his death to the Associated Press on Tuesday but gave no further details.

“It is with deep sadness that I inform you that my father has made the transition,” son Kelly Christopher Amos said in a statement to Variety. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved around the world. Many fans consider him to be their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding work as an actor on television and film.”

GOOD TIMES, John Amos
John Amos in “Good Times.” CBS/Everett Collection

Between 1974 and 1976, Amos played stoic father James Evans in 61 episodes of “Good Times,” the Norman Lear sitcom about a hard-working family trying to stay afloat in a Chicago housing project.

Amos then played Toby in the groundbreaking 1977 TV miniseries Roots, in which he starred alongside some of the greatest black actors of that generation, including Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett Jr. and Leslie Uggams.

Film fans may know him best as fast food magnate Cleo McDowell in the 1988 Eddie Murphy hit comedy “Coming to America” ​​or as Bruce Willis's antagonist in the 1990 Christmas action classic “Die Hard 2.”

His television career was revived in 1999 when he was cast in the acclaimed White House drama “The West Wing,” where he starred as Admiral Percy “Fitz” Fitzwallace for five seasons.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *