John Amos
Acting
🎂 1939-12-27
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.
Cast credits(108)
Self
1962
Self
1962
Glen Johnson (voice)
1997
Joe
2005
Ed
2003
Sheriff James Mackey
1994
Jim Weaver
2009
Rev. Taylor
1983
Bell Captain
1969
1969
Self
1961
Gordy Howard
1970
Uncle Burton
2006
Dr. Herbert
1984
Doc Penrose
1984
John Amos
2006
James Evans Sr.
1974
Deacon Eller
2015
Toby
1977
Older Kunta Kinte
1977
Pastor Roscoe Jones
1993
Percy Fitzwallace
1999
Sgt. Strawn
1992
Mark Cooper
1971
1973
Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
1984
Mayor Ethan Baker
2000
Duke Taylor
1977
Self
2019
Fred Wilkes
1990
Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
1995
Ed
2016
Harrison Phillips
2009
1980
1995
Joe Anderson
2003
Pappy Science
2012
Self
1997
John Amos
2025
Buzz
2006
Uncle D
2018
1972
Self
1974
Ernie Cumberbatch
1994
Bill Bundy
1977
Cleo McDowell
1988
Minority Husband
1971
Major Grant
1990
Albie Meadows
1983
Cleo McDowell
2021
Neighbor 33F
2019
Gil
2022
Captain Meissner
1989
Bumpy Johnson
1980
Seth
1982
Earl
2015
Reverend Styles
1991
Pastor Nelson
2012
Super Soul's Engineer
1971
Jud
2006
Lincoln Jefferson Adams
2023
Wes Strickland
1995
Uncle Virgil
2004
Freeman
1998
Bumpy Johnson
1980
Kansas City Mack
1975
(archive footage)
2004
Fred Davis
2019
Dr. Conrad
1985
Biker
1971
Det. Legrand
1990
Хилл
2005
Admiral Melory
2004
Pop Pop
2019
Taxi Driver
1986
Booker Hutch
1997
Coach Sam Archer
1973
Nat
1992
Mr. Swift
2000
Edgar Mortimer
2012
Esteban
1983
Self
2016
Rev. Washington
2000
Gray
1995
Capt. Hodges
1993
Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
2015
Mr. Brady
2014
Slick
2013
Mr. Mack
1988
Virgil
1979
God
2015
Old Man Amos
2003
Dennis
2022
Roger
Marine Corporal
1973
Officer Bill Bundy
1976
Grandpa
2021
Bob
2020
Tony
1980
Dutch
2006
Officer Bill Bundy
1978
The Patron
2015
Coach Zeller
2007
Henry
2007
Self
2020
Officer Bundy
Chief Host
2021
Self
