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(109)
Ed
2003
Glen Johnson (voice)
1997
Doc Penrose
1984
Self
1962
Uncle Burton
2006
Duke Taylor
1977
Percy Fitzwallace
1999
Rev. Taylor
1983
Self
1961
John Amos
2006
Dr. Herbert
1984
Jim Weaver
2009
Pastor Roscoe Jones
1993
Joe
2005
Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
1995
Sheriff James Mackey
1994
Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
1984
Sgt. Strawn
1992
Fred Wilkes
1990
Harrison Phillips
2009
Bell Captain
1969
1969
Deacon Eller
2015
Gordy Howard
1970
Ed
2016
Mayor Ethan Baker
2000
Self
1962
Self
1974
James Evans Sr.
1974
Major Grant
1990
Cleo McDowell
1988
1973
Neighbor 33F
2019
1972
Albie Meadows
1983
Self
2019
Cleo McDowell
2021
John Amos
2025
Toby
1977
Older Kunta Kinte
1977
1995
Buzz
2006
Uncle D
2018
Self
1997
Admiral Melory
2004
Captain Meissner
1989
Хилл
2005
Gil
2022
Lincoln Jefferson Adams
2023
Seth
1982
Jud
2006
Taxi Driver
1986
Pastor Nelson
2012
Self
Reverend Styles
1991
Super Soul's Engineer
1971
Uncle Virgil
2004
Rev. Washington
2000
Kansas City Mack
1975
Pappy Science
2012
Freeman
1998
Marine Corporal
1973
Earl
2015
Mr. Mack
1988
Bumpy Johnson
1980
Mark Cooper
1971
Det. Legrand
1990
Edgar Mortimer
2012
1980
Wes Strickland
1995
Gray
1995
Mr. Brady
2014
Fred Davis
2019
Pop Pop
2019
Bumpy Johnson
1980
Mr. Swift
2000
Dutch
2006
Biker
1971
Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
2015
Joe Anderson
2003
(archive footage)
2004
Dr. Conrad
1985
Minority Husband
1971
Coach Sam Archer
1973
Booker Hutch
1997
The Patron
2015
God
2015
Bob
2020
Virgil
1979
Old Man Amos
2003
Ernie Cumberbatch
1994
Slick
2013
Nat
1992
Dennis
2022
Coach Zeller
2007
Self
Bill Bundy
1977
Tony
1980
Officer Bill Bundy
1976
Officer Bill Bundy
1978
Capt. Hodges
1993
Self
2016
Self
2020
Grandpa
2021
Esteban
1983
Chief Host
2021
Roger
Henry
2007
Officer Bundy
