John Amos, the acclaimed actor best known for his roles in the 1977 miniseries Roots and Die Hard 2, has passed away at the age of 84.
According to a statement from his publicist, Belinda Foster, Amos died of natural causes on August 21, though the news was only made public on Tuesday.
Amos rose to prominence playing James Evans Sr. on Good Times, one of television’s first portrayals of a Black two-parent family.
His powerful performances left a lasting impact on audiences and earned him a place in pop culture history, with artists like Alicia Keys, Rick Ross, and the Wu-Tang Clan referencing him or his iconic character in their music.
In addition to Good Times, Amos had notable roles in films like Let’s Do It Again alongside Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier, Coming to America with Eddie Murphy, and Die Hard 2.
Despite his success on Good Times, Amos was fired from the show after he criticized the predominantly white writing staff for creating storylines he felt did not authentically represent the Black characters. His character, James Evans Sr., was later written off in a car accident.
Born on December 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, Amos was the son of a mechanic. He earned a degree in sociology from Colorado State University, where he also played on the school’s football team.
Before pursuing acting, Amos worked as a social worker at the Vera Institute of Justice in New York, assisting defendants at the Brooklyn House of Detention. He also had a brief career as a professional football player in various minor leagues before finding his calling in acting.
