John Amos
Acting
Born December 27, 1939 · Newark, New Jersey, USA
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.
Films (58)
The Last Rifleman
2023
Me Time
2022
Block Party
2022
Christmas in Miami
2021
Because of Charley
2021
Coming 2 America
2021
The Truth About Santa Claus
2020
The Beastmaster Chronicles
2020
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
2019
Christmas Belles
2019
Uncut Gems
2019
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
2016
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
2015
Tamales and Gumbo
2015
Mercy for Angels
2015
Bad Asses on the Bayou
2015
Act of Faith
2014
American Lowrider
2013
Madea's Witness Protection
2012
Zombie Hamlet
2012
All Over Again
2007
Ascension Day
2007
Voodoo Moon
2006
Dr. Dolittle 3
2006
Shadowboxing
2005
Countdown
2004
My Baby's Daddy
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
The Watermelon Heist
2003
Remembering Roots
2002
Disappearing Acts
2000
Something to Sing About
2000
The Players Club
1998
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
1997
Hologram Man
1995
For Better or Worse
1995
Night Trap
1993
Mac
1992
Ricochet
1991
Die Hard 2
1990
Two Evil Eyes
1990
Lock Up
1989
Coming to America
1988
Bonanza: The Next Generation
1988
Shark's Paradise
1986
American Flyers
1985
Dance of the Dwarfs
1983
The Beastmaster
1982
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
Touched by Love
1980
Willa
1979
Cops and Robin
1978
Future Cop
1976
Let's Do It Again
1975
The President's Plane Is Missing
1973
The World's Greatest Athlete
1973
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
1971
Vanishing Point
1971