Reelated.to

John Amos

1939–2024 · 44 titles in the catalogue

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.

Their work

44
  1. Die Hard 21990as Major Grant
  2. Uncut Gems2019as Neighbor 33F
  3. Coming to America1988as Cleo McDowell
  4. Two and a Half Men2003as Ed
  5. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air1990as Fred Wilkes
  6. Coming 2 America2021as Cleo McDowell
  7. Lie to Me2009as Jim Weaver
  8. Lock Up1989as Captain Meissner
  9. My Name Is Earl2005as Joe
  10. The A-Team1983as Rev. Taylor
  11. Me Time2022as Gil
  12. Psych2006as Uncle Burton
  13. 30 Rock2006as John Amos
  14. Ballers2015as Deacon Eller
  15. King of the Hill1997as Glen Johnson (voice)
  16. The West Wing1999as Percy Fitzwallace
  17. Walker, Texas Ranger1993as Pastor Roscoe Jones
  18. Vanishing Point1971as Super Soul's Engineer
  19. The Cosby Show1984as Dr. Herbert
  20. Dr. Dolittle 32006as Jud
  21. The Beastmaster1982as Seth
  22. Murder, She Wrote1984as Doc Penrose
  23. Ricochet1991as Reverend Styles
  24. Two Evil Eyes1990as Det. Legrand
  25. The Ranch2016as Ed
  26. Beauty and the Beast1987as Farrell
  27. Roots1977as Kunta Kinte
  28. The Outer Limits1995as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
  29. Madea's Witness Protection2012as Pastor Nelson
  30. The Love Boat1977as Duke Taylor
  31. Touched by an Angel1994as James Mackey
  32. Royal Pains2009as Harrison Phillips
  33. Bad Asses on the Bayou2015as Earl
  34. The Movies That Made Us2019as Self
  35. Martin1992as Sgt. Strawn
  36. American Flyers1985as Dr. Conrad
  37. Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song1971as Biker
  38. Sanford and Son1972guest actor
  39. Hunter1984as Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
  40. The Last Rifleman2023as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
  41. The Players Club1998as Freeman
  42. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962as Self
  43. My Baby's Daddy2004as Uncle Virgil
  44. NYC 222012as Pappy Science