The passing of John Amos, renowned for his iconic roles in Good Times, The Roots, and Coming to America, marks the end of an era. He was 84 years old when he died on August 21. His son, Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos, shared with PEOPLE that his father succumbed to natural causes in Los Angeles.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” K.C. expressed. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over.”
A legendary actor whose roles in Good Times, The Roots, and Coming to America left an indelible mark on Hollywood
K.C. reflected on his father’s influence, stating, “Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
He added, “My father loved working as an actor throughout his entire life. Most recently, he appeared in Suits LA playing himself and in our documentary about his life journey as an actor, America’s Dad. He was my dad, my best friend, and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support at this time.”
Julia Buchwald, president of the talent agency Buchwald, expressed pride in representing John. She noted, “He was not only a remarkable talent but also a deeply kind and generous soul. His impact on the industry and those who knew him will never be forgotten.”
Amos’s passing comes over a year after he was hospitalized due to fluid accumulation in his lower body, which was affecting his heart. At that time, a representative stated that doctors had drained the fluid, and Amos was recovering.
In June 2023, his daughter Shannon alleged that her father was the “victim of elder abuse,” a claim he denied. She filed a complaint with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and initiated a GoFundMe page for his care, which she later removed at his request.
In a March 2024 statement to PEOPLE, Amos labeled the elder abuse accusations as “false and unmerited” and referred to K.C. as “a caring, thoughtful human being who respects me.” A spokesperson for Shannon subsequently conveyed concerns regarding her father’s health being “downplayed despite multiple hospitalizations.”
Shannon remarked, “People think this is about money and rivalry… it is not. I love my brother and I hope he will get the help he needs, but we need to prioritize the safety of my father who is vulnerable, first and foremost. Anything else can be addressed within our family.”
Additionally, the Los Angeles Police Department initiated an investigation into Shannon’s claims that K.C. was not providing adequate care for their father. The LAPD closed the case on April 8 due to insufficient evidence, which left Shannon disappointed.
In response, Amos expressed gratitude to authorities for their “professionalism and thoroughness in their investigation.” He also committed to “shed light on the real truth as to the motives of those who have painted a false narrative about me” in a documentary he was producing with K.C.
Amos first gained attention in 1964 as a player for the Denver Broncos before also playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. He eventually left the NFL for the Continental League, motivated to pursue his dream despite being told by then-Chiefs coach Hank Stram that he wasn’t a football player but merely “a young man who happens to be playing football.”
By 1970, the New Jersey native transitioned to television, debuting on The Billy Cosby Show, followed by appearances on The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, and securing his breakout role as Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
After concluding his role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1973, Amos starred as James Evans Sr. in Good Times, a groundbreaking series featuring a Black family. He advocated for authentic portrayals of Black lives on screen, which eventually led to his departure from the series in 1976.
He explained to VladTV that the producers’ “perception or their idea of what a Black family would be and what a Black father would be was totally different from mine, and mine was steeped in reality.”
Amos stated that he was informed “my services were no longer needed because I had become a ‘disruptive element.’” “I had a way of voicing my differences against the script that weren’t acceptable to the creative staff,” he added. “I mean, the writers got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes.”
Despite his departure, Amos’s career flourished. In 1977, he starred in the acclaimed miniseries Roots, earning his sole Emmy nomination. He noted, “You don’t anticipate that kind of success because that’s dreaming, and that’s one thing actors can’t afford to do. We’ve got to deal in reality.”
Amos continued to appear on television throughout the 1980s and 1990s, taking roles in shows like Hunter, 704 Hauser, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He made a memorable appearance in Coming to America as Cleo McDowell, the father of Prince Akeem’s (Eddie Murphy) love interest, and reprised the role in the 2021 sequel.
His career did not wane in the 2000s, as he had recurring roles on The District, The Andersons, The West Wing, and Men in Trees, maintaining an active presence until his passing. He surprised audiences with an appearance in the 2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience special, which featured stars like Viola Davis and Tiffany Haddish recreating an episode of Good Times.
In 2022, Amos’s final appearances were in the films Block Party and Me Time, along with an episode of The Righteous Gemstones. Reflecting on his journey, Amos once shared, “The truth of it is, when I started acting, I never thought I would live this long, much less be an actor.
I’ve had a blessed career, and I attribute that to my faith in God and the fact that I was raised right. I had the chance to portray a father on a situational comedy that so many Black fathers and men of all races could identify with and appreciate.”
