John Amos
Acting
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.
Known For
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Royal Pains
The West Wing
Psych
King of the Hill
Murder, She Wrote
The Love Boat
The A-Team
The Cosby Show
My Name Is Earl
Touched by an Angel
The Outer Limits
Ballers
Lie to Me
Walker, Texas Ranger
Martin
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Ranch
Hunter
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Sanford and Son
Good Times
Suits LA
The Movies That Made Us
Roots
Roots
Die Hard 2
Coming to America
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