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John Amos
1 FOLLOWER • 46 CREDITS • DEC 27, 1939 - AUG 21, 2024 • 84
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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.
Overview
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
The Love Boat
Murder, She Wrote
The Merv Griffin Show
Hunter
Two and a Half Men
The West Wing
My Name Is Earl
Ballers
King of the Hill
Walker, Texas Ranger
Lie to Me
Touched by an Angel
Police Story
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
30 Rock
The Movies That Made Us
The A-Team
The Outer Limits
Martin
The District
Sanford and Son
The Cosby Show
Psych
The Ranch
Here's Boomer
NYC 22
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Chris Rock Show
Suits LA
Me Time
Uncut Gems
Vanishing Point
The Funny Side
Coming 2 America
Ricochet
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Willa
Die Hard 2
Coming to America
Dr. Dolittle 3
Lock Up
Future Cop
Cops and Robin
704 Hauser
Production Credits
Suits LA
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