John Amos
Known for Acting
Biography
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.
Filmography
Coming to America
1988
as Cleo McDowell
Die Hard 2
1990
as Major Grant
Uncut Gems
2019
as Neighbor 33F
Coming 2 America
2021
as Cleo McDowell
Lock Up
1989
as Captain Meissner
Night Trap
1993
as Capt. Hodges
The Beastmaster
1982
as Seth
Dr. Dolittle 3
2006
as Jud
Me Time
2022
as Gil
The Players Club
1998
as Freeman
Two Evil Eyes
1990
as Det. Legrand
Ricochet
1991
as Reverend Styles
Madea's Witness Protection
2012
as Pastor Nelson
American Lowrider
2013
as Slick
Vanishing Point
1971
as Super Soul's Engineer
Countdown
2004
as Admiral Melory
The Last Rifleman
2023
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
Let's Do It Again
1975
as Kansas City Mack
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
as Bumpy Johnson
Touched by Love
1980
as Tony