About

Known credits:
67
Birthday:
1939-12-27
Place of birth:
Newark, New Jersey, USA
Website:
N/A

John Amos

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

Acting
2023 The Last Rifleman Actor Lincoln Jefferson Adams 59
Average
2022 Me Time Actor Gil 59
Average
2022 Block Party Actor Dennis 59
Average
2021 Christmas in Miami Actor N/A
N/A
2021 Because of Charley Actor Grandpa 58
Average
2021 Coming 2 America Actor Cleo McDowell 63
Fair
2020 The Truth About Santa Claus Actor Bob 59
Average
2020 The Beastmaster Chronicles Actor Self N/A
N/A
2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" Actor Fred Davis 59
Average
2019 Christmas Belles Actor Pop Pop 58
Average
2019 Uncut Gems Actor Neighbor 33F 70
Good
2016 Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You Actor Self 59
Average
2015 Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration Actor Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage) 59
Average
2015 Tamales and Gumbo Actor The Patron N/A
N/A
2015 Mercy for Angels Actor God N/A
N/A
2015 Bad Asses on the Bayou Actor Earl 59
Average
2014 Act of Faith Actor Mr. Brady 59
Average
2013 American Lowrider Actor Slick 59
Average
2012 Madea's Witness Protection Actor Pastor Nelson 59
Average
2012 Zombie Hamlet Actor Edgar Mortimer 59
Average
2007 Against Time Actor Coach 59
Average
2007 Ascension Day Actor Henry N/A
N/A
2006 Men in Trees Actor Buzz 69
Fair
2006 Voodoo Moon Actor Dutch 58
Average
2006 Dr. Dolittle 3 Actor Jud 55
Average
2005 Shadowboxing Actor Хилл 58
Average
2004 Countdown Actor Admiral Melory 59
Average
2004 My Baby's Daddy Actor Uncle Virgil 57
Average
2004 TV in Black: The First Fifty Years Actor (archive footage) 59
Average
2003 All About the Andersons Actor Joe Anderson 70
Good
2003 The Watermelon Heist Actor Old Man Amos 58
Average
2000 Disappearing Acts Actor Mr. Swift 59
Average
2000 Something to Sing About Actor Rev. Washington 59
Average
1998 The Players Club Actor Freeman 59
Average
1997 The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda Actor Booker Hutch 59
Average
1995 Hologram Man Actor Wes Strickland 58
Average
1995 For Better or Worse Actor Gray 58
Average
1994 704 Hauser Actor Ernie Cumberbatch N/A
N/A
1993 Night Trap Actor Capt. Hodges 58
Average
1992 Mac Actor Nat 58
Average
1991 Ricochet Actor Reverend Styles 59
Average
1990 Die Hard 2 Actor Major Grant 68
Fair
1990 Two Evil Eyes Actor Det. Legrand 59
Average
1989 Lock Up Actor Captain Meissner 65
Fair
1988 Coming to America Actor Cleo McDowell 67
Fair
1988 Bonanza: The Next Generation Actor Mr. Mack 59
Average
1986 Shark's Paradise Actor Taxi Driver 58
Average
1985 American Flyers Actor Dr. Conrad 59
Average
1983 Dance of the Dwarfs Actor Esteban 58
Average
1982 The Beastmaster Actor Seth 60
Fair
1980 Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Actor Bumpy Johnson 59
Average
1980 Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Actor Bumpy Johnson 69
Fair
1980 Touched by Love Actor Tony 58
Average
1979 Willa Actor Virgil 58
Average
1978 Cops and Robin Actor Officer Bill Bundy N/A
N/A
1977 Future Cop Actor Bill Bundy 69
Fair
1977 Roots Actor Older Kunta Kinte 73
Good
1976 Future Cop Actor Officer Bill Bundy 59
Average
1975 Let's Do It Again Actor Kansas City Mack 59
Average
1973 The President's Plane Is Missing Actor Marine Corporal 58
Average
1973 The World's Greatest Athlete Actor Coach Sam Archer 58
Average
1971 The Funny Side Actor Minority Husband N/A
N/A
1971 Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Actor Biker 57
Average
1971 Vanishing Point Actor Super Soul's Engineer 65
Fair
Countdown Actor Admiral N/A
N/A
Devotion Actor Roger N/A
N/A

Production
2014 Althea Production Executive Producer 59
Average