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 Last Rifleman
Lincoln Jefferson Adams
2023
Me Time
Gil
2022
Block Party
Dennis
2022
Christmas in Miami
Chief Host
2021
Coming 2 America
Cleo McDowell
2021
The Truth About Santa Claus
Bob
2020
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
Fred Davis
2019
Uncut Gems
Neighbor 33F
2019
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
Self
2016
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
2015
Mercy for Angels
God
2015
Bad Asses on the Bayou
Earl
2015
Act of Faith
Mr. Brady
2014
American Lowrider
Slick
2013
Madea's Witness Protection
Pastor Nelson
2012
Zombie Hamlet
Edgar Mortimer
2012
All Over Again
Coach Zeller
2007
Ascension Day
Henry
2007
Voodoo Moon
Dutch
2006
Dr. Dolittle 3
Jud
2006
Shadowboxing
Хилл
2005
Countdown
Admiral Melory
2004
My Baby's Daddy
Uncle Virgil
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
(archive footage)
2004
The Watermelon Heist
Old Man Amos
2003
Disappearing Acts
Mr. Swift
2000
Something to Sing About
Rev. Washington
2000
The Players Club
Freeman
1998
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
Booker Hutch
1997
Hologram Man
Wes Strickland
1995
For Better or Worse
Gray
1995
Night Trap
Capt. Hodges
1993
Mac
Nat
1992
Ricochet
Reverend Styles
1991
Die Hard 2
Major Grant
1990
Two Evil Eyes
Det. Legrand
1990
Lock Up
Captain Meissner
1989
Coming to America
Cleo McDowell
1988
Bonanza: The Next Generation
Mr. Mack
1988
Shark's Paradise
Taxi Driver
1986
American Flyers
Dr. Conrad
1985
Dance of the Dwarfs
Esteban
1983
The Beastmaster
Seth
1982
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Bumpy Johnson
1980
Touched by Love
Tony
1980
Willa
Virgil
1979
Cops and Robin
Officer Bill Bundy
1978
Future Cop
Officer Bill Bundy
1976
Let's Do It Again
Kansas City Mack
1975
The President's Plane Is Missing
Marine Corporal
1973
The World's Greatest Athlete
Coach Sam Archer
1973
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
Biker
1971
Vanishing Point
Super Soul's Engineer
1971
Devotion
Roger
Because of Charley
Grandpa
2021
The Beastmaster Chronicles
Self
2020
Christmas Belles
Pop Pop
2019
Tamales and Gumbo
The Patron
2015
Future Cop: Cops and Robin
Officer Bundy
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend
Self
Suits LA
John Amos · (1 episode)
2025
The Movies That Made Us
Self · (1 episode)
2019
The Last O.G.
Uncle D · (1 episode)
2018
The Ranch
Ed · (1 episode)
2016
Ballers
Deacon Eller · (2 episodes)
2015
NYC 22
Pappy Science · (1 episode)
2012
Royal Pains
Harrison Phillips · (1 episode)
2009
Lie to Me
Jim Weaver · (1 episode)
2009
30 Rock
John Amos · (1 episode)
2006
Men in Trees
Buzz · (36 episodes)
2006
Psych
Uncle Burton · (1 episode)
2006
My Name Is Earl
Joe · (1 episode)
2005
Two and a Half Men
Ed · (3 episodes)
2003
All About the Andersons
Joe Anderson · (16 episodes)
2003
The District
Mayor Ethan Baker · (10 episodes)
2000
The West Wing
Percy Fitzwallace · (22 episodes)
1999
The Chris Rock Show
Self · (1 episode)
1997
King of the Hill
Glen Johnson (voice) · (1 episode)
1997
In the House
(5 episodes)
1995
The Outer Limits
Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski · (1 episode)
1995
Touched by an Angel
Sheriff James Mackey · (1 episode)
1994
704 Hauser
Ernie Cumberbatch · (6 episodes)
1994
Walker, Texas Ranger
Pastor Roscoe Jones · (2 episodes)
1993
Martin
Sgt. Strawn · (1 episode)
1992
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Fred Wilkes · (4 episodes)
1990
Murder, She Wrote
Doc Penrose · (1 episode)
1984
The Cosby Show
Dr. Herbert · (1 episode)
1984
Hunter
Capt. Dolan (uncredited) · (13 episodes)
1984
Hardcastle and McCormick
Albie Meadows · (1 episode)
1983
The A-Team
Rev. Taylor · (1 episode)
1983
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Bumpy Johnson · (2 episodes)
1980
Here's Boomer
(1 episode)
1980
The Love Boat
Duke Taylor · (1 episode)
1977
Future Cop
Bill Bundy · (6 episodes)
1977
Roots
Toby · (0 episode)
1977
Roots
Older Kunta Kinte · (8 episodes)
1977
Dinah!
Self · (6 episodes)
1974
Good Times
James Evans Sr. · (61 episodes)
1974
Police Story
(1 episode)
1973
Sanford and Son
(1 episode)
1972
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Mark Cooper · (1 episode)
1971
The Funny Side
Minority Husband · (14 episodes)
1971
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Gordy Howard · (13 episodes)
1970
Love, American Style
Bell Captain · (1 episode)
1969
Love, American Style
(1 episode)
1969
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (1 episode)
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961