Acting · Newark, New Jersey, USA · Born December 27, 1939
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.
TVSuits LA
2025
as John Amos
MovieThe Last Rifleman
2023
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
MovieMe Time
2022
as Gil
MovieBlock Party
2022
as Dennis
MovieChristmas in Miami
2021
as Chief Host
MovieBecause of Charley
2021
as Grandpa
MovieComing 2 America
2021
as Cleo McDowell
MovieThe Truth About Santa Claus
2020
as Bob
MovieThe Beastmaster Chronicles
2020
as Self
MovieLive in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
2019
as Fred Davis
TVThe Movies That Made Us
2019
as Self
MovieChristmas Belles
2019
as Pop Pop
MovieUncut Gems
2019
as Neighbor 33F
TVThe Last O.G.
2018
as Uncle D
TVThe Ranch
2016
as Ed
MovieNorman Lear: Just Another Version of You
2016
as Self
MovieMary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
2015
as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
MovieTamales and Gumbo
2015
as The Patron
TVBallers
2015
as Deacon Eller
MovieMercy for Angels
2015
as God
MovieBad Asses on the Bayou
2015
as Earl
MovieAct of Faith
2014
as Mr. Brady
MovieAmerican Lowrider
2013
as Slick
MovieMadea's Witness Protection
2012
as Pastor Nelson
TVNYC 22
2012
as Pappy Science
MovieZombie Hamlet
2012
as Edgar Mortimer
TVRoyal Pains
2009
as Harrison Phillips
TVLie to Me
2009
as Jim Weaver
All Over Again
2007
as Coach Zeller
MovieAscension Day
2007
as Henry
TV30 Rock
2006
as John Amos
TVMen in Trees
2006
as Buzz Washington
TVPsych
2006
as Uncle Burton
MovieVoodoo Moon
2006
as Dutch
MovieDr. Dolittle 3
2006
as Jud
TVMy Name Is Earl
2005
as Joe
MovieShadowboxing
2005
as Хилл
MovieCountdown
2004
as Admiral Melory
MovieMy Baby's Daddy
2004
as Uncle Virgil
MovieTV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as (archive footage)
TVTwo and a Half Men
2003
as Ed
TVAll About the Andersons
2003
as Joe Anderson
MovieThe Watermelon Heist
2003
as Old Man Amos
MovieRemembering Roots
2002
as Self
MovieDisappearing Acts
2000
as Mr. Swift
TVThe District
2000
as Ethan Baker
MovieSomething to Sing About
2000
as Rev. Washington
TVThe West Wing
1999
as Percy Fitzwallace
MovieThe Players Club
1998
as Freeman
MovieThe Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
1997
as Booker Hutch
TVThe Chris Rock Show
1997
as Self
TVKing of the Hill
1997
as Glen Johnson (voice)
MovieHologram Man
1995
as Wes Strickland
TVIn the House
1995
TVThe Outer Limits
1995
as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
MovieFor Better or Worse
1995
as Gray
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as James Mackey
TV704 Hauser
1994
as Ernie Cumberbatch
MovieNight Trap
1993
as Capt. Hodges
TVWalker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Pastor Roscoe Jones
MovieMac
1992
as Nat
TVMartin
1992
as Sgt. Strawn
MovieRicochet
1991
as Reverend Styles
TVThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Fred Wilkes
MovieDie Hard 2
1990
as Major Grant
MovieTwo Evil Eyes
1990
as Det. Legrand
MovieLock Up
1989
as Captain Meissner
MovieComing to America
1988
as Cleo McDowell
MovieBonanza: The Next Generation
1988
as Mr. Mack
TVBeauty and the Beast
1987
as Farrell
MovieShark's Paradise
1986
as Taxi Driver
MovieAmerican Flyers
1985
as Dr. Conrad
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Doc Penrose
TVThe Cosby Show
1984
as Dr. Herbert
TVHunter
1984
as Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
TVHardcastle and McCormick
1983
as Albie Meadows
MovieDance of the Dwarfs
1983
as Esteban
TVThe A-Team
1983
as Rev. Taylor
MovieThe Beastmaster
1982
as Seth
TVHere's Boomer
1981
MovieAlcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
as Bumpy Johnson
TVAlcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
as Bumpy Johnson
MovieTouched by Love
1980
as Tony
MovieWilla
1979
as Virgil
MovieCops and Robin
1978
as Officer Bill Bundy
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Duke Taylor
TVFuture Cop
1977
as Bill Bundy
TVRoots
1977
as Toby
Roots: The Complete Miniseries
1977
as Older Kunta Kinte
MovieFuture Cop
1976
as Officer Bill Bundy
MovieLet's Do It Again
1975
as Kansas City Mack
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
TVGood Times
1974
as James Evans Sr.
MovieThe President's Plane Is Missing
1973
as Marine Corporal
TVPolice Story
1973
as Walt Kyles
MovieThe World's Greatest Athlete
1973
as Coach Sam Archer
TVSanford and Son
1972
TVThe New Dick Van Dyke Show
1971
as Mark Cooper
The Funny Side
1971
as Minority Husband
MovieSweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
1971
as Biker
MovieVanishing Point
1971
as Super Soul's Engineer
TVThe Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970
as Gordy Howard
TVLove, American Style
1969
as Bell Captain
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
MovieDevotion
as Roger
Future Cop: Cops and Robin
as Officer Bundy
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend
as Self
Information Processing
as Self
