John Amos
Acting
110 titles
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
Suits LA
2025
The Last Rifleman
2023
Me Time
2022
Block Party
2022
Christmas in Miami
2021
Because of Charley
2021
Coming 2 America
2021
The Truth About Santa Claus
2020
The Beastmaster Chronicles
2020
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
2019
The Movies That Made Us
2019
Christmas Belles
2019
Uncut Gems
2019
The Last O.G.
2018
The Ranch
2016
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
2016
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
2015
Tamales and Gumbo
2015
Ballers
2015
Mercy for Angels
2015
Bad Asses on the Bayou
2015
Act of Faith
2014
American Lowrider
2013
Madea's Witness Protection
2012
NYC 22
2012
Zombie Hamlet
2012
Royal Pains
2009
Lie to Me
2009
All Over Again
2007
Ascension Day
2007
30 Rock
2006
Men in Trees
2006
Psych
2006
Voodoo Moon
2006
Dr. Dolittle 3
2006
My Name Is Earl
2005
Shadowboxing
2005
Countdown
2004
My Baby's Daddy
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
Two and a Half Men
2003
All About the Andersons
2003
The Watermelon Heist
2003
Remembering Roots
2002
Disappearing Acts
2000
The District
2000
Something to Sing About
2000
The West Wing
1999
The Players Club
1998
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
1997
The Chris Rock Show
1997
King of the Hill
1997
Hologram Man
1995
In the House
1995
The Outer Limits
1995
For Better or Worse
1995
Touched by an Angel
1994
704 Hauser
1994
Night Trap
1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
Mac
1992
Martin
1992
Ricochet
1991
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
Die Hard 2
1990
Two Evil Eyes
1990
Lock Up
1989
Coming to America
1988
Bonanza: The Next Generation
1988
Beauty and the Beast
1987
Shark's Paradise
1986
American Flyers
1985
Murder, She Wrote
1984
The Cosby Show
1984
Hunter
1984
Hardcastle and McCormick
1983
Dance of the Dwarfs
1983
The A-Team
1983
The Beastmaster
1982
Here's Boomer
1981
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
Touched by Love
1980
Willa
1979
Cops and Robin
1978
The Love Boat
1977
Future Cop
1977
Roots
1977
Roots: The Complete Miniseries
1977
Future Cop
1976
Let's Do It Again
1975
Dinah!
1974
Good Times
1974
The President's Plane Is Missing
1973
Police Story
1973
The World's Greatest Athlete
1973
Sanford and Son
1972
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1971
The Funny Side
1971
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
1971
Vanishing Point
1971
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970
Love, American Style
1969
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
Devotion
Future Cop: Cops and Robin
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend
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