John Amos
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.
70Credits40 TV · 30 films
1969–2025Years activefirst to latest
9.0 Highest ratedThe Funny Side
7.0 Average ratingacross 70 titles
Top TV shows 40best John Amos shows
- 1The Funny SideMinority Husband · 14 eps · 1971
- 2
704 HauserErnie Cumberbatch · 6 eps · 1994 - 3
All About the AndersonsJoe Anderson · 16 eps · 2003 - 4
The West WingPercy Fitzwallace · 22 eps · 1999 - 5
The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirFred Wilkes · 4 eps · 1990 - 6
Men in TreesBuzz Washington · 2006–2008 · Drama - 7
PsychUncle Burton · 1 ep · 2006 - 8
Lie to MeJim Weaver · 1 ep · 2009 - 9
Future CopBill Bundy · 6 eps · 1977 - 10
In the House5 eps · 1995 - 11
The Outer LimitsPeter 'Yas' Yastrzemski · 1 ep · 1995 - 12
My Name Is EarlJoe · 1 ep · 2005 - 13
The Mary Tyler Moore ShowGordy Howard · 13 eps · 1970 - 14
MartinSgt. Strawn · 1 ep · 1992 - 15
Murder, She WroteDoc Penrose · 1 ep · 1984 - 16
The A-TeamRev. Taylor · 1 ep · 1983 - 17
Sanford and Son1 ep · 1972 - 18
30 RockJohn Amos · 1 ep · 2006 - 19
Two and a Half MenEd · 3 eps · 2003 - 20
Beauty and the BeastFarrell · 1 ep · 1987 - 21
King of the HillGlen Johnson (voice) · 1 ep · 1997 - 22
Good TimesJames Evans · 1974–1979 · Comedy - 23
RootsToby · 1977 - 24
The RanchEd · 1 ep · 2016 - 25
Touched by an AngelJames Mackey · 1 ep · 1994 - 26
HunterCapt. Dolan (uncredited) · 13 eps · 1984 - 27
Walker, Texas RangerPastor Roscoe Jones · 2 eps · 1993 - 28
Police StoryWalt Kyles · 1 ep · 1973 - 29
The Cosby ShowDr. Herbert · 1 ep · 1984 - 30
Suits LAJohn Amos · 1 ep · 2025 - 31
The DistrictEthan Baker · 10 eps · 2000 - 32
BallersDeacon Eller · 2 eps · 2015 - 33
Royal PainsHarrison Phillips · 1 ep · 2009 - 34
Hardcastle and McCormickAlbie Meadows · 1 ep · 1983 - 35
The Last O.G.Uncle D · 1 ep · 2018 - 36
The Love BoatDuke Taylor · 1 ep · 1977 - 37
Here's Boomer1 ep · 1981 - 38
NYC 22Pappy Science · 1 ep · 2012 - 39
Love, American StyleBell Captain · 1 ep · 1969 - 40
The New Dick Van Dyke ShowMark Cooper · 1 ep · 1971
Top movies 30best John Amos movies
- 1
Shark's ParadiseTaxi Driver · 1986 - 2
Bonanza: The Next GenerationMr. Mack · 1988 - 3All Over AgainCoach Zeller · 2007
- 4
Future CopOfficer Bill Bundy · 1976 - 5
Uncut GemsNeighbor 33F · 2019 - 6
Vanishing PointSuper Soul's Engineer · 1971 - 7
Die Hard 2Major Grant · 1990 - 8
Let's Do It AgainKansas City Mack · 1975 - 9
AltheaExecutive Producer · 2014 - 10
Coming to AmericaCleo McDowell · 1988 - 11
Lock UpCaptain Meissner · 1989 - 12
The Last RiflemanLincoln Jefferson Adams · 2023 - 13
Cops and RobinOfficer Bill Bundy · 1978 - 14
The Players ClubFreeman · 1998 - 15
Coming 2 AmericaCleo McDowell · 2021 - 16
The BeastmasterSeth · 1982 - 17
The President's Plane Is MissingMarine Corporal · 1973 - 18
Disappearing ActsMr. Swift · 2000 - 19
Two Evil EyesDet. Legrand · 1990 - 20
RicochetReverend Styles · 1991 - 21
Madea's Witness ProtectionPastor Nelson · 2012 - 22
American FlyersDr. Conrad · 1985 - 23
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"Fred Davis · 2019 - 24
Block PartyDennis · 2022 - 25
Bad Asses on the BayouEarl · 2015 - 26
CountdownAdmiral Melory · 2004 - 27
Me TimeGil · 2022 - 28
Something to Sing AboutRev. Washington · 2000 - 29
Act of FaithMr. Brady · 2014 - 30
MacNat · 1992
