John Amos, a former television writer who transitioned into an Emmy-nominated acting career, has passed away at the age of 84. He was best known for his role as the steadfast father in the iconic series Good Times.
Amos passed away on August 21 in Los Angeles due to natural causes, as confirmed by his son, K.C. Amos.
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“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” he said in a statement. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”
From 1974 to 1976, Amos portrayed the resilient father James Evans in 61 episodes of “Good Times,” a Norman Lear sitcom that depicted the struggles of a dedicated family striving to make ends meet in a Chicago housing project.
Following that, he took on the role of Toby in the influential 1977 miniseries “Roots,” where he shared the screen with some of the most remarkable Black actors of the era, such as Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett Jr., and Leslie Uggams.
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Film enthusiasts may recognize him primarily as the fast-food tycoon Cleo McDowell from the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy sensation “Coming to America,” or as the antagonist opposing Bruce Willis in the 1990 holiday action favorite, “Die Hard 2.”
In 1999, he experienced a resurgence in his television career when he joined the esteemed cast of the political drama “The West Wing,” where he portrayed Admiral Percy “Fitz” Fitzwallace for five seasons.
